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answered in a singsong tone. She didn’t sound especially unhappy to be the bearer of bad news. “She was talking to us in calculus, and she sounded like she might be worried. He hasn’t even invited her to prom yet!” As soon as the words left her mouth, Megan dropped her head. She had obviously realized how unclassy it was for her to blurt out the nuances of Gaia’s personal life to someone who had an actual investment in Gaia’s emotional well-being. “I mean, that’s what I heard. That she’s worried.”
    â€œHe gives her reason to worry,” Melanie chimed in sharply. “The way he flirts with any girl with a pulse.” Melanie was all too eager to cut Jake down—possibly because she felt resentful at having been passed over for someone who didn’t give a crap about social politics, Liz conjectured.
    â€œWhat
ever,”
Tammie cut in, feigning boredom with the discussion. “The Gaia-Jake relationshipdebate can be continued this time tomorrow. I’m sure Liz can get the straight story herself if she’s really interested. Right?” She winked at Liz. “In the meantime, we’ve got a dress to buy.”
    The FOHs turned as one unit and stalked off in the direction of Houston Street, leaving Liz to ponder the conversation. If she’d been concerned about Gaia before, now she was starting to be bona fide worried.

one cool chick
    As unsettling as the feeling was, she couldn’t turn away from him.

Girlie Input
    LIZ WAS RELIEVED TO SEE A GAIA-shaped figure emerge, finally, from the front entrance of the school. She had been waiting nearly twenty minutes since the FOHs left and was just about ready to give up when she spotted the familiar slim, muscular shadow. Messenger bag slung over one hip, perpetual look of anxious suspicion etched across her features—it was unmistakably Gaia. Liz smiled. Sure, she’d noticed a shift in Gaia’s behavior since their initial meeting, but she was still one cool chick. She didn’t give a crap about what anyone thought of her; at least, that was the message she gave off, wearing yesterday’s cargos. And she didn’t take any bull, either. Just looking at Gaia alleviated most of Liz’s concerns over what the FOHs had just told her. Still, Liz did want to check in with Gaia.
    Gaia peered around, hearing her name, then spotted Liz, smiled, and approached her. “Hey, what’s up?” she asked, obviously pleased to see her friend. “Were you looking for me?”
    â€œYeah, I never got a chance to talk to you after the party; you blew out of there so fast. I wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
    A look of guilt flashed across Gaia’s lovely features. “Yeah, I’m really sorry about that. I totally forgot that I promised Jake I would meet him later. But I shouldhave at least said goodbye. I suck.” She leveled her gaze at Liz, feeling not great about the fabrication. “I had an amazing time. I’m sorry I sort of freaked out beforehand. I really appreciate that you invited me.” She smiled shyly.
    â€œHey, no worries—I totally get it if you had to meet your man,” Liz assured her. “So… things are good with Jake, then?” she asked tentatively. She didn’t want to create a situation for Gaia that didn’t exist. False alarms were never fun, and Gaia seemed so touchy these days….
    Gaia’s face clouded over once more. “Yeah, I guess. Typical guy stuff,” she explained, shrugging it off, hoping against hope that Liz didn’t know her well enough to know that she knew nothing from typical guy stuff. “Megan and Tammie helped me put it in perspective.”
    â€œMegan and Tammie?” Liz probed, cocking a suspicious eyebrow. “Perspective?” Those girls wouldn’t have known perspective if it hit them square in the middle of their designer-clad chests. Now Liz’s inner