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taps the edge of the table with his paperback. “I can sit somewhere else till it blows over if you want.”
    “Don’t be stupid.” I kick the seat out for him, and he gives me an appreciative grin as he sits. “But if Sydney isn’t coming over, I may need you for some much needed girl talk.”
    His face twists, and he lets out a groan. “If it’s about me and her, then I’m not up for that.”
    “We’ll keep it about me.” If Sydney won’t talk to me about whatever the heck is happening, then I don’t want to know. I lean over and dig through my backpack, then pull out a crinkled paper I shoved in there this morning. “So, how would one go about switching their schedule mid-semester?”
    He adjusts his glasses, and leans up to try to get a look at my paper. “This is girl talk?”
    I smile and gesture to Levi, sitting way too far away from me. He’s with his band buddies today, and he’s holding that small black case again. He’s laughing and joking with them, and taking big gulps of his Minute Maid. Oh, I wish I was Minute Maid right now.
    “You want to transfer into senior classes?” Adam snorts and brings my eyes back to him. “Sorry, Sierra. You’re asking for the impossible, unless your grade point average is a 4.0. And even then, it’s tricky.”
    “Not senior classes. Just Band.”
    He stares at me for a second, but I’m straight-faced serious. Zoe said find something in common. Well, I like music, and Levi’s been in the band since he learned how to pick up a drum stick. And when Adam registers my very non-joking face, he bursts out in laughter.
    “You can’t play an instrument to save your life!” he says through his amusement and my cheeks get hotter and hotter the more people look our way. “I’m pretty sure you played piano for a week before you gave up. And you made it even less with the flute.”
    I kick him under the table, and he’s still laughing as he rubs his shin.
    “That’s the only other class on his schedule that I can get into, besides Debate. Help?”
    He pushes his glasses up, then sticks his hand out. “Is that a list of both your schedules?”
    I nod. He wiggles his fingers and my cheeks puffer as I set the paper in his hand.
    “Hmm…you have a study hall.”
    “Yeah.”
    “That’s your ticket in. It’s the same period as Band, so just tell the guidance counselor you’d like to have your study hall in the band room.”
    “You can do that?”
    He nods, sliding the crumpled list back at me. “A lot of people will do their study halls in Theater or Art or Band because it helps them study. Music, art… sometimes helps people concentrate. The counselors are pretty lenient about it. Worth a shot.”
    I could totally kiss him! But I lean over and hug him instead. His glasses dig into my cheek. “You’re brilliant! Thank you.”
    Now that I’ve got my in, I’m going to make it happen. I shove my paper back in my backpack, slide my chair out, and book it to the guidance offices before the bell rings.
    Someone shouts about how I must be running because I showed an ounce of affection toward a guy, and now I’m freaking out. My cheeks burn, and I slow my pace. People are so stupid. I’m not even allowed to hug one of my friends without getting crap for it.
    There are no students in the guidance offices, so I march straight into Mr. West’s, since he’s in charge of the Ls.
    Seriously, two seconds after explaining what I want, he prints out a paper for the band teacher to let her know I’ll be taking my study hall there, and I’m out in the hallway again before the bell rings.
    That was way too easy. It must be destiny.
    I do a little dance on my way to class. Just one more hour and I’ll be watching Levi play his drums, and maybe he’ll give me a few more of those half smiles.
     
    ***
     
    The band room smells like string cheese that’s been in your bag for too long. My nose crinkles as I walk up to the teacher. She’s really short, shorter than me.