“Yeah?” I reply, wondering why I didn’t notice the retro bombshell in class on Friday. Right, because I was too busy researching minotaurs.
Jax turns to me. “You’re very eco-chic, aren’t you?”
“Uh . . .” I look down at my yellow TREE HUGGER tee.
“I like it,” he says. “You make a subtle statement.”
“Um, thanks?”
“Oh, making a statement is always a good thing.” He sticks out his tongue, revealing a shiny black piercing. Then he nods to the girls. “We’re not usually subtle about it. It’s refreshing.”
“I—” I smile, a little confused, but I think that was a compliment. “Okay, cool.”
My ears feel a little warm as I open up my lunch and pull out the recycled foil–covered wrap. For several minutes, I eat in silence, listening to the rapid-fire chatter of Jax and Lulu with occasional interjections from Vail. They are all so comfortable with one another, I kind of envy that. I wish I could have that with someone. Maybe with Gretchen.
I shake my head and pop a baby carrot into my mouth. No point wasting time on that daydream. That’s not going to happen. She wants me as far out of her way as I can get.
At least I can sit here and enjoy not being alone at lunchtime for once. Not having to sneak my food into the back corner of the library. I can eat in relative, nonlonely peace.
Maybe things at Alpha won’t be so bad after all.
“Nice to see you’ve found others of your kind,” a snooty voice whines from behind me.
I don’t have to turn around to know who it is.
“Get lost, Miranda,” Vail says, glaring over my right shoulder. “Don’t you have a Botox appointment? Your forehead is looking a little wrinkly.”
“Funny,” she says, without humor. “I wanted to congratulate Grace on finding the loser table. You make a nice quartet, like four best girlfriends.”
Vail’s gaze flicks to Jax half a second before she pushes to her feet. Lulu grabs her by the arm and tugs her back down. “Don’t.”
“Do you think that’s an insult?” Jax laughs. “I’d rather be called a girlfriend than a stereotype any day.”
I whip around to see Miranda’s reaction, but before she can say a word, Ms. West walks up, looking all elegance again in a lavender blouse and khaki slacks.
“Everything all right here?” she asks, running her gaze over the whole table.
Her eyes settle on me, and I feel compelled to answer. Flicking a nervous glance at Miranda, I say, “Yeah. Fine.”
“Excellent.” Ms. West turns to Miranda and asks, “Would you mind helping me prepare some handouts I need to distribute in seventh period?”
“Of course,” Miranda replies, turning instantly into a perfect ray of sunshine. I hadn’t realized she was such a kiss-up.
As she follows Ms. West away, she turns back and gives our table—our table—a sneer. As if they’ve preplanned it, my three lunch mates simultaneously flip her the bird. A little more extreme—and detention earning—than I am. But since Miranda huffs and storms away, it’s obviously effective.
Lulu gives Jax a high five over the table.
“Such a waste of perfect hair care.” Jax sighs. “Lowlights that beautiful should only go to the most deserving.”
“You might not have noticed,” Lulu says to me, “but Miranda is Vail’s archnemesis.”
Yeah, I’ve noticed. “She’s been pretty awful to me too,” I say, glad to have found something in common with Vail and her friends.
“She was born bad,” Jax add.
“You give her too much credit,” Vail grumbles. “She’s insecure. She makes herself feel better by belittling anyone with confidence and picking on those without.”
“Isn’t that what I said?” Jax asks with fake seriousness.
Lulu laughs.
Vail rolls her eyes and goes back to her mush.
My mind processes what Vail said. Is that why Miranda picks on me? Because I don’t have any confidence? I definitely don’t have the courage Vail has to stand up to her, but I didn’t think of myself as such a total weakling. Maybe I can absorb some confidence from the group around me.
I look around at the three friends with wonder, amazed at their ability to confront Miranda as a unified team and bounce right back from her attack. Strength in numbers.
For some reason, that makes me think about Gretchen again. I keep picturing the three monsters in the nightclub and how she’s out there fighting them all alone. I keep thinking about how she pushed me away, and I let her.
My wrap becomes a little hard to swallow, and I take a big swig of juice to wash it down. If a unified front can take down Miranda, it can’t hurt when fighting mythological monsters.
Have Gretchen and I made a big mistake? And will I get a chance to fix it?
Thane and Milo are already at the dining table doing homework when I get home. I try to act all nonchalant, dropping my backpack casually by the door and heading for the kitchen, as if I’m not dying to sit down at the table with Milo.
Playing it cool is so much harder than it looks.
I pull open the refrigerator and let out the breath I’ve been holding since I first saw Milo’s dark curls at the table. I take my time choosing from the array of pop on the second shelf, when I already know I want pineapple Fanta. What if Milo thinks I’m a freak for disappearing from the club on Friday night? Which is nothing compared to what he might think if he ever knew my mythological truth, but it’s bad enough. Besides, Thane is still kind of mad at me, so there’s no telling what he said to Milo today.