Fallin' For You-Part 3

TWENTY-TWO

You're all going to hate me....

"And that is why Fitz Vacker is a toad," Dex said, folding up the bulleted, cited, and annotated paper of 'All The Reasons Fitz Vacker Is A Toad' in his pocket.

"I can't believe you guys made a whole essay about it," Sophie said from where she was sitting at lunch.

"And a chart!" Biana announced, pulling a sheet of paper out of her denim jacket pocket and folding it out to show a chart of why Fitz was a toad. "We worked super hard on it."

It was all fun and games, even though sometimes it didn't seem like it. Even though the geek group and the popular clique had merged together last year, sometimes Dex and Fitz liked to bash each other—and Biana was more than happy to help Dex make fun of her brother.

"I honestly think you guys listed some valid points," Tam said, smiling at the two of them.

"But I don't think Fitz is a toad though," Linh said, peering at the color-coded chart. "If anything, he's more like a Tasmanian Devil."

Both Biana and Dex gasped.

"We may be insulting Fitz by calling him a toad," Dex started. "But calling him a devil is a little below the belt, don't you think?"

Linh glared at Dex. "I'm just saying, Tasmanian Devils are known for having a bad temper—just like Fitz."

"Not to mention they're sometimes jerks," Jensi said with a grin.

"True, true," Biana said. "Fitz does embody both of those things."

"Ugh! Will you all please stop talking about me as if I wasn't here?" Fitz asked, letting out a loud sigh and holding his head in his hands.

Sophie—and the rest of her friends—couldn't help but laugh at Fitz's words.

He let out another sigh. "You guys are as bad as Keefe,"

Suddenly, their table went silent.

"Did you ever get to talk to him?" Biana whispered to Sophie after a few seconds.

Sophie shook her head. "Ro said he didn't want to see anyone."

They all sat quiet for another minute.

Keefe hadn't come to school Monday, so when Sophie had gone to check on him, Ro didn't let her in. She went by every day—and she even threw cookies at his window—but it was no use. For some reason Keefe didn't want to be seen.

"I'll try to go see him again after school," Sophie offered as soon as the bell rang.

Biana smiled. "Make sure to tell us if you find anything out,"

Sophie nodded. "I will,"

§§§

Sophie pressed the button at the gate as hard as she could and waited until Ro's voice came on the speaker.

"I'm not even going to ask about Girl Scouts this time, because I know it's you blondie. But you can't come in!" Ro said, sounding a little aggravated.

"But I really need to see Keefe," Sophie pleaded. "Plus, I have to walk around it crutches—you could at least feel a little sorry for me and let me in."

Ro laughed. "Nice one blondie, but no-can-do. Lord Hunky-hair does not want to be seen."

"But why?" Sophie asked, her shoulders slumping.