Stay Courageous

Chapter 28

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Zoe's POV

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"Guys, where is Stella?" Sam munched on her sandwich. We'd all just sat down for lunch and were obviously wondering the same thing. I guess Sam just decided to break the awkward silence.

"I don't know," as I said this I realized I hadn't spoke all day. "She wasn't in biology this morning." No one responded so I just crunched down on one of my carrot sticks.

"While we're asking questions, um..." Kat just stared at me.

"Why am I dressed like a normal person?" I finished for her. Everyone laughed. I couldn't help but crack a small smile.

As I felt the corner of my mouth turn upwards, Kat shouted "THERE IT IS!" I grinned and put my head down.

"What, have I really not smiled in that long?" Now everyone cracked up. "And, 'while we're asking questions,'" I said mocking Kat and grinning, "Taylor, why were you crying in the hallway this morning?"

"Oh, that's nothing," she said in between fits of laughter. "I actually don't even care anymore." She calmed down now and was smiling her sweet, closed lipped smile. How was I possibly making everyone this happy, just by making a joke about my own outfit? I always joke around! "It was just a stupid boy."

"Well, you know what they say," I paused for emphasis. "Hoes before bros!" I thought Sam was going to bust a gut when I said that with a goofy expression on my face.

"Oh, look at us," Kat sighed when everyone had finally calmed down. "We're a mess! Zoe, you and Stella are- or, were. I don't really know anymore- depressed! Sam, you've turned into this nervous fidget-er who can't look anyone straight in the eye," Sam started to stare creepily into Kat's eyes which made everyone chuckle. "Who knows what that's all about. And then me, I think that I'm branching out and trying to be friends with Madison and that crowd. But I'm not!" She waved her hands wildly. Kat always was one to talk with her hands.

"Oh yeah. How did that go?" I wasn't going to apologize to her for wanting to hang out with Madison, but I wanted to be nice to her about it. I really did feel bad for freaking out on the phone last week.

"Haha, you don't want to know. And poor Taylor," she looked over at Taylor who had perked up at her name, "is caught in the middle of all our mess! Guys, we didn't even know she was having boy trouble. Our shy little girl is growing up!" Kat practically squealed.

"Hey, I might be quiet, but I'm not some poor anti- social child," Taylor squinted her eyes shut when she giggled.

"Yeah, I guess everyone has been kinda down lately..." I contributed.

"Uh huh. Wanna tell us what all y'all's moping has been about?" Sam was referring to Stella and I. I hesitated.

"Um... We'll save that for a time when Stella is here," I felt everyone's eyes upon me. "But, I can tell y'all why I'm dressed like a barbie doll," I laughed at myself.

For the remainder of lunch, I explained to everyone about the 'dress code' that Madison's father so generously provided for me and how I hadn't obeyed it last week and about the call to my mother. At this point, Kat exclaimed 'WANDA,' which I realized I really missed for some reason. I guess the five of us really haven't been the same lately. While we were at it, Kat told us about the awful time she had at Madison's sleepover and how all those girls had older boyfriends and they came over when the girls were playing truth or dare and- ugh, I can't even repeat. She said only one of their boyfriends didn't come.