by Lynne Ewing
Arielle laughed too loudly, and Caitlin continued to stare.
"As if." Allison rolled her eyes and turned away from him again.
Obie continued slowly down the outside corridor to the other side of the classroom door, kids shoving around him, and settled back against the wall, alone. He turned back to watch Allison. She was the most popular girl at Turney High, and kids gathered around her as if she were a movie star handing out autographs. What would she have done if he had told her the true reason for her gooseflesh? He smirked, imagining her reaction, but in the end she wouldn't have believed him, and it would only have given her one more reason to make fun of him.
"She'll never go out with you," a sulky voice whispered. Kirsten stood beside him, spreading brown gloss on her lips. He hadn't heard her sidle up next to him.
"Like I care," he answered.
"Don't lie to me." Kirsten seemed annoyed. "Your crush is so obvious."
"Crush?"
"Anyone can see you're crazy in like with her."
"You're wrong," he said, finally understanding her choice of words. "I don't like her." No girl was worth the risk. He couldn't change what fate had made him.
