“Maya! Hey, Maya!”
Maya and I stopped right outside the entrance to the cafeteria, turning to see Hannah hurrying down the hall. She smiled at me before grabbing Maya’s arm and shaking it excitedly.
“I was just in the computer lab checking the All the Talents site, and guess what,” Hannah said.
“What?” Maya’s cheeks were already pink, and I fought back a grin.
“Your video is ranked second!” Hannah exclaimed.
“Oh my god, seriously?” I yelped.
Maya looked stunned. “Really? Out of . . . everyone?”
“Out of every single audition,” Hannah confirmed, her smile widening. “And I know voting for the first round is still open, but I really, really think you’re going to be in the top three. Which means . . .”
She gave Maya an expectant look, and after a few seconds, Maya averted her gaze.
“Oh. That.”
“What?” I asked, looking back and forth between them. Hannah bounced up and down on her toes.
“Maya’s been working on something special,” she told me eagerly. “For if—I mean, when—she’s in the top three and gets to do her fashion show at the assembly.”
“Ooooh, like a new dress or something?” I asked.
Maya nodded. “Yeah, I’m actually working on a bunch of new stuff . . . although Hannah can only model one on Friday, obviously. I mean, if I’m in the top three.”
“You will be,” Hannah and I said at the same time, and Maya laughed.
“You’re the best. Both of you.”
“We’re also right,” Hannah told her. “Which is why I just got permission from Ms. Davies to use the theater club’s costume room during lunch! Want to go work on the outfits?”
“Right now?” Maya stared at her, then at me.
“Um, the answer is yes,” I said, nudging her with my elbow. “Go!”
“Are you sure?” Maya gave me a meaningful look, and I knew she was worried about her promise to distract me.
“Yes,” I said firmly, giving her a confident smile. After a moment, Maya smiled back.
“Okay. Thanks, Erin.”
She and Hannah hurried off down the hall, and I noticed Hannah was still clinging to her arm. Smiling to myself, I headed into the cafeteria.
Lucy and Leila were already at our usual table. So was Sophia, although I didn’t notice her at first. Probably because she had her head on her arms like she was fast asleep. I sat next to her and gingerly poked her arm. When her eyelids fluttered open, I gasped.
“It’s aliiiive!”
Leila gave me a gleeful look, but Lucy didn’t even glance up from her social studies textbook. Sophia half-heartedly swatted at my hand.
“So sleepy,” she mumbled. “I got to school an entire hour early today just to practice.”
“Whoa,” I said, unwrapping my sandwich. “Now that’s dedication.”
Sophia sat up and sighed. “Yeah. A few other girls trying out for pitcher are really good. I need all the practice I can get.”
“I’m sure you’ll kick butt,” I told her, and she smiled gratefully.
“Hopefully. But I feel bad about missing coding club again, especially with the talent show this week. I hope you all don’t mind.”
Leila cringed. “Actually, I won’t be there today, either.”
“What?” Lucy finally looked up from her book, staring at Leila. “Why not?”
“It’s the only day this week my sister has free,” Leila explained. “And I need help on my robot. We just found out TechTown is having a robotics competition next week, and . . .” Leila paused, smiling bashfully. “Well, Tania thinks my robot is really good, and she talked me into entering.”
“Whoa, that’s so cool!” Sophia exclaimed, and I nodded eagerly.
“Awesome,” Lucy said. “We’ll miss you after school, though. Guess it’ll be just us, right, Erin?”
Now it was my turn to cringe. “Actually . . .”
Lucy’s smile vanished. “You’re not coming, either?”
“I’m kind of grounded,” I said, and her eyes widened. “For the rest of the week. So no coding club, no film club. Yay for me, right?”
“Oh no,” said Leila. “What happened?”
I took a long sip of milk, suddenly wishing Maya was there. “It’s a long story,” I said finally, setting down the milk carton. “I had a fight with my mom because she thinks I’m overworking myself.” I sat rigidly straight, letting my eyes go out of focus. “Work zombie . . . starving . . . ,” I moaned, and they laughed. “But I can still work on the voting part for the site at home, Lucy,” I went on in my normal voice. “Actually, maybe we can text while you’re at coding club today! Keep me updated, and let me know if I can help with anything, okay?”
Lucy had a funny look on her face. “Yeah, okay.”
And there it was: yet another awkward silence. I toyed with the straw in my milk carton, trying desperately to think of a joke or something to lighten the mood. But instead, anxiety crept into my chest, and I focused on breathing slowly. Inhale, exhale. Were my friends staring at me? Could they tell something was wrong? My pulse quickened, and I jumped when Sophia broke the silence.
“What’s wrong?”
I opened my mouth, unsure of what to say. Then I realized she was staring at Lucy.
“Nothing,” Lucy said, already turning her attention back to her social studies textbook. But she looked up when Leila placed a hand on her elbow.
“It just seems like you’ve been upset for a few days now,” she said softly. “Like when we were late to coding club last week.”
“But we all worked really hard on the voting thing,” Sophia added immediately. “It’s not like we left you to do it by yourself.”
“I know.” Lucy finally closed her textbook. “That’s not it. I guess I’m upset because I was up late last night working on the program to help us find a new coding club teacher.”
I glanced at Sophia, who was staring at Lucy in disbelief. “Wait,” she said slowly. “That’s why you’re mad at us? But that’s your project!”
My heart started pounding in my ears, and I clasped my sweaty hands in my lap. Stop, I told myself. Stop this. Calm down. Don’t do this in the middle of the cafeteria.
Lucy blinked in surprise. “It was my idea, but I thought we were all working on it together. And Principal Stephens said he’d look at the data I collect. Don’t you care about finding the best teacher?”
“Of course we do,” said Sophia. “But I told you I had softball tryouts. And Leila, Maya, and Erin were all entering the talent show, plus Erin had film club. We told you.”
Lucy crossed her arms. “I know you’re all super busy, but . . . I don’t know. Coding club is important to me, and I thought it was to you, too.”
“It is!” Sophia cried, and I closed my eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. “But we already have so much going on. I mean, Erin’s mom grounded her for overworking herself!” She gestured at me, then did a double take. “Erin? You okay?”
My breath was coming in short, sharp bursts. I could feel my friends watching me, and my throat started to feel tight.
“I have to go.” I stood up so fast, I almost knocked over my milk carton. “See you all later.” Before anyone could respond, I grabbed my bag and hurried off. I thought I heard someone call my name, but I bolted from the cafeteria without looking back.