Middle School

Chapter 3

"Okay, class," Ms. Lauren, their homeroom teacher, said after announcements. She wore a pink blouse and white leggings. "Let me speak to you a minute. Outside the auditorium there are sign-up sheets for extracurriculars. Every student is required to participate in one activity. You could do drama, poetry, a sports team, or run for a place at student council, and many other choices."

Mary was actually paying attention until she saw a hand swiftly slip a yellow sticky note onto her desk. She looked to her right. Edith! Mary smiled and slid the note onto her lap while Ms. Lauren's attention was still directed at a boy asking a question.

We should do student council & cheerleading was written in large messy handwriting. On the back of the note, Mary scribbled I can't even do a cartwheel. Maybe student council though. She tossed back the note and Edith read it. She nodded, and Mary was excited. Edith actually agreed with her!

Ms. Lauren dismissed the class and Mary grabbed her books. She headed out the door and walked a few minutes to her locker. She opened it and set her books in. she traded her planner and extra folder for gym clothes. She stuffed them in her backpack and headed down the hall.

She was chatting with Edith in the hall, waiting for the gym door to be unlocked. Melody was in her gym class, too, and she was walking up the hall reading a book. She saw Mary and hurried up, a giddy smile on her face.

"Hey, Mary! How's the book going?"

"Oh, I'm only on page twenty. But it seems good." Mary replied. Melody smiled.

Edith whispered, "Ew. Why are you talking to her?" Mary had to make up a lie quickly. She didn't want to seem uncool. She looked around, anxious.

"Uh, I don't know. She lent me a book so I'm trying to be nice, I guess." Then she lifted her voice and told Melody, "I'm with Edith right now. So, uh--"

"Get lost," Edith said with a smirk. She popped her knee out and pretended to scratch a bug bite, secretly watching Melody's smile fade. Mary bit her lip. Another split-second decision.

"Yeah. Bye." Mary waved her hand and smiled. Edith seemed impressed. Mary breathed a sigh of relief.

She was the newbie in the group. She had to work on her place on the podium, and then she would be nice to unpopular kids: the entire popular group would follow her decision. Maybe in the third or fourth week of school. They'll trust her enough by then. Those girls who thought she was fake the day before would never think that again.

Finally the gym teacher unlocked the door. He was dressed in athletic shorts and a Nike tee. "Come on in, students," he said, smiling. The kids filed into their locker rooms and got ready.

Edith was dressed in her gym shorts in a snap. She did not wait for Mary to be done: she just bolted to find a good seat on the steps. Mary slowly slipped off her black shirt. She straightened her bra and put on her gym shirt. Mary pulled off her Converse and slid down her pants. She slipped on her shorts and sneakers.

After tying her hair into a quick bun, Mary checked the time. Five minutes until she actually had to be inside the gymnasium. Melody was pulling her gym shirt over her neon pink sports bra on the other side of the locker room. She already had her sneakers and shorts on.

Mary jogged over next to Melody and pretended to stretch. Since nobody else was in the locker room, she could sneak a conversation.

"Hey, Melody. I like your sports bra. Where'd you get it?"

Melody looked over at her and raised an eyebrow. She stuck her left arm into the sleeve and straightened her shirt. "Thanks. I got it at Target, I guess," she said quietly. Then she hurried out of the locker room.