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was it such a ridiculous notion that we could be morethan friends? I tried to keep an even smile for Mr. Benson’s benefit, but I could feel my lip trembling.
    “All right, then. You kids can come here for drama block, and keep me informed each week on your progress. You’ll find old props and costumes in the cupboards in the wings, as well as up on the platform.” He pointed to an overhead storage area stacked with boxes about halfway up to the lighting catwalk. “And I’ll print you both a copy of the script. You’ll be graded accordingly.”
    After Mr. Benson left, I turned to Marcus, waiting for him to fill me in on his plan. Because he must have some kind of plan, right? I felt a little irked about the “sister” comment, and I crossed my arms. “So. Where do we start?” I demanded.
    He surveyed the junk. “Huh. Not much here to work with,” he said. “You ever used one of those?” He motioned to some big tool in the corner that I didn’t even recognize.
    I shook my head, thinking it wasn’t a great sign that he called the contraption “one of those” and was looking for my expertise here.
    He met my eyes and, for just a second, I felt like he didn’t want to look away. Like he was trying to convey something serious, but I was horrible at reading those looks. I blinked and that seemed to bring him back to the task.
    “Well, I guess we’ll think of something,” he said, and led the way to the school doors.
    *   *   *
     
    I stressed out all through my afternoon classes about my drama grade. I always counted on that B to pull up my average, but now Marcus and I had to build an entire set, which seemed to carry a lot more responsibility and room for error. Just after the last bell of the day, I stood at my locker, trying to look occupied, while students swarmed past me toward the exits. If my nervousness about our stagecraft assignment wasn’t enough, now I also had to think about going for coffee with Marcus. We hadn’t made any detailed plans. Were we supposed to meet here?
    “Hi!” Claire suddenly said from behind me.
    I clutched at my chest. “You scared the crap out of me.”
    She giggled. “I’m off to watch Josh’s football practice.” She looked down at her nails. “Jaz is busy with Laz. Hey, do you want to come with me?” She said it like she’d just thought it up on the spot, but I could tell by her quick words this was the reason she’d come to find me. “Their practice starts in fifteen minutes.”
    Sure, I was second choice, but she wanted to watch a football practice with me? Josh’s football practice? I nibbled my lip. What if he’d seen the turquoise paper?
    As if she could read my mind, Claire said, “Josh told me he thought you were so cute the way you got all embarrassed over the birthday fuss.”
    Cute? Had he really said that about me? If he had seen the quiz, he obviously wasn’t disturbed by it.
    “Come on, Loey. We have to hurry.”
    “Shh. Don’t call me that here.” “Loey” was a nickname Claire had given me when I was a baby and she was just learning to talk. I didn’t mind it at home, but at school it made me feel childish.
    “Oh, right. Hey, Josh wanted to know if you liked the camera.”
    My palms moistened. They’d had an actual conversation about me? I hadn’t seen him in the halls since my birthday. The truth was, it would be much easier to face Josh now, with Claire, than it would be if I saw him with his friends while I was all alone.
    She looked at me seriously, with her eyebrows raised, and I could tell she was anxious to go. But Marcus . . . I’d never actually been invited out for coffee before and even though I was nervous, I guess part of me had really been looking forward to it. I glanced down the hall. “I kind of have plans with someone,” I said finally.
    She threw me a doubting glance and stuttered a little when she said, “I-I thought we could, you know, hang out.”
    I didn’t quite know what to do with the sudden