It wasn’t much of a shock. They’d broken up at least three times that previous year, because they were polar opposites. “Because he’s a turd, that’s why. He’s always looking at other girls. And then I heard he was flirting with a freshman saxophone player in band.”

“Okay, but—”

“Luisa’s not going, and—”

“She’s not?”

“Yeah, have you noticed? She has the biggest stick up her butt, lately. Ever since New Year’s. She doesn’t want anything to do with us anymore.”

Not us, I thought. Me.

“And I’m not going either, if it means being with Jav. So do you really want to go to the ball game with the three stooges?” she asked me. Without waiting for an answer, she said, “Thought not! So you’re coming with me. To the mall. I want to get a hot outfit so I can show Javier what he can’t have.”

“Um…” I’d long since lost interest in the mall. Ever since Declan and I had become a couple, I’d kind of let my appearance go, wearing jeans and sweatshirts everywhere, since I’d been so comfortable with us. But maybe that hadn’t been wise. Maybe I should have been making more of an effort to look nice for him. Despite having been in relationships for longer than I’d been, Nina and Luisa always dressed to impress. I could also get the stuff I needed for Declan’s scrapbook project at the mall…

Still, I didn’t want to give up my chance to be with Declan. That was what mattered. “I really should be with Declan. I haven’t had a chance to see him much.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Really?”

“I’m sorry, but yeah,” I said surely.

She huffed, then started to pout. “I can’t believe you’re going to leave me alone in my time of need. I thought it was holes before poles forever, girl.”

“I’m sorry.”

I was sorry, especially when I got to my car and saw Declan leaning against it. “Hey,” he said as I approached.

I leaned over to give him a kiss, a chaste one on his cheek that he didn’t return. “You get the note I left in your locker?”

He nodded. “I did. Thanks.”

It had been kind of corny, about how I was looking forward to going out with him that night. I wanted him to know that I thought of him, and only him. I wanted him to understand that I didn’t care about Kane in the least. “Oh. So…you need a ride home?”

He shook his head. “I wanted to let you know I can’t be there tonight. I’ve got a project to do for physics, and I’m just not feeling basketball. You know me and sports.”