Studying Boys (2 page)

"Of course it is," Blue said. "That's what friends are for."

"I hate all of you."

Natalie's eyes widened. "Why do you hate us? We're just looking out for you. You take things way too seriously and we're worried. You're missing out on all the fun of high school. You're halfway through your freshman year, and all you've done is study."

"So? I have good grades. I'm proud of them."

Allie rolled her eyes. "I've kissed twenty-two boys. I'm more proud of that."

"You're insane. You're all insane."

"I resent that," Blue said. Well, of course Blue could resent that. She had this super awesome senior boyfriend now. Life was perfect for her.

Natalie pointed to the list. "You have one week. Next Friday night, you have to bring us proof you've joined one of these clubs, or we're taking control of the situation."

"What about my parents?" Allie might not have parents who cared what she did, but Natalie and Blue would understand. "They'll never let me do anything that would take time away from my studies."

"Parents can be dealt with," Blue said. "You know that."

Said by the girl who had reasonable parents. Eccentric, but reasonable. "Mine don't think like normal people."

Natalie grinned. "There are four of us and only two of them. They have no chance." And apparently, neither did I.

* * *

By Friday afternoon, I knew my life was over.

I was never going to see Theo again. He was the only guy I could ever love, and I'd never see him again after Friday. I hadn't joined any stupid club, and I wasn't going to. Which meant that my friends were going to tell Theo I was obsessed with him—which wasn't even true—and he'd run away screaming every time he saw me from now on. Which, since we didn't go to the same school, would only be when I went over to Blue's house for something. The moment I arrived, Theo would run upstairs and lock himself in his room to get away from me.

It was because I went to the wrong school. If I went to the public school, then I'd see Theo in the halls and he'd eventually get tired of running away from me. But since my parents operated under the annoying delusion that in order for their oldest child to be the first one of the family to go to college, I had to go to an all-girls private school. On full scholarship, of course.

Which meant that once my friends told Theo I loved him, it would be easy for him to avoid me, and I'd never see him.

I hate my friends.

It was Friday afternoon at two o'clock and I hadn't hooked up with any coed groups. I hadn't met a single boy, except for the tattooed dude at the gas station who spit on our tires when my mom wasn't looking. Wonder if he'd qualify?

"Frances!"

I turned to find Allie jogging up behind me, wearing her girls-school clothes, which basically meant that she wasn't wearing a tight shirt and short skirt to show off her amazing bod. Why bother with that kind of outfit when you go to an all-girls school? No reason at all. "Hi, Allie. What's up?"

She grinned at me, her eyes sparkling with eagerness. "So? What are you joining?"

"Nothing." I folded my arms across my chest and waited.

Her smile faded and she set her hands on her hips. "Frances!"

"What?" I glared at her. "You really think my parents would let me join anything? I'm not allowed to do anything but homework and hang out with you guys, and that's only because I tell them we're doing homework when we're together." The truth was, I kind of thought joining a coed club would be fun. Not because it would distract me from Theo, because nothing could distract me from him, but because it would be cool to develop a social life. But I hadn't been exaggerating about my parents. My life was most definitely a no-fun-zone.

Allie rolled her yes. "You are doing homework when we're with you, even if we're not officially studying. Didn't you read your history assignment during the movie the other night?"

"No." So I had the book open on my lap. So what? If the movie was boring, then I had something else to do. I was not a total geek. Really, I wasn't. I just knew that I had responsibilities when it came to my scholarship.

"Come on, Frances. There has to be something you can do that your parents would approve of." Allie held out her hand and snapped her fingers. "Give me the list."

As if I had been carrying it around with me. "Lost it."

"Fine." She grabbed my arm and dragged me over to a nearby bulletin board, which listed the meeting times and dates of some of the clubs. "Social Club. Join that one."

"Join a club whose function it is to set up social events with boys' schools? Yeah, I'm sure my parents would go for that one." I studied the photographs of the social club, and noticed that all the boys and girls were smiling and doing goofy things that looked really fun. They were all dressed up like pirates in one picture, and they were all standing on a covered bridge in the rain in another one. And they looked happy, and all had their arms around each other. Huh.

"I think it sounds fun," Allie said.

"I'm sure you do." Okay, fine, I thought it sounded like fun too. I mean, how cool would it be to hang out with a bunch of guys and plan ways to have a good time? Not that I'd admit that to Allie or any of my friends. I had a reputation to uphold.

Besides, it wasn't like I'd ever have the guts to show up at one of those meetings. No way. That was so not my style. I wasn't a joiner, and I had no idea how to hang out and do social chit chat with other kids. I sure as heck wasn't about to go throw myself in the middle of a group of kids who already knew each other, so they could point to me and say, "Look at the loser new kid. Who invited her?"

"How about this one? Physics Club? Even your parents wouldn't be able to say no." She peered closer. "Oh, sorry. Cancelled due to lack of participation."

I was starting to realize the hopelessness of the situation. There was nothing I would be able to do, even if I wanted to. "Allie, this is stupid. Let's go."

"No." Allie let out a cry of triumph and pulled a posting off the board. "Meeting is tonight at six o'clock. You have time to get there and still make the Friday-night deadline."

I took the notice and read it. "School newspaper?"

"Sure. You'd get to hang with the boys from Field School, but you'd also have to write lots of articles. Develop your writing and research skills. Learn how a paper runs. That's small-business skills right there. Your parents would be thrilled."

"Huh." I read the posting again. They were looking for staff writers. Maybe I could get assignments and not have to go to the meetings. Probably only the editors had to go to meetings. Not that I was afraid of going to meetings with a group of people I didn't know or anything. It was just that I had homework to do. "The meeting is actually not too far from my house."

"Walking distance," Allie agreed. "I think it's fate."

"I'll think about it." Who was I kidding? I wasn't going to go. I mean, it might be kinda cool to go and meet some other kids and stuff, but I wasn't the social type. I wouldn't know how to do it even if my parents let me.

"I'll walk you." Allie tucked her arm through mine. "We'll swing by my house and get you some sexy clothes to wear and then I'll walk you over there."

Oh, no. No, no, no. There was no chance I was going to wear Allie's clothes. I'd be so embarrassed I'd never come out of the bathroom. "First of all, I'm not wearing sexy clothes. Second, why are you going to walk me?"

"Because if I don't, you'll wimp out."

"Hah. I'm totally not going to bag it." Of course I was. I had to find a way to ditch her before six o'clock so I could avoid going. If I decided to skip it. I mean, a little part of me actually wanted to go. But the thought of walking into that room… I shook my head. It wasn't my scene. It really wasn't. "You don't need to walk me there."

"Nonsense. I'll be by your side every minute until I drop you off." Allie gripped my arm tighter, like a psycho who was going to yank me into some dungeon and feed me beets for the rest my life. Great.

I hate my friends. Have I mentioned that yet?

* * *

"So, here it is."

Natalie, Blue and Allie stopped in front of a small office building, while I lurked behind them.

"No one's there. Let's leave." I spun on my heel to make a break for freedom.

Allie grabbed my arm before I could sprint away. "There's a light on in the corner of the second floor. Didn't the directions say to take the elevator to the second floor?"

"I don't know." God! I couldn't do this! Walk into a room full of people who already knew each other and who would stare at me as if I were a freak? No way. How was this important in my life anyway? I got straight A's. That was probably going to take care of getting me into college.

"I'm sure it said second floor." Allie started walking toward the building, her talons digging into my arm.

I was going to have bruises after tonight. Bruises to remind me of the horror my life had become, thanks to my former friends.

"We'll just go with you to the elevators," Allie said.

Blue and Natalie fell in behind us, probably ready to grab me if I tried to run away. No problem. I'd get in the elevator and pretend I was going up to the meeting. I'd let the door shut, but not press any buttons. I'd hang out in the elevator for a few minutes, and once they'd gone back to Blue's house, I'd escape. Nothing like having a plan!

"Fine." I stopped struggling and started walking beside Allie. If I pretended to be willing to do it, they'd be more likely not to hang around and make sure I really went in.

"You know, Frances, I really think you should have worn some makeup," Allie said. "I mean, you have gorgeous dark eyelashes and stuff, but a little blush wouldn't hurt you."

"My parents don't let me wear makeup."

"You can take it off before you get home," Allie said. She glanced over her shoulder. "Either of you bring some mascara or blush?"

Blue laughed. "Are you kidding? We always use yours. You have the best stuff."

"Yeah, my mom spends a lot of money on her makeup," Allie agreed.

Makeup. I couldn't believe they were talking about makeup while I was having a complete breakdown.

Allie knocked on the door, and a security guard opened it. He was wearing a navy jacket with a little emblem on it, and he looked friendly enough. "Here for the paper?" he asked.

"Yep," Allie said cheerfully.

Too bad I hadn't cut out Allie's tongue so she couldn't answer the question.

"Take the elevator to the second floor." The guard held the door open for us.

Oh, come on. Why couldn't he let the door slam shut in my face so I broke my nose and had to be rushed off to the hospital? Then I'd have to miss the meeting. It would totally be worth the swollen and bruised face.

But no, he had to stand there holding it open, as if he were doing us some favor, and he most definitely was not.

My palms were actually sweating. Nice.

Blue pushed the elevator button and we waited. I couldn't think of a single thing to say, other than to tell them that they were no longer my friends. Since that would clue them in that I was going to make a break for it after they left, I stayed strategically silent.

The elevator arrived ... and everyone got in with me! This was all wrong! How was I supposed to escape if they came in with me? "What are you guys doing?"

"Riding up with you," Natalie said. "For support." She pushed floor number two, and the door started to close.

I stuck my foot in the door to keep it open. "You guys can't come up with me."

Natalie raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Because I'll look like a loser if you guys ride up with me. It's like my mom dropping me off."

Natalie sort of frowned. Excellent.

Then Allie snorted and yanked me backward so my foot moved out of the doorway. "Don't be a dork. You'll look cool if you show up with friends."

The doors slid closed, and I felt like I was going to be sick.

Yes, that was the way to make a grand entrance in front of all those kids. Have the elevator doors open to reveal a vomiting loser being held up by her friends.

I watched the elevator click to two, wondering how old a person had to be to have a heart attack.

"Frances." Blue leaned over my shoulder.

"What?" I stared at the doors, willing them to get stuck closed.

"Allie made me try out for the play, and I was terrified."

"So?"

"So, it worked out. Have faith."

"Yeah, right." Okay, so maybe I wasn't projecting quite the totally-together attitude I'd been shooting for. Great. Now, everyone at the newspaper would realize I was terrified? That wasn't good! If there was ever a time to be collected and together, it was now, but I was so far from collected it was embarrassing.

But I had no time to recover. Too late now, as the doors opened to the second-floor lobby. Stupid doors. Hadn't I ordered them to stay closed?

But no. They'd opened, exposing me to a hallway full of kids. Boys. Girls. Chatting. Laughing. Arms around each other.