My Best Friend's Romantic SNAFU

A Matter of Phrasing

"Advanced Spanish 30? They're still letting you take that?" I peered over Amarissa's shoulder.
"Plantea mi grado, chica monolingüe." Smirking, Amarissa spoke too fast for me to understand. "Is my bun casual enough?"
I looked at the ball of messy hairs atop her head. "Looks perfect." I pulled my ponytail tight as we got into the cafeteria line.
The line was three times longer than usual. Weston High gave a 25% discount on food on the first day of school, so only the first-years brought food. Everybody else joined that winding line. The scent of reheated food drew us forward.
At least there were things to look at while our nostrils were teased. Posters lined the walls proclaiming we should school spirit or reminding us not to do drugs. It's unlikely they had any effect. We've heard those statements before.
The poster most likely to get attention was the one announcing the Homecoming Dance. I don't know why we had a Homecoming Dance. This wasn't the States, and we didn't have a prom. Nevertheless, the posters were up, stating the event that someone in a board room on the other side of the city thought was a good idea would be happening on the third Friday of the month.
"Oh, the theme is Classic! Do you think I could go as Sandy and get a guy to be my Danny?" Amarissa pointed to the poster.
I shrugged. "If you can get a boyfriend and a black jumpsuit, be my guest. You might need to cover the jumpsuit with something. The school administration might not like it."
"This is true. But I will get a boyfriend this year."
"Of course you will." I gave her an affectionate side hug. "Because Macass doesn't count."
"I may have dated a dirtbag, but at least I dated at all. Why don't you act on a crush?"
"Because they last a week at most. And I'm not that lovable."
Amarissa squeezed my arm, stepping toward the smell of food. "True, but you are lovable."
"Guys don't think so."
"They aren't guys. They're boys. Like Macass."
Giggling, we arrived at the front of the line. Amarissa picked up two premade ham sandwiches. I got drinks - a milk for her and an apple juice for me. After exchanging money with a bored cafeteria supervisor, we headed to a table. A new year meant new table arrangements, but we decided to go for the table near the back that we sat at last year.
Amarissa's phone chirped. Taking her phone out of her pocket, she read the message before quickly typing a response. The phone chirped a second later. Typing as she walked, she was absorbed by the conversation.
"Ama, look - ooh!"
My warning came to late. Amarissa had tumbled over at the feet of another senior. I knew him from chemistry. "I'm so sorry, Kyle."
"It's Kevin, actually." He knelt, picking up Amarissa's food. "Why weren't you paying attention?"
"Maybe I wanted to fall for you." Amarissa laughed before looking at the muscular boy. Her cheeks turned bright red. "Hijo de perro!"
I grabbed her by the arms, helping her up. "Sorry, she's a bit ditzy sometimes." I manage to control my own blushing. "We'll be out of your way."
"Have a good year. Try not to trip into any more boys, Ama." Chuckling, Kevin headed to his friends.
Amarissa tugged at her hair. "How do you know that hottie?"
"I hardly know him. We were in the same class last year. I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've ever spoken to him."
"Think you could get us together?"
"I don't even know if we'll be in the same class!"
Amarissa dusted herself off. "It was worth a shot."
"True."
Heading to our table as if nothing had happened, we were delighted to see it was open. We ate our food together. Sure, the food wasn't great, but it was only the first day. The cheapness helped to offset the blandness, though I would be packing a lunch for the rest of the year.
When the bell rang for the start of the afternoon classes, Amarissa and I went our separate ways. I had to go to Chemistry 30. It would be a small class, but I liked smaller classes.
Chemistry 30 was even smaller than I expected. When Mr. Denton took attendance, there were only ten people in the classroom including the teacher and myself. I was the only female, since Hannah Churchill was skipping the first day again.
Just as Mr. Denton was finishing attendance, the door opened. A familiar boy walked into the room and sat beside me.
"Hi, Kevin," I whispered.
Kevin held up his copy of Chemistry 30: Understanding Your Universe. "Forgot my book."
"I see." I smiled to look friendlier before turning to the lesson.
The lesson was what we were going to be learning that year and the order we would be learning that stuff in. The first and last two weeks of the year were set aside for review. That would be helpful. There were a few things I'd forgotten over the summer.
I divided my attention between the class and a page of notes that Kevin and I passed back and forth. The notes were more interesting.
"Sorry for bumping into your friend Ama," Kevin wrote.
I replied, "It's ok. It wasn't your fault." I added "rissa" to the end of my best friend's name, stating only family and close friends called her "Ama".
"That's a pretty name for a pretty lady."
"I'll have to tell her you said that."
"When you do, could you ask if she likes me? Please?"
I drew a surprised face. "She doesn't know you..."
"But she might like me anyway. You never know. She might like to get to know me."
"True."
"So you'll ask?"
"Do you have a crush on her or something?"
"Yes."
"Ok. I'll ask her." I drew a smiling face.
He gave me the paper when the bell rang. As we headed to our next classes, I thought he seemed nice. He and Amarissa would be a better fit than she was with Macass.
Then again, anyone was better than her and Macass.