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girl, I would say!
    This would make a great, very jazzy first column of the year, I decided.
     I’d wait to see if anything else came in, but I felt secure at having at least one
     great option. Not that I had a clue what to say to this person, but I’d deal with
     that later. (Maybe I could research it online somehow.)
    I folded the letter up and stuffed it back in its envelope, then I put
     all three letters back in the manila envelope from Mr. Trigg, tightening the bolt on the
     back and wedging it all back down into my messenger bag. There had to be a safer way to
     transport these letters. What if my bag fell into the wrong hands?
    I exited the stall, washed my hands, and went to meet Hailey. Hopefully
     lunch with my BFF would cheer me up!

Chapter 6
    MARTONE FIRES
     BEST FRIEND, BECOMES HERMIT
    Lunch was gross. I sat with Hailey and picked at my chimichanga and
     JELL-O.
    â€œMr. Pfeiffer should have revamped the lunch menu before he took
     on the curriculum,” said Hailey.
    â€œOooh!” I whipped out my notebook. “Can I quote you?
     That would be good for my article,” I said, copying down Hailey’s words.
    â€œSure. Whatever. I’m full of juicy quotes,” she said.
     “Oh look. Here comes lover boy!”
    I looked up and there was Michael with his lunch tray, looking for a
     place to sit.
    â€œYoo-hoo! Number fifteen!” called Hailey.
    â€œHailey! No!” I hissed, but it was too late.
    â€œWhy not?” she said, turning to me.
    I sighed. “Just . . .”
    â€œHey, Hailey. Hey, Pasty,” said Michael.
    â€œWant to join us?” asked Hailey.
    â€œOkay. Just for a minute, because I’m actually sitting with
     Walter once he finishes clearing out the buffet line.”
    Hailey sat up straight and fluffed her hair with her hands, leaving her
     dangly earrings jangling all over the place. This fluffing thing was an annoying new
     habit she had, I’d noticed.
    â€œQuite the photo of you on Buddybook last night,” she said
     to Michael in kind of a flirty way.
    Oh great, here we go again. Can’t anyone talk about anything but
     Buddybook?
    Michael did not look happy. “Sam here thinks it’s
     terrible.” He gestured to me with a jut of his chin.
    â€œ What? I do not!” I sputtered.
     “That is totally inaccurate!”
    Michael shrugged and looked away. “I believe the quote was
     ‘I didn’t say everyone looked bad,’” He made little quotation
     marks in the air.
    â€œThat’s not what I said!” I protested.
    Michael tapped his temple. “Fancy memory,
     remember?”
    I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed. “Well, that’s
     not what I meant.” Did I dare to tell him he looked gorgeous in the photo? My body
     surged with adrenaline at the idea of being that bold. Could I do it?
    â€œWell, I thought you looked gorgeous in the photo,” said
     Hailey.
    Wait, what ?
    Did she just say exactly what I was thinking?
    I looked at Hailey. Then I looked at Michael. He had ducked his head
     shyly, a move I’d never seen him make before. Michael Lawrence? Shy? My eyes
     widened. I couldn’t process this.
    â€œYeah,” said Michael dismissively, as if he was saying,
     “No.”
    â€œIt’s true, right, Sammy?” Hailey nudged me.
    â€œHailey!” Was she trying to mortify me or what?
    â€œTell him how good he looked!” she teased.
    Oh my goodness. I wanted to die. I covered my face with my hands. This
     was so embarrassing.
    â€œThere’s Walter. I’ve gotta go,” said Michael.And he stood up with his tray and hurried away.
    â€œSam!” Hailey hit me on the arm. “What is your
     problem?”
    â€œWhat is yours?” I said. I was furious. “Why are you
     trying to rat me out? Why do you want Michael Lawrence to know I’m in love with
     him?”
    â€œThat’s not what I was trying