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said as his confidence seemed to waver.
    “No.  It sounds fun.”
    “Cool,” he said and I saw his confidence return full force. “I’ll pick you up at six o’clock if, that’s okay.”
    “Yeah, that sounds good.”
    “Can I get your info?” he said as he pulled out his phone.  I gave him the number and my address and he punched it into his contacts. “Excellent,” he said, looking up at me with that half-smile and we began walking back to our respective lunch tables.  “I’ll see you in English,” Alex said as we parted ways. 
    I sat back down next to Holly and I watched Alex as he returned to his group.  Adrienne was glaring at me and she tossed her hair again and then turned back to her disciples.
    “What.  Was.  That?” Mandy asked slowly.
    “What was what?” I asked as I pulle d out my apple and took a bite.
    “What did Alex want?” Laura ask ed, joining in the inquisition.
    “What’s the big deal? He just wanted to talk to me.”
    “You don’t understand.  Alex Bettencourt doesn’t ever leave that table to come talk to the commoners,” Holly said sarcastically. 
    “He’s nice,” I said.
    “No, he’s not.  He’s one of them ,” Holly said, motioning towards his lunch table. “How do you even know him?”
    “They met in our Eng lish class,” Jesse answered.
    “Yes, we met in English, but I think I can answer for myself , Jesse.”
    “Sorry, Boston,” he said with a grin .
    “What did he want though?  What were you talking about?” Mandy asked excitedly.
    “We’re going out Saturday night.  We were making plans.”
    “ What ?” Mandy gasped. “You’re going out with Alex?”
    “Yeah.   What’s the big deal?”
    “The big deal?   The big deal is he’s incredibly hot,” Mandy continued.
    “I’m just going out with him.  No big deal.”
    “I disagree with that.  It’s a very big deal,” Holly said. “You just moved here.  You don’t know them.”
    “Which is exactly why I shouldn’t have preconceived notions about Alex, or any of them ,” I said, gesturing over to the table. “Well, maybe about Adrienne, but that’s only because she’s shown me what a witch she is, but everyone else has been fine, so why shouldn’t I go out with Alex?”
    “It’s not that Alex isn’t okay, I guess he’s not that bad.  I mean, he’s never really been a jerk to me personally, but,” Laura began and then she hesitated for a second.
    “But what?” I asked.
    “Well,” Laura continued, but then stopped again.
    “Well what?” I demanded, and a moment later she finally spoke again.
    “If you think Adrienne’s a bitch now, just wait till she sees you with Alex.”
    “Why?”
    “Adrienne and Alex used to go out.”
    “So?  Are they together now?”
    “Well…no, but I’m just saying she might get upset or something,” Laura added.
    “C’mon, you’re kidding, right?” I said as I laughed. “I don’t care about her.  I’m certainly not not going to go out with Alex because they used to go out.  That’s absurd.”
    “I’m not saying you shouldn’t go out with him, I’m just telling you that Adrienne might have something to say about it,” Laura said and as I looked around at everyone, they all seemed to agree with her.
    “So? Let her say something.  I don’t care,” I said and I discreetly looked over to Adrienne who was staring around the cafeteria as if she were too good to even be in our presence.  She made me laugh.  Her arrogance was comical.
     
    ****
     
    Alex wasn’t in English class when I got there, but Jesse was.  I walked past Karen, whose nose was buried so deep in The Scarlet Letter , I could hardly see her face. I prayed I didn’t get stuck doing group work today, at least not with her or the mime twins anyway.  Karen looked up as I walked by and I smiled at her, but was grateful she didn’t talk to me.  I feared if I engaged in a conversation with her, she’d never shut up.  I sat down at my desk, resting my