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answer when Jeff asked her out. But how was she to know Jeff’s intentions when he followed behind them?
    “Are you okay?” Marilee asked, cutting off Jessica’s anguish.
    “Sort of.”
    “Where’s Paul? Isn’t he gonna come by our table? Or did Eddie scare him off?”
    Jessica didn’t know how to answer so she just shrugged, thinking about what happened yesterday. Paul and a couple of his buddies eventually joined Jessica and Marilee at their lunch table. They smelled like the pungent odor that had met her nose that first day of school. Paul was laughing at his buddies as they stuffed chips and whatever else they could get their hands on into their mouths. One guy even poured packets of ketchup in his mouth, which completely grossed Jessica out. Paul kept laughing and calling them “tards.” As Eddie approached their table, his face said it all. A few of Paul’s buddies who knew Eddie said, “Hey, man. What’s up, dude?” Eddie quickly made sure they all knew who his little sister was, and that Jessica was considered a little sister too. The pharmaceutical high they were all on came crashing down. All the boys said, “Yeah sure, man, no problem here. Just hangin’ out, ya know.” Paul was the only one to open his bullheaded mouth.
    “So what are you sayin’? I can’t sit at this table and talk to these girls?”
    “I’m just letting you know what’s up.”
    “Oh,” said Paul, “so what’s up is that you don’t want us sittin’ with your sisters?”
    “I guess you could look at it that way.”
    Paul’s friends started to crack under the pressure. They didn’t want to be in the frying pan, they just wanted to eat what was in the frying pan.
    “Hey, man, that’s cool. Come on, the bell’s about to ring anyways,” said the boy who had ketchup on his lips and cheek.
    “Yeah,” another one said as he clumsily stood up. “I need to be at my next class or I’m in deep shit.”
    Paul eyed Eddie for a few seconds. Jessica noticed how glassy and red Paul’s eyes looked, and she felt torn. She wanted to be Eddie’s little sister, but she also wanted to be Paul’s girlfriend, a prospect she knew was out of the question but still loved to daydream about. Jessica was starting to resent Eddie for acting like her father. Paul left the table last, staring Eddie down. “See you girls tomorrow,” he said, aiming his words toward Eddie.
    Jessica wanted to say something but was afraid Eddie would get mad. She was happy when Marilee piped in that he needed to cool his jets.
    “I know you feel like you need to protect me, but seriously, no boys are ever going to come near me with you around. And Jessica really likes Paul. You chased him away for no reason.”
    “Paul isn’t boyfriend material,” Eddie stated.
    “Why?” Marilee asked.
    Eddie got in close so not everyone would hear. “Because he’s a total burnout. Look at his eyes. Those alone should warn you that he’s messed up.”
    “What’d you mean, drugs?” Marilee questioned.
    “Yeah, and other things. He’s a freshie, and I know who he is just by the neighborhood rep. Jessica, you’re easy picking for someone who knows a hell of a lot more about life.” Jessica was not sure to take that as a compliment or insult, but either way his words were hard to ignore. So Paul was a burnout, which—as Jessica learned in her first few days of high school—meant he liked to party. She was not so sure what “party” entailed, but was pretty confident Pin the Tail on the Donkey and drinking soda pop were not on the agenda.
     

     
    Paul did not show up for Humanities, and as Jessica walked down the concrete steps, she was surprised to see him walking toward her with a strange look on his face. He was alone, however his group of friends stood in a circle not far off smoking cigarettes, talking, and laughing. She noticed that the circle of friends now included a few girls who liked to smoke too.
    “Hey,” he said.
    “Hi,” she said as she