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honors student.”
    “What honor? Ask your straight-A cheerleaders and half the drill team how many times he’s embarrassed them!”
    Principal Smith rattled his pencil in frustration.
    “We need to get you involved in something, Raven. Some club you can belong to, something that will help you make friends.”
    “The chess club have any openings? Or how about the math club?” I asked sarcastically.
    “There are other activities.”
    “Can you guarantee me a spot on the cheerleading squad? Of course, I’d have to wear a black pleated skirt.”
    “That’s one you have to try out for. But I bet you’d be great.”
    “Obviously honors students, like Trevor, really respect cheerleaders.”
    “Raven, high school is hard for most kids. That’s just the way it is. Even the people who look as though they belong usually don’t feel they belong. But you have so much going for you. You’re imaginative. You’re smart. You’ll figure it out. Just don’t damage any more lockers while you’re trying to find the answers.”
    “Sure, Frank,” I said, taking the detention slip. “See you soon.”
    “Not too soon, okay, Raven?”
    “I’ll try not to work you too hard,” I said and closed the door.
     
     
     
    The next day I noticed something on my locker that I hadn’t put up. In black paint was written: RAVEN IS A HORROR !
    I smiled. Very clever, Trevor. Very clever. I felt warm inside. It was the first time he had ever complimented me.

Happy Halloween
     
    H alloween. My favorite day of the year. The one day of the year that I fit in. It’s the only day everyone accepts and compliments me, and I even get rewarded for it by generous neighbors who don’t think I’m too old to celebrate—or are more likely too afraid of what my tricks would be.
    But this year I decided I really wanted to wear a costume. I shopped in stores I usually never went to and borrowed things from my mom. I strangled my hair into a ponytail and pink barrettes and wore a lusciously soft white cashmere sweater with a pink tennis skirt. I gave myself a healthy glow with some of my mom’s base and blush and wore a soft plum lipstick. I even carried my dad’s tennis racket. I went around the house saying things like, “Mummy dear, I’ll be home after my tennis lesson!”
    Nerd Boy didn’t recognize me as I passed him in the kitchen. Then his mouth dropped open when he realized it was me and not a neighbor’s kid dropping over for sugar.
    “I’ve never seen you look so…good,” he said, dressed as a baseball player. I thought I was going to be sick right there and then.
    My parents wanted to take pictures. Go figure. They were acting as if I was going to the prom. I let them take just one. I figured my dad should finally have a picture of me he could proudly hang at the office.
     
     
     
    Becky and I were eating lunch in the cafeteria later that day. Everyone looked at me like I was the new girl. Really, no one recognized me. It was fun at first, then a bit annoying. I got stares when I dressed in black. I got stares when I dressed in white. I couldn’t win! Then Trevor came into the cafeteria dressed as Dracula. His hair was slicked back, and he was sporting a black cape. He had plastic fangs and red-hot lips.
    He stood with Matt as he glanced all around to find me. He wanted to rub his new look in my face. Matt finally pointed to me and Trevor did a double take. He stared at me long and hard, looked me up and down. I had never seen him gaze at me like that before. It was as if he was in major Crushville, as he checked out my preppy white sweater and healthy glow.
    I thought for sure he’d come over and say something stupid, but instead he sat at the opposite side of the cafeteria with his back to me. He even left before I did. I was free of him! But I was wrong. I should have known our truce wouldn’t last.
     
     
     
    My little pumpkin basket was almost filled with Smarties, Snickers, Mary Janes, Jolly Ranchers, Dubble Bubble