33

School’s over for the day, and I’m hiding behind the trees that border the student parking lot. It’s a risky place to be—any number of things could happen to me out here. I could get in trouble for loitering; I could get lynched by GRRLS; I could witness freshmen making out. But I wait anyway, because I need to talk to Morgan, and I need to talk to her alone.

By four o’clock almost every car in the lot has gone, but Morgan still hasn’t appeared. Her white Miata is parked in the space nearest the school entrance, because she’s always the first to arrive in the morning. No wonder even the teachers love her.

Eventually she emerges and sashays over to her car. She’s smiling, as usual, and suddenly I find this very admirable. I mean, just last week Brandon publicly humiliated her and her friends turned their backs on her. If anyone ought to patrol the corridors with a scowl etched on her face, it’s Morgan.

“Hey, Morgan,” I say, mirroring her smile.

“Huh?” She looks over at me as I push the last branch out of the way. “Oh God, it’s you, Kevin. Stay away, I’ve got Mace.”

“No, it’s cool,” I say without thinking, maybe because that’s what I’ve heard Brandon say when guys threaten him for hooking up with their girlfriends.

“No, Kevin, it’s not cool. It’s so totally not cool.”

“Oh.” This never happens to Brandon. “Okay.”

Morgan unlocks her car and is about to climb in when she glances at me. I think my slumped shoulders are weakening her resistance.

“Just one question,” she says, leaning against the car door. “Was it worth it?”

I hesitate. “Honestly?”

“Honestly.”

I look away. “I guess I liked being popular, you know? I liked being noticed. But now the people I care about the most hate me, so … no,” I say emphatically. “It wasn’t worth it.”

“Are you just saying that because you got caught?”

“Well, it doesn’t exactly help any.”

To my surprise, Morgan laughs. “What the hell were you thinking? I know these Graduation Rituals have been going on for years, but this year your mom was teaching a Women’s Studies course. You must have realized that was going to change everything.”

“I didn’t know she was teaching it until I’d agreed to do the book. I guess I just hoped she wouldn’t find out about it.”

Morgan laughs even harder. “Are you serious? She’s your mom. How could you possibly think she wouldn’t find out?”

I just shake my head, because there’s really nothing to say. When I look up again, Morgan looks more serious.

“What is it you want to say to me, Kevin? Why are you here?”

I take a deep breath and tell her what I’ve been thinking about all weekend—my Grand Plan. It’s complicated, and I know she’s reluctant to help me after everything I’ve done, but I’m hoping that the chance to get back at Brandon is too much for her to resist.

She spends a few minutes pulling a variety of indecisive faces, but finally settles on a smile that tells me she’s willing to play her part. And for the first time in weeks I feel proud of myself. Not cool. Not popular. Just proud.

“Do you need a ride home?” she asks, sinking into the leather bucket seat.

“Sure.”

I clamber in and she pulls away slowly, checking her mirrors and signaling like a law-abiding adult. If she weren’t so beautiful, Morgan would have to be considered one of the dorkiest girls in school.

“Have you and Abby ever dated?” she asks.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Um … it’s just never happened. What about you and Brandon? How did that happen?”

Morgan groans. “He was the first boy to ask me out since freshman year. I guess I just wanted to have a date again.”

I take a quick peek to see if she’s kidding, but she doesn’t seem to be.

“But that’s impossible. Every guy at Brookbank wants to date you.”

“That’s kind of you to say, but it doesn’t change the fact that before Brandon, no one had asked me out in three years. I think I just wanted to feel … wanted. And Brandon’s so popular and everything. I got suckered in, I guess.”

“So who are you going to prom with?”

“I’m not going with anyone. Today, all of the girls from the Women’s Studies class decided to go solo. With everything that’s happened the past few weeks, we figure it’ll make things less stressful in the long run.”

I can’t help smiling. “That’ll make my mom proud. She really loved teaching you. She said you were the best students she’s had in years.”

“Yeah?” Morgan is obviously touched. She takes a deep breath. “I wish we hadn’t told her to leave. It was all kind of heat-of-the-moment, you know? Do you reckon she’d come back if we asked?”

“No, I don’t think so. Not because of me … just because she’s already achieved what she set out to do. Like, you’re all standing up for each other now, and before long Brandon and his posse won’t know what hit them. I think she’d say that’s a job well done.”

Morgan laughs again, a soft, gentle laugh that warms me from the inside out. “I like the sound of that,” she says.

She follows my directions and soon I’m home. She puts the car in park and pulls up the hand brake, then turns to face me.

“Abby was right about you. You’re not such a bad guy after all.”

It’s not quite the compliment I was hoping for, but when Morgan leans over and tries to kiss me on the cheek, I pull away.

“Whoa!” she exclaims. “What was that for? I was just giving you a friendly peck on the cheek. It’s not like I was trying to French kiss you or anything!”

I can feel my cheeks burning red. “I know. I mean … I’m sorry. I don’t know why I did that.”

She stares out her window crossly, so I undo the seat belt and open my car door. And that’s when it hits me.

“Actually, I do know why I pulled away.”

“Oh yeah, why’s that?”

“Because that’s Abby’s house.” I point next door. “And I think I’m … I think I—”

“It’s okay.” Morgan is smiling again. “I get it.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re back to being you again.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “But I always figured you thought I was a total geek.”

“Yeah, of course. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t admire you, or find you interesting. It just means that unlike Brandon, you’ve got a functioning brain cell.” She laughs again at the look on my face. “Maybe you need to work on embracing your geekiness.”

I climb out. Morgan pulls away, and I’m left standing on the sidewalk. It’s sunny and warm, and I feel unbelievably contented. Not only is Morgan Giddes my new friend, but I think I’m … I think I …