Surviving High School

than Kimi’s spreadsheet gave him credit for.
    Gradually, Emily’s shoulders relaxed, and she started breathing normally. Still, as lunch continued and more people started to sit down, she wondered how many had known Sara, and throughout the rest of the meal, she noticed Cameron alternately studying her face and avoiding eye contact.
    Phil stayed off the subject of Sara for the rest of lunch as he introduced Emily and Kimi to other members of the popular crowd. Many of them had heard about the article already, and the ones who hadn’t were impressed by Emily’s “future Olympian” credentials. A couple of guys even said they’d try to make it out to her next swim meet.
    A few minutes later, Spencer showed up, and Phil introduced him to Emily. Spencer smiled and shook her hand. Without trying, he almost crushed her fingers with his grip. Up close, he was even more muscled than she’d realized before, like a high school version of the Incredible Hulk, minus the green skin.
    “I know who you are,” he said. “Yogurt, right?”
    Emily couldn’t believe it. Ben must have talked to Spencer about her.
    “It’s too bad Ben’s not here,” said Spencer. “I’m sure he’d want to invite you to his party this Friday.”
    “Where is he, anyway?” asked Lindsay, who had just taken a seat at the far end of the table.
    “Home,” said Spencer, shaking his head. “Didn’t you see today’s paper?”
    Spencer dug into his bag and pulled out a wrinkled copy of the day’s school paper. Its headline read: SCHOOL CANCELED FOR REMAINDER OF YEAR AMID FEARS OF IMMINENT ZOMBIE ATTACK .
    “He totally hacked the journalism class’s computers last night,” said Spencer, smiling proudly. “What I do to linemen out on the football field, he does to the school’s firewalls. Anyway, he’s suspended for the week. Normally, I think Principal McCormick would have sent him home for longer, but I guess she actually thought it was pretty funny.”
    “That’s too bad he’ll have to miss the whole week,” said Emily.
    “I guess you don’t know Ben,” said Spencer, taking out a sandwich. “His only regret is that it’s such a short vacation. He was hoping he’d be gone for at least a month. Well, maybe next time.”
    The boys talked and joked, asking Emily about her dad’s medals and what famous athletes she’d met. They were careful not to bring up her sister. Popular guys , she realized, are well liked for a reason. They’re unexpectedly nice. And funny. And, naturally, cute. A warm sensation pulsed through her. This must be how being popular feels , she thought. She liked it.
    The only one at the table who wasn’t smiling was Dominique. She’d finished her massive bucket of wings unnoticed and was now staring at the pile of bones in front of her, as if wishing she could devour Emily the same way.
    For the rest of the day, Emily rushed from class to class, and swim practice after school went so late that it was dark by thetime her dad drove her home. She wasn’t able to decompress and rehash the day’s events with Kimi until right before bedtime, when they met online.
    ChEnigma22: So—how’s it feel to be popular?
    EmilyK14: ?
    ChEnigma22: Don’t play dumb. And Ben Kale’s BFF totally knew who you were! I can’t wait for Friday!
    EmilyK14: Friday?
    ChEnigma22: Uh. Hello? Ben’s party. The one Spencer invited us to?
    EmilyK14: No… He said Ben would totally invite you IF HE WAS HERE!
    ChEnigma22: Don’t be so literal.
    EmilyK14: …
    ChEnigma22: We’re going.
    EmilyK14: Kimi… Even if I wanted to, my dad would never let me.
    ChEnigma22: Which is why you’re not telling him.
    EmilyK14: ???
    ChEnigma22: On Friday night you’re “going to bed” at 10:30 like usual.
    ChEnigma22: … I’ll pick you up down the block at 10:35.
    EmilyK14: I’ll think about it.
    ChEnigma22: Em… You always say that. And it always means no.
    EmilyK14: I said I’ll think about it.
    At Thursday’s practice, Emily set a personal record in the 200-meter freestyle. Her dad smiled as he showed her his stopwatch and made a note on his clipboard.
    “See?” he said. “Our work is finally paying off.”
    Our work? thought Emily, catching her breath as her father waddled back to his office, which adjoined the pool, to answer his phone. Her fastest time ever—she should have been ecstatic. So why did she feel so… nothing? It was as if she had just watched somebody else swim an amazing race, like she was a ghost watching