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hated to eat alone and wondered where her two friends were. Don’t tell me they’re going to disappear too .
    And then, as though things couldn’t get worse, Lindy , Amy and Becca were coming toward her. It was the nasty s neer on Lindy ’s face that gave Mercy a chill. It was as though Lindy had something unpleasant on her mind. Just as Lindy drew close to the table, a tray plunked down next to hers with a bang. Mercy jumped at least a foot and let out a little s queak .
    “Sorry, Mercy. Didn't mean to scare you. ” It was Greg and he was smiling. “Is it okay if I sit with you?”
    She drew a breath and let it out heavily. “Sure … I don’t know where Felicity and Kelli are.” Her voice trailed off uncertainly.
    “I think they got stuck in Art class. It looked like the whole class was cleaning clay off the tables when I walked past the room.”
    A huge weight seemed to lift off her chest. Her friends hadn’t disappeared after all. She wasn’t completely alone in the universe.  Greg sat down beside her and she didn’t feel all alone one single bit. Especially when he stared at her with his big brown eyes looking all puppy-like.
    When Mercy glanced up, she saw Lindy glaring at her. Lindy lifted her nose in the air and slammed her tray down on the next table over , her charm bracelet jangling. She sat so that she was facing Mercy and Greg. Becca and Amy flanked her so there were three sets of snarly faces glowering at her.
    Mercy tried to swallow…Couldn’t. She felt frozen in place, as though some evil force had paralyzed her. She heard a giggle.
    “And then Mr. Allen called on me and I forgot why I had raised my hand…” Felicity put her tray down in front of Mercy , blocking her view of snarly face. She pulled out the chair , but loo ked at Greg and hesitated.
    Mercy gave her a nod and flicked her eyes down at the table. Please sit down and be normal. I need normal.
    Kelli smiled and arranged herself in the chair opposite Greg. Between the two of them, they blocked all the hateful snarly faces. “I hope you two weren’t having a private conversation, because , if so , we’re here to give you a hard time.” She flashed her wide grin, causing the fluorescent cafeteria lights to glint off her metal braces.
    “Private conversation? No, we were just…”
    “I just sat down, Kel.” Greg reached for his straw and poked it in his chocolate milk carton .
    “Oh, puh-leeze! You two have liked each other since grade school.” Kelli pushed her glasses up on her short nose. “It’s about time you started acting like it.” She tore off the corner of a plastic packet and squirted mustard on her hot dog.
    Greg turned to Mercy, not in the least bit uncomfortable. He gave her a wink.
    She felt herself turning red. “Well, I…uh…”
    Greg grinned. “Yeah, she’s crazy about me.”
    Mercy thought she would pass out right in the cafeteria. “I am not!”
    He opened his eyes wide and gave her a comic look. “You’re not?”
    Kelli and Felicity giggled .
    Mercy closed her eyes tight and then opened them. “Well, yeah. I kinda do like you…a little.”
    “Sure you do . Everyone knows it.” Kelli picked up her hot dog and bit the end off. “But he’s crazy about you too.”
    Mercy’s breath caught in her throat. “He is?” She glanced at Greg, but he w as studying his chocolate milk.
    “He is,” he said.
    She tried to control h er face, but it grinned anyway.
    “Hooray,” Felicity said. “It’s official. Now are we going to get together to study for the h istory test or what?”
    Mercy stole a look at Greg and he was smiling. He picked up his ch eeseburger and took a big bite.
    Mercy supposed this was the way it felt to have an official boyfriend. Her stomach was all jittery, but otherwise she was feeling pretty good. So much for normal .
    She made arrangements to meet Kelli and Greg at Felicity ’s house after school to study for the s ocial s tudies test.
    “Don’t you need to call your