He reached out and touched the top of her hand, and Mina jumped in her seat, causing her notebook to fall off the desk and onto the floor. He moved his hand from hers and bent to pick up her notebook. She felt a loss as soon as he moved his hand, and he didn’t put it back when he handed her the notebook.
“Well, I thought at least we were close enough—” he began.
“No, Brody…we’re not. We won’t ever be close, because my best friend means the world to me.” Her emphasis on the word “friend” left him no room to argue.
The spell was definitely broken, and she needed to get her heart under control. This was no longer her boyfriend.
“Does Nan know that we…?” Brody gestured between the two of them, referring to their kiss.
“That night at the hospital? No way…not if I can help it. You’re not going to tell her, either…right?” She gave him a pleading look.
“Uh, no,” he said quickly. He seemed tense, like he was upset that she hadn’t told Nan.
It took every ounce of Mina’s willpower not to do a face plant into the table. That wasn’t exactly what she was hoping for, and now she was dying for the bell to ring.
Thankfully, he turned around and began talking to one of his water polo friends. When the bell did ring, she was up and out the door first, despite being in the corner. She was surprised to see that Jared was already outside the door, waiting for her, and put his hand on the small of her back to lead her to the side of the door.
“How was it? Think you can survive five more periods?” he asked softly.
Brody walked out the door behind Mina and saw the placement of Jared’s hands on her. He scowled.
A squeal could be heard down the hall, followed by the pattering of running feet. Mina was bombarded by blonde hair, strawberry perfume, and the blubbering crying form of Nan Taylor, who clamped onto her neck. Nan’s long blonde hair was in a side ponytail, and she wore a teal lacy shirt and denim shorts, a zillion colored bangles on her wrists. Her cute nose and eyes were red from crying.
“I-I-I can’t believe it. He can’t be gone.” She started to cry loud and hard, and Brody looked uncomfortable and unsure of how to comfort his girlfriend, since she was wrapped around Mina’s neck.
No one understood Charlie like Nan. The two were the best of friends and had a dynamic brother-sister relationship, teasing and name-calling included, that Mina envied. Nan was an only child and treated Charlie like her own brother. Mina was feeling really guilty now for not finding a way to get hold of Nan when she was in New York at drama camp.
Mina felt her eyes start to tear up, but she held them back and comforted Nan. Students stopped and stared, and quite a few made rude comments, but Jared’s and Brody’s stern looks kept them at bay, giving the girls time to confer.
There were a few girls who didn’t take the hint. Savannah White and Pricilla Rose—both girls stopped and rolled their eyes. Savannah used to date Brody at the beginning of last year, and now she had it out for anyone who stood between her and him. She looked killer in her designer skirt, lace tank top, and bejeweled flats. Her white-blonde hair was in its signature high ponytail, and her lips had enough gloss you could almost see your reflection in them. Pri wore a similar but toned-down version of Savannah’s outfit.
“So I heard on the news that the Tard died and your house burnt down. I bet secretly you’re relieved you don’t have to live with him anymore in that dump.”
The whole commotion in the hallway immediately stopped, as if her words had been spoken over the intercom. It became so quiet that you could hear Mina’s and Nan’s sharp intakes of breath. Mina wasn’t prone to violence and was about to think of something mean to say back to Savannah, but she didn’t have a chance to, because Nan Taylor, perky, happy-go-lucky Nan Taylor, pulled back her fist and punched Savannah in the face.
Savannah wasn’t prepared, and fell to the floor. Nan stood over her shocked face and yelled, “No way was he handicapped, or different. He was the most special, coolest, and smartest kid ever. And the world is a much sadder place because he’s not here. And don’t you ever, EVER, insult him again!” Nan shook with anger.
The hall was full of students and teachers, and one by one they started to clap. The clapping got louder, and Nan’s hands went to her mouth in shock. She looked at what she had done, and her face grew red.
She turned and threw her arms around Mina, and spoke quickly. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. That was wrong of me. I’m probably going to get in a lot of trouble for this, but it was worth it. No one insults our Charlie.” She pulled herself away and walked toward the principal’s office, her head held high. Savannah, during the commotion, started screaming and crying, and was sniveling about Nan being a “bully, brat, and jealous of her good looks.”