Odd Girl In (6 page)

Nick checked out the window. “I wondered what that surveillance van was doing across the street.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

“It'd be less obvious without the Champs star on the side.”

“Shut up!” I said, laughing now.

“All right, everyone, I've got a meeting in …” Dad checked his watch and winced. “Half an hour ago. So be good at school.” He pointed at Parker. “Pay attention in class.” He pointed at Nick. “And get some extracurriculars.” He kissed me on the forehead. “I'll see all of you tonight.”

And with that he was gone.

The second the door clicked behind Dad, Parker jumped out of his chair. “I need to brush my teeth!” he blurted, and dashed upstairs.

Nick looked at me. “Do you think he's volumizing?”

I nodded. “Yep.”

“Do you think I should stop him?”

“If you're tired of living, sure.” I got up from the table. “I have to meet Emily. Good luck.”

“Yeah, you too,” said Nick, grabbing a pot lid and holding it in front of him like a shield. Before the Battle of the Evins could begin, I grabbed my backpack and stepped out to join Emily.

“All right, what's the drama?” I asked.

Instantly, she turned pink. “There's this boy.”

I cringed. Emily was going to talk about her love life. I was neither prepared
nor
interested in having this conversation.

“Look, I don't have a boyfriend,” I told her. “I'm not the best person to offer romantic advice.”

“I don't have a boyfriend either,” she said. “Not yet. That's why I need your help.”

“Why?” I leaned in. “Are you in love with one of my brothers?”

Emily's face twisted into a grimace. “Ew! No.”

“Ahem.” I pulled back and crossed my arms. “That's my family you're talking about. You could do a
lot
worse.”

“Sorry,” she said.

“I mean, we've got naturally great teeth.” I flashed my whites at her. “And we don't look it, but we've got excellent knees.”

“
Fine
,” she said, stepping off the porch. “Can we get back to me?”

“Right.” I followed her out to the sidewalk. “So you like some guy.”

“Trevor,” she whispered. “The one from the picture in my stepmom's office. He's in your Champs class.”

I lowered my voice too. “Why are you being so secretive?”

“Other girls from school take this path,” said Emily. “And if they heard me talk about how amazing Trevor is, they'd hunt him down and—”

“Kill him?” I asked, widening my eyes in mock fear.

Emily gave me a withering look. “Try to steal him away. But I have a genuine interest in Trevor. I'm the best girl for him.”

“Well, good.” I clapped her on the back. “The world needs more decent,
modest
people like you.”

She ignored my sarcasm. “The thing is, I don't want him to meet you and fall in love with you.”

I stopped and stared at Emily. “Wow. Where did
that
come from?”

To answer, she reached into her backpack and pulled out a spiral notebook. The front cover was smattered with glitter hearts surrounding the letters
PT
.

“Um, what is that?” I asked.

“Project Trevor,” she said in a no-nonsense voice. “It's everything I know about him. And so far you two seem highly compatible.”

I took the notebook from her and flipped through several ink-filled pages, some of which included magazine clippings about stuff I assumed Trevor was into.

I gave her a concerned look. “You don't, uh, have a shrine to him too, do you?”

Emily snatched back her notebook. “Don't be stupid. I just think it's important to know everything you can about someone before you attempt to establish a relationship.”

I started to nod, then paused. “Wait … do you have one of those notebooks on me?”

“No,” Emily sniffed. “Everything of interest about you fits on an index card.”

“Nice,” I said wryly. “And you don't have to worry about me stealing him away. Since you like him, I'll consider him off-limits.”

Emily nodded and started walking again, but she didn't look particularly relieved.

Against my better judgment, I asked, “Is there something else?”

Emily kicked a rock out of her path and let out a huge sigh. “Even if you leave him alone, it won't matter. I don't think he notices me as more than a teacher's aide.”

“Maybe you're not doing anything to draw his attention,” I said, nodding toward the notebook. “You have plenty of information on Trevor, some of which I'm sure the government doesn't even know. Pick something you have in common and talk about it.”

“That's just it!” Emily waved her notebook in exasperation. “We have
nothing
in common, other than how extremely clever and cute we both are.” She flipped to a dog-eared
page and jabbed at it. “He likes Cheetos dipped in chocolate pudding. I tried that and I almost threw up!”

“Probably because it's gross,” I said.

“He also likes to watch science-fiction movies, so I tried
Star Wars
,” said Emily. “Explain to me how a rebel space pilot and his ten-foot dog can afford fuel for their starship when they're always running from creditors!”

I smiled. “I think you're missing the point of the movie.”

Emily smacked herself in the forehead with her notebook. “My stepmom's right. The best guys are the ones in comas.”

I took the notebook back from her. “Look. Start with something simple.” I scanned a page. “He likes the Ankle Biters. You have to like them. They're a great band.”

“Their lead singer sounds like he's being tortured with a weed whacker,” she said. “Plus, you can't understand the lyrics. Even if you play the
CD
backward.”

“That's the beauty!” I said. “You can interpret their music any way you want.”

“I already do,” said Emily. “As garbage.”

I sighed. “You have to give a little somewhere. If you don't like the same things as Trevor, at least ask him
why
he likes them. It'll help you understand him better.”

Emily gripped my arms and smiled. “That's clever. I can dissect his personality and see the different layers.”

“Exactly! Just don't tell him you plan to dissect him,” I said, handing back the notebook. “That tends to freak people out.”

She laughed. “Thanks, Alexis. And if you wouldn't mind …” Emily bowed her head.

“This conversation never happened,” I said. “Not that anybody would ever believe that I'd given love advice.”

“Good.”
Now
the usual bounce returned to both Emily's step and ponytail. “Hey, so you looked kind of sick when you left my stepmom's office yesterday. Are you okay?”

I shrugged. “Aside from the night terrors and vomiting? Yes.”

“Alexis!”

“I'm kidding. But are the classes always so intense?” Emily squinted thoughtfully. “If by intense, you mean fabulous and awesome—”

“I don't.”

She acted as if she didn't hear me. “Then yes. Tonight's will be just as intense. My stepmom is
very
passionate about what she does.”

I nodded. “Like a cult leader.”

Emily frowned. “That's not funny.”

“Sorry,” I said.

We reached the school and I hesitated at the entrance. To sign up for clubs, I'd have to visit the counselor's office. Ms.
Dorf had been waiting there to talk family issues since I'd started junior high.

“Hey!” I said brightly to Emily. “You know what would be fun? Going to the counselor's office together.”

Ms. Dorf couldn't
possibly
expect me to discuss personal issues in front of someone else. I linked my arm through Emily's the way I'd seen girls do with friends.

“Um, okay,” she said. “But why?”

“I'm joining some clubs. You know, to work on my ‘social skills.'” I put the words in air quotes.

Oddly enough,
that
seemed genuinely exciting to her. Emily beamed and jerked me into a fast walk. “Which clubs?”

I shrugged. “Whichever ones meet today.”

She slowed a little to look at me. “You're joking.”

“If I had a choice, I wouldn't be doing this at all,” I said. “But apparently going to Chloe's party isn't enough of a social effort. Not even if I braid everyone's hair.”

“You're going to the slumber party?” Emily clutched my arm, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

I was kind of afraid to say yes in case she dismembered me in her excitement, but when I didn't respond, she almost pulled my arm out of its socket anyway.

“Are you?” she asked.

“Ow! Yes!”

Emily squealed and threw her arms around me. “We're going to have so much fun at Chloe's!”

I patted her shoulder. “If she has firecrackers and an old toilet, we'll certainly try.”

Emily freed herself and knocked on the door to the counselor's office.

Ms. Dorf poked her head out. “Hello, Emily!” She turned to me with confusion. “And Alexis. What a nice surprise! Are you here to …” She paused. “What can I do for you?”

“I'm not here to talk about my mom, first of all,” I said. “She's not a part of my life anymore.”

Ms. Dorf smiled gently. “Oh, I think your mom's a bigger part of your life than you realize.”

I shook my head. “Whatever. I'm here for extracurriculars. Can you help me?”

“Of course.” Ms. Dorf pulled the door open.

While Emily and I sat, Ms. Dorf grabbed a list of school clubs off her desk. “I have to say, I'm pleased to finally see you taking an interest in social activities, Alexis. What are you considering?”

“How about …” I closed my eyes and stabbed randomly at the paper. When I pulled back my finger to reveal my selection, I said, “French club.”

Ms. Dorf looked slightly less pleased. “I really hope you don't make all of your decisions that way.”

“No, usually there's a dartboard involved,” I said.

Emily kicked me and forced herself to laugh. “She's just fooling around, Ms. Dorf. Alexis was telling me she's actually interested in …” Emily's eyes skipped down the page, then back up to Ms. Dorf. “In robotics club.”

“Right,” I said. “And the … hockey boosters.”

Emily curled her lip. “Really?”

I shrugged. “Violence on ice. What's not to love?”

Ms. Dorf leaned toward me. “Alexis, I know I haven't seen you much, but I don't think those clubs are right for you. Are you sure there's nothing else you'd rather try?”

When she saw me close my eyes and point my finger again, she stopped me. “All right. Robotics club meets after school, but hockey boosters meet during study hall, so I'll have to give you a pass for that.”

“Great!” I said. “I bet I'll love it.”

Chapter 5

I
t was a good thing I didn't actually put money
on that bet. When I got to the hockey boosters meeting, the room was filled with giggling girls, loud pop music, and the stench of wet paint.

There was no ice, no violence. There weren't even any missing teeth strewn about.

“Um, hello?” I called.

The girls glanced up, but only one of them actually came over.

Chloe Stroupe.

“Hey, Alex! Are you looking for someone?” she asked.

“Actually, I'm here to join the boosters,” I said, thrusting a piece of paper at her. “Will you sign this as proof I came?”

Chloe didn't move. “
You're
joining the boosters?”

“Sure.” I shrugged. “I like hockey and I figured it'd be nice to meet some other, uh, fans.” I wondered if that was even the right word. Several of the girls were now singing into the hockey sticks like microphones, my slumber party nightmare come true.

Chloe crossed her arms and smirked. “And this wouldn't have anything to do with Champs?”

I sighed and pulled back my paper. “Emily got to you first, huh?”

Chloe laughed. “She didn't tell me. I get the Champs newsletter.”

My eyebrows rose a little. The newsletter wasn't a surprise. I wouldn't have put it past Ms. Success to write her announcements in nightly fireworks. But the fact that anyone at school besides Emily would ever go to that class….

“You're in Champs too?” I asked.

Chloe nodded. “You know me. I'm in it to win it. Plus, my parents want me to get into a good college some day. Hey!” She bumped my arm. “Do you have a team for the Champs Championship?”

“Oh! Um, I hadn't even thought about it,” I said. “But I doubt my brothers want me on theirs. So … no.”