NESSA: hey thats mean

SOPHIE: and you’re never mean?

you know what never mind

NESSA: I don’t know maybe she could help us. the more the better right?

EVE: what if she actually wrote the list though? What if we are wrong?

SOPHIE: why wouldnt she put herself on it then …

EVE: I don’t know, maybe she WANTS to go to another school.

SOPHIE: EVE. BRODY WROTE THE LIST. TRUST ME. ACCEPT IT.

NESSA: yeah shes right. brody wrote it not lara alexander!!! ugh how can you be defending brody. gross

SOPHIE: yeah are you a double agent now or something

look he will like another girl soon and it wont be you

EVE: I’m not defending Brody!

SOPHIE: okay wow maybe you haven’t gotten anything useful from him about the list because youve fallen for his nice guy act

but we need you to stick to the plan

the halloween dance is the perfect time to record him admitting it

he might not like you for much longer

and it wont be long before he kisses you trust me

EVE: What?!?!?!?!?!

NESSA: aw geez don’t say that i just ate dinner ill get sick

EVE: But we hardly know each other!!!!!!

SOPHIE: did you really just say that

NESSA: evie look how stressed youre making sophie

EVE: I am not falling for his act!

SOPHIE: whatever you know what im going to bed goodbye

NESSA: sophie always leaves in a huff lol

EVE: haha

NESSA: she never leaves a room without being like [GIF of reality show actress storming off and kicking a table over, then throwing over a bookcase on the way out of the room]

EVE: hahahahaha omg Nessa

SOPHIE: very funny

NESSA: youre the funny one

SOPHIE: okay Im serious now bye bye

NESSA: she’s doing it again lolololol

EVE: hahaha

SOPHIE: SOME OF US HAVE HOMEWORK TO DO

GOODNIGHT

26

EVE

Text message, after homeroom, Curtis Milford:

you think you’re so much better than me don’t you

Text message, unknown number, during math class:

hey no 1. u always look so sad. smile. ☺

Text message, unknown number, end of math class:

is it tissue in there or padding

The day before the Halloween dance, an unfamiliar voice came from behind Eve’s open locker door.

“How’s it going?”

She shut her locker to find Winston Byrd standing there, his hands wrapped around his backpack straps, his shoulders hunched over a bit as if he wasn’t yet used to being so tall. For an instant, she wondered whether he’d sent her any of the text messages, and which ones.

“It’s okay.” She felt her face flush as pink as cherry blossoms. Why, God? Why did her blood vessels betray her like this?

Winston looked like he was about to say something right as Brody came toward them from the boys’ bathroom.

Two seventh graders waved at Brody. He threw them a slight nod of the head as he strutted by.

“Hey, Byrd!” Brody smacked Winston’s back so loudly Eve heard a thump. “Hanging by my girl’s locker, huh?” His teeth gleamed white under the harsh hallway light. “Joking, joking. What’s up?” Brody propped an elbow against Eve’s locker.