Chapter Twenty-Four: Mia

Camila and Hannah (they both live in my neighborhood) came over after school on Monday to talk about the Camila and Marcus situation...he's asked her out for Friday night. Camila and Hannah were texting back in forth in all their classes after lunch, and it was one of those times I was glad that I didn't have a cell phone. I've got to pay attention and keep all my grades at the A level. I spend enough time thinking about Luke and me without getting mixed up in all this drama that is constant at school.

Anyway, when Camila and Hannah arrived, I said I had to do some housework and start getting dinner ready for when Mama and Poppa got off work, and I had to help Emma with her homework because I had to work on my own after Mama and I cleaned up after dinner, but I could listen and talk with them at the same time as I did my work. Camila said she had texted her mom after lunch, and she said that Camila could go out to dinner with Marcus, providing that was the only place they went and she was home "well before 10." Hannah was all about thinking it was really cool for Marcus to ask Camila out, and said he was really cute and a sharp dresser, plus a big time athlete.

That made Camila feel really good, she said, when Hannah said that, then she asked me how I felt about Marcus. When Marcus and Kylee broke up last week, I heard her talking before English class started with Jayla. Lots of us come into English class in the morning and study, or do homework, or just chill out or to eat some fast food breakfast. I just want to be super organized before school starts and sometimes I'll talk to Ms. Hawk a little about what we've been reading. Anyway, I heard Kylee tell Jayla that Marcus was super immature and conceited, plus he was a "first-class jerk," and, really, that about sums up how I feel about him.

But Camila is one of my two best friends, and how am I supposed to tell her that a guy who just asked her out for what would be her first date is not right for her. I felt like she had really put me on the spot. So I started hedging about how I didn't know what she should do and asked her what did she think?

She said the usual things about Marcus being so good looking and athletic...blah, blah, blah. And his parents have a really nice house and all that, and Marcus says he's going to play pro football—give me a break. Then I said but what did she think about Marcus as a person? And she hesitated on her answer, and I thought maybe that I should just smile and not say anything more. Mama told me one time that I was "born old," that even when I was little I was different from the other kids that were in the neighborhood where we used to live. That I saw things in people and could read them, and I was always looking and thinking about what was going on. Mama is right about that.

But it doesn't take an old person to know that some boys just aren't dating material. That's why I like Luke so much. I feel he has all this potential to be someone special in life and do the right thing. Doing the right thing toward other people is really, really important to me. When I was six or seven, Poppa had this job working construction, and his boss was making him work overtime but wasn't paying him extra for it like he should have. Poppa would complain to Mama about it at night, but he was afraid to say anything to the supervisor because he might lose his job and what would happen to us then...we were barely getting by back then. That boss did not do the right thing toward my Poppa.

Luke will always do the right thing toward other people; I can see that in him. And any girl he would ever date would be treated with respect and he would be sweet and kind to her and see about her needs first. I don't see those qualities in Marcus...at least not right now...maybe he will grow into them.

Camila and Hannah talk and talk and talk and I listen and nod a lot and finally Camila says she is going to say yes to going out with Marcus. Hannah says super and gives Camilla a big hug. I force a smile and say that sounds wonderful but I feel like a hypocrite for not being open and honest with her. But what was I supposed to say...I don't know. I'm really glad I'm now spending the whole lunch period Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays with Luke. I eat my sandwich really quick on the way there, stop for a drink of water at a fountain, and I'm good to go. Tuesdays and Thursdays are nice with Luke, especially after we make it through the math tutoring so we can read and talk a little. But Friday lunches with Luke and our book are the highlight of my week.

Oh, I give Camila and Marcus one month of being together, maybe two...tops.