Sea Breeze 01 - Breathe

thought. Amanda saved me a seat by her, and I liked her friends. Dylan McCovey wanted to reminisce about his July Fourth party a little too much, but other than that, it was fine. Most days, I just sat at the table and listened to them talk. Every once in a while someone would ask me a question or attempt to get me to join the conversation, but my social inadequacies mixed with my being exhausted didn’t make me a good conversationalist.
    On Friday, Dylan had finally worked up the nerve to ask me about “Don’t Cry,” and I was proud of the way I handled it. I managed to talk clearly through the lump in my throat. My breathing didn’t get too constricted. To all outward appearances, I seemed normal and unfazed. I successfully replied, “I don’t know who it is about. He never sang it for me,” without choking up once.
    On Monday, I had made it through my first period without falling asleep, which happened to be a miracle because Sam still couldn’t manage to get his days and nights adjusted, not even a little bit. I had even called Ms. Mary and asked her what I should do, and she said we needed to keep him awake more during the day. The problem with that was that during the day Jessica wanted him sleeping so she didn’t have to deal with him. I hated to admit it to myself, but my mother was not being a very good mom to Sam. She ignored him mostly, and she still cried frequently. I couldn’t explain all that to Ms. Mary because it made Jessica sound bad, and I couldn’t bring myself to tear her down in anyone’s eyes. She just seemed so fragile.
    Anyway, I was still managing to stay awake at school. After fighting my heavy eyelids during a very boring lecture, I headed straight to the bathroom so I could splash cold water on my face to wake up. I had to fight this sleepiness. I wasn’t going to get the grades for a scholarship if I didn’t stay awake in my classes. I stepped around a group of girls to get through the congested hallway, and one of them pointed at me. I was used to this, so I ignored it and kept my eyes on the bathroom.
    However, one turned around. “Sadie White?”
    I stopped and considered lying about my name, saying no, I was in fact Ivana, an exchange student who didn’t speak good English. But instead, I turned around to see the short redhead whom I’d met at the July Fourth party. I immediately recognized that unfriendly gleam in her eye.
    “Hi, I’m Mary Ann Moore. We met at Dylan’s house this summer, but I doubt you remember me, after everyone you met that night.” She paused as if I was supposed to say something, but I continued to stare at her, awaiting what she wanted with me. “Yes, well, um, I have the new edition of
Teen Follower
, and there’s a picture of Jax Stone with his new girlfriend, Alana Harvey. She’s going to be in his new music video. . . . You know, the one for ‘Don’t Cry.’”
    I understood what this girl wanted now, and I didn’t know what I had done to her to make her hate me so much. My throat was dry and began closing up. So I decided against responding. She smiled as if pleased with my reaction and handed me the magazine.
    “Rock stars are such fickle creatures. One never knows who they’ll want next. You take the magazine; I don’t need it.” And with that, she snapped her fingers and the group surrounding her followed after her like a school of fish.
    I tried swallowing, but it was no use. I couldn’t manage it. The pain returned again, and I didn’t have the strength to stop it. I turned to run, and Amanda was there blocking my path.
    “She’s just being mean to you because of Dameon. Now come with me, and we’ll get you all pulled back together in the bathroom.”
    I followed obediently behind her. “What does Dameon have to do with this?” I asked, holding out the magazine Mary Ann had placed in my hands.
    Amanda pulled me into the bathroom, then took the magazine from me. “Dameon and Mary Ann dated this summer. When she found out he was interested in you, you became her enemy. Even though she knows you blew him off. I think that makes her dislike you more.”
    I frowned. “Why?”
    Amanda wet a paper towel. “Because you’re blowing off what she wants so badly. See, the thing is, Dameon dated her this summer, and, well, after a few weeks he dumped her flat. She wants him back, since dating Dameon would make her the most popular girl at the school.”
    I sighed and closed my eyes. “High school is so stupid,” I