“Don’t think I didn’t try. He got eyes for everybody but me. And I know it’s because of you. He’s just waiting for his moment to edge right on in between you and Dean.”

“Okay, enough. What was that look you were giving Dean, anyways? Why you want him rushing off?”

“I was in the bathroom and overheard Natalie Hanes is vying for your editor spot.”

“What? She barely has a feature. What makes her think she’s even got a chance?”

“Girl, I don’t know. She was talking about you not being a team player. She’s going to talk to Mr. Kaine, then work them votes against you. She feel she’s got Angela in the bag because you hijacked The Susan Touric Show, and Angela’s pissed.”

“Damn! Angela shouldn’t even get a vote, since she’s graduating. It should be up to this year’s juniors.” Angela will have influence, though; I’ve got to talk to her. She works with Mr. Kaine in the morning for internship credit. He’s the one who wrote her letter of recommendation to Susan Touric. I’m hoping to get one from him, too.

“Thanks, Tasha. I gotta talk to Angela.”

I weave my way down the hall, skipping my own class and going straight to the newsroom, which is just a repurposed classroom with desks set up into stations.

Angela and Chris are in heated debate. His boys, Scott and Justin, are crowded together watching them argue. I know Scott from the track team; he’s a long-distance runner. Used to be a sprinter but wasn’t fast enough. He’s tall and lanky with light brown hair; his neck would blanch in pink-and-white blotches when he’d run. I couldn’t stand him because he was always whining about Coach not being fair by taking him off sprinting and putting him on long distance. Said Coach was being racist against him. Never mind Dean runs the four hundred. But Texas be like that. Chris, Scott, and Justin, always a trio sticking together and not having any nonwhite friends.

I wait until they stop arguing. Chris hugs and kisses Angela. Her response is blank. Like she didn’t want him touching her. Chris doesn’t seem to notice, just takes off with the guys as the bell rings.

I step into the classroom, catching Angela by surprise.

“Mr. Kaine’s out this morning.” Angela shoves her heart-covered cell phone into her bag.

“I came to talk to you.”

“Listen, whatever happened is over. You should talk to your brother about the interview.”

“He won’t talk to me.”

“Well, I can see why. You ruined his interview.” She loops her blond hair behind her ear. “Your approach needs work. I tried to tell you, but you blew me off last staff meeting.”