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“We should be okay.”
    “They can’t eat forty-eight bucks’ worth of food.”
    “Nah. But we gotta eat, too. And pay for the rides.”
    “We’ll stall,” Zero said. “Always get on the longest lines.”
    Calvin nodded. “Right.”
    They walked over with the fries and joked around a bit with Julie Carrasco, from their soccer team, and Sherry Allegretta, who they knew from track. When the fries were gone, Danielle said, “I could use a drink.”
    “Me, too,” said Jessie. She raised her eyebrows and gave Calvin an expectant look.
    “What do you want?” Calvin asked.
    “Half Sprite, half orange. About this much ice only,” Jessie said, holding her fingers about three-quarters of an inch apart. “With a straw.”
    Danielle shook her head and smiled gently at Zero. “A Coke will be fine,” she said.
    Calvin and Zero walked back to the same stand. They could hear the four girls giggling behind them.
    When they were in line, Zero smacked Calvin’s arm to get his attention. “Remember,” he said, looking as serious as he could. “This much ice.” Then he cracked up.
    Calvin stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the sky. “She’s busting my chops, huh?”
    “She’s something else.” Zero glanced over at the girls, who’d been joined by three guys their age—Vinnie DiMarco, Spencer Lewis, and Willie Shaw. “Why’d you pick them, anyway?”
    “I don’t know. They’re cute, you gotta admit that. Jessie was a lot of fun last year in school. Always busting on the teachers and giving me gum and stuff.”
    “She likes being the center of attention,” Zero said. “That’s for sure.”
    “Maybe we can switch girls next time.”
    “Yeah, right. You think there’s gonna be a next time?”
    Calvin grimaced. “Who knows?”
    “So what are we supposed to do? Follow them around all night and buy whatever they want?”
    They’d reached the counter. Calvin hesitated, then said to the heavy guy in a red-and-white-striped shirt, “Can you give me half Sprite and half orange with just a little ice?”
    “This much ice,” Zero said, holding up his fingers, clearly enjoying himself while Calvin squirmed. “His date is a little fussy about that.”
    The guy smirked and nodded. “Aren’t they all,” he said. He went to get the drink.
    “A Coke, too!” Zero called. “No special treatment needed.”
    Calvin elbowed Zero again, but he paid for both drinks. The twins and their posse had walked over to one of the gaming booths, where Spencer was trying to win some candy by betting on a wheel. Spencer had been the starting point guard on the school basketball team and was considered one of the coolest kids in their grade. He was wearing a tank top that was stark white against his brown skin. He had muscular arms for a twelve-year-old.
    After a few spins, Spencer won four chocolate bars. “For the ladies,” he said, grinning broadly as he handed one each to Jessie, Danielle, Sherry, and Julie.
    Calvin turned to Jessie. “Hope that don’t spoil your appetite,” he said with a touch of sarcasm.
    “Don’t worry,” she replied. “I’m just warming up.” The group walked around the inner perimeter of the carnival grounds, stopping now and then to check out a booth or greet a friend. Zero and Calvin hung toward the back of the pack. Eventually Danielle joined them.
    “How you guys doing?” she asked. She had a knowing grin.
    Calvin shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
    “My sister’s a trip, huh? She knows how to get her way.”
    Calvin just nodded.
    “You guys getting hungry for some real food?” Danielle asked.
    “I am,” Zero said. “I could go for a sausage sandwich.”
    “Sounds good.” She gripped Zero’s arm momentarily and pointed him toward an Italian food booth. “Catch you later,” she said to Calvin.
    Now Calvin found himself in a pack of seven people, with Jessie at the front and him trailing behind. She chattered away with Spencer and Sherry as they walked around the fair.