Chapter 7
THE DANCE

Their next practice ended with lots of footwork— dribble tag, jump rope. Yasmin jumped until she felt like her heart would explode. Side-to-side jumps, forward to backward, jogging-in-place jumps, singleleg hops. She jumped until she felt it in every part of her body.

As she doubled over, panting and trying to catch her breath, Coach said, “Just a reminder that I want all of us at the Fall Dance tonight. Having the team there is good for school spirit. So, we’re going to help with the decorations in the gym, head home to change, and then head back here.”

Yasmin didn’t mind that Coach had volunteered the team for helping with the dance decorations. She did mind that they were being forced to attend the dance. Of course, Coach had already sent emails out to the parents about that. That morning Yasmin’s mom had said, “Exciting! Maybe you’ll meet some nicer kids there.”

“Doubt it,” Yasmin had grunted.

Her old middle school had dances too, and she hadn’t loved those much either. It was a bunch of kids standing around, drinking fruit punch and dancing awkwardly with about two feet of space between each other, and teachers who looked stressed out the entire time.

She had a feeling this one would be even worse. Reluctantly, she helped blow up balloons and hang streamers and sparkly signs that said Dexter Middle School Fall Dance. The only thing that kept her going was the thought that maybe she could rile Kelly up a little bit somehow.

When the decorations were done, Coach called out, “OK, head on home to get changed!”

At home, Yasmin changed into one of the three dresses she owned. Then her mom drove her back to the school, fussing over her more than she usually did.

“Remember to call us if anything goes wrong,” she said as she dropped Yasmin off.

Yasmin shuffled into the gym. Even though she’d been there just an hour ago and had hung some of the decorations herself, the gym still looked amazingly transformed. Students poured inside, looking way nicer than they had at school that day.

She glanced around and saw Kelly standing with a bunch of friends. She went in the opposite direction, weaving past people dancing, all the way to the back wall. Her science teacher, Mr. Blake, was manning the refreshments table. He was almost completely hidden behind an enormous bowl of fruit punch.

Yasmin found a safe spot along the wall near the table. From there, she stared out at the sea of people. She wasn’t feeling quite as bold about riling Kelly up as she’d planned, which bugged her. Kelly was currently laughing and joking with Coach. Yasmin’s stomach sank. Had Coach even tried to talk to Kelly about what had happened? It didn’t look like it. She and Coach looked as chummy as ever.

Kelly glanced over at Yasmin, met her eyes for a second, and turned to say something to her friends. A few of them glanced over too, then went back to talking among themselves.

Yeah, it definitely didn’t seem like Kelly had gotten a talking-to.

Yasmin’s stomach dropped even more. She scanned the gym, looking for the easiest route to get out of there. She could call her mom and tell her she had a stomachache. She was about to make a beeline for the door when she noticed someone on the other side of the table, also pressed against the wall.

It was Heidi. She was watching everyone else too.

Yasmin went over to her. “Sorry if I was rude earlier,” she said. She hated apologizing, but she also knew it was important. Her least favorite thing— besides Kelly—was people who didn’t apologize when they were wrong.

Heidi was wearing a long blue dress. She gave a little half smile. “It’s OK.”

Yasmin leaned against the wall next to her. “So, no dancing?”

Heidi snorted. Yasmin smiled. She’d never heard Heidi do or say anything sarcastic before.

“Nah,” Heidi said. “Who’d dance with me?”

Yasmin was even more surprised. “What do you mean?”

Heidi turned to look at her. “They make fun of me too, you know. It’s not the same as racism, but it still sucks.”

Yasmin was surprised that Heidi had said it so bluntly, without blinking.

“No guy wants to dance with a girl way taller than him,” Heidi went on.

Yasmin wanted to correct her and tell her she was wrong. Then she realized that, unfortunately, she might be right. Middle school boys were weird about lots of things.

“Maybe we’ll all be the same height by the time we’re in high school,” Yasmin said.

Heidi shrugged and smiled. “I like being tall. I don’t have a problem with it.”

“Good,” Yasmin said. Then she frowned. “I don’t know if I like this school. My old school was way better.”

Heidi nodded. “I can see why. It sucks to feel different.”

Yasmin clenched her fists. “It’s stupid that some people have to feel different.”

Heidi nodded. “And it sucks that certain people are jerks. Hey, did you catch the Lakers game on Friday?”

Yasmin smiled. “No, I missed it. I heard it was great!”

As Heidi talked, Yasmin felt the tiniest bit lighter. Maybe not everyone at Dexter Middle School was awful.

She and Heidi spent the rest of the dance by the wall, talking about basketball, movies, and music. By the time the dance was over, Yasmin realized she’d had fun—and not because she’d danced.

She’d officially made a new friend.

Louise was excited when Yasmin texted her the news. If I wasn’t worried about you at that school, I’d be jealous. <3

For the first time in a while, when Yasmin got into bed that night, she felt like there might be some hope.