I noticed my mom and science teacher sitting across the aisle talking and laughing like they were the ones who were best friends. My mom came as a chaperone. At least someone was having a good time. I didn’t want my mom to know what was going on with Jasmine. After all, who wants mommy sympathy in public when you’re already eleven years old?

I got lost in my own head and thought back to when I’d first found out we’d won.

“Class, I have an announcement to make,” said Ms. Costa.

“I was awarded a grant to study marine life in Florida. Holly and Jasmine are the class contest winners so they’ll be coming with me to conduct research.”

I love the ocean. Jasmine researched the facts, and I turned them into poetry. A work of art, according to the judges.

“Jasmine, we did it! We won the contest. We’re going to Florida. Free food. Free hotels. Free airfare.”

“You mean we’re going to fly there? On an airplane?”

“Of course, on an airplane. Just think. Warm weather and sunshine in December.

Bathing suits. Swimming.”

“We have to go swimming?” Jasmine asked.

“Marine life, remember?” I was so happy, I only half heard what she said.

“I’m not sure I can go,” Jasmine said.

“What are you talking about?” I heard her now, loud and clear.

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Don’t do this to me, Jasmine.”

She just looked at me with sad eyes. I glared back at her.

There was a lot of commotion around us.

“Please raise your hand if you have a question or comment,” our teacher called the class to order.

Kwan Min raised his hand, “Ms. Costa, does this mean I did not win contest?”

“Sorry, but you didn’t win.”

“I try hard. If I must lose, I am happy to lose to my good friends,” Kwan Min added.

“And I’m so proud of you, Holly.” Nestor made a nasty face at Jasmine.

Jasmine made a face back.

Carly raised her hand. “Why did they win? I worked hard. Why didn’t I win?”

“You didn’t win because you’re too dumb,” Nestor called out.

“You dumb like rock,” Kwan Min added.

“Boys, please, enough.” Ms. Costa gave them the teacher stare.

Silence.

“Holly and Jasmine found an innovative way to share information. There will be other contests.”

“But, if only Holly and Jasmine will be going with you, how are the rest of us supposed to learn anything from it?” Carly wasn’t giving up without a fight.

“Excellent question. When we return, we’ll do a special assembly to present our findings to the school. Also, a special representative from the mayor’s office will be there, since the grant was funded by the city.”

Talk at an assembly? And without Jasmine?

Nestor turned to me. “You’re going to be famous.”

“Please don’t say that.” My stomach flip-flopped. Salty tears ran down my face.

“What’s wrong?” Nestor asked.

“Everything.”

R-I-N-G-G-G. Round one over. I ran out of the classroom.

I heard Jasmine calling, “Holly, wait ...”

I didn’t turn around. I didn’t want to hear it.