Chapter Three:

TAKING SIDES

At lunch the next day, RJ jumped right into election talk.

“When you’re on student council, Miles, can you get us more pizza days in the cafeteria?”

Everyone laughed.

“Who said I’m gonna win?” Miles said. “Jada could take it.”

“I don’t know,” RJ said, frowning. “The kickball team is pretty big. We’ll vote for you. Right, everyone?”

Kyla and the rest of their crew nodded and gave thumbs-up.

While RJ talked, Simone rolled her eyes. Finally, she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Are you serious?” she asked. “Jada has the jump rope vote. And the science club.”

“Miles is in science club, too,” RJ countered.

My stomach lurched as Simone and RJ squabbled back and forth, trying to make their case. Miles and I both wanted to help the school. I’d love to be on student council, but why did it have to pit us against each other?

As the bickering grew louder, the lunch monitor frowned and slid a red plastic cup on top of the green one in the middle of our table. That meant no more talking.

Miles and I looked at each other and shook our heads. As we lined up to go to recess, Miles whispered, “Good luck, Jada.”

Before I could wish the same to him, RJ cut between us. I sighed and didn’t bother calling him out.

Our friends were out of control. But that was their problem, not ours.

On the playground, Simone and Lena sat with me under the shade of the big leafy tree.

“So what’s our plan to beat Miles?” Simone asked.

I grimaced and shook my head.

“Miles is cool,” I said. “It’s not about beating him. I just want to do my best.”

“You do that, and we’ll work on the winning part,” Simone said, grinning. Her tapping feet made her shimmering sneakers flash.

“It’s so awesome you’re running,” Lena said.

“I’m excited, but I wish I didn’t have to talk in front of everyone. You were at the play tryouts. Remember what happened? I was like a statue and could barely move my mouth. Speeches just aren’t my thing.”

I heard a twig crack and jumped. Oh no! Was someone listening? I didn’t want everyone knowing my big fear. I looked around and didn’t see anyone but us. I inhaled and tried to stop freaking out.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be awesome,” Lena said. “The play was last year.”

She always knew what to say.

“Yeah, you can practice on Lena and me,” Simone said. “Miss Taylor says I have the gift of gab. I can give you tips on speaking to a group.”

I smiled. Simone was a fantastic speaker.

“And I can help you with polishing the speech,” Lena said. I loved being partnered with her when we did writing workshops in class. She gave great comments and wanted to be an author when she grew up.

I started feeling better, like maybe with my friends behind me, I could face anything.

“Yeah, we can definitely help you,” Simone said. “Then, you can help us.”

Uh-oh. Just like that, I got a queasy feeling in my stomach.

“Student council means you can get things our class wants, right? How about more recess? We never have enough time. What do you think we need, Lena?”

“More field trips would be amazing. We only went to the art museum in third grade.”

I reached for a braid and twirled it around my finger. Didn’t the pledge say no making promises you can’t keep?

“I don’t know,” I said cautiously.

Simone and Lena got called to jump, their favorite activity.

“Wanna come?”

“I’ll be over in a little while,” I said.

Maybe I wasn’t right for student council. Not only did I have to give a big speech, I had to let down my BFFs. I picked up some rocks and studied them, wishing they held the answer to my problems.

“Find anything?” Miles asked.

“Not really looking,” I said. “Just hanging out. Did you start working on your poster?”

“A little,” he said. “How about you? I know it’s gonna be good.”

I smiled. But before I could answer, there was RJ again. He barely looked at me.

“Why are you talking to her?” he said to Miles, spitting out “her” so it sounded like an insult. “We need you in the game. You’re up in a minute.”

“See ya, Jada,” Miles called.

Why did it feel like it would be a long time before we really talked? Did running for student council mean losing a friend?