Free Will's Story by Jaye Robin Brown Page B

at the same time.
    â€œAre you okay, Amber?” Mrs. Early leans over her.
    Devon and C.A. squat down and put her arms over their shoulders. “Here, we’ll take you to the nurse.”
    I’m standing there not doing anything, not sure where I fit, when Amber looks at me.
    â€œAre you okay?” I take a step closer.
    She looks away, tears in her eyes, her face filled with pain and something else. Embarrassment? “I’m okay,” she says, but her voice is choked with tears. When she tries to put pressure on the ankle she hurt a week ago, Amber crumples.
    â€œOh.” C.A. leans in and puts a hand to her mouth.
    I step in. “Here, let me help.” I take the arm C.A. had and Amber grips my shoulder. We take her, en masse, tothe nurse’s office. I guide her onto the examination table while Devon explains what happened to the nurse.
    Mrs. Early and C.A. leave once they’re sure she’s in good hands but me and Devon hang out.
    â€œSo what happened back there? Why were you running?” I slide onto the table next to her, desperately wanting to put my arm around her and make the pain disappear.
    Devon looks over. “Kush is talking trash about her.”
    Amber shudders back a sob. “Why would he do that?” She presses a Kleenex to her eyes, then her nose.
    Devon shrugs. “Maybe because you rejected him? Because he thinks you picked Sean instead?”
    â€œThinks?” I look between them. Now Kush is after Amber, too?
    Amber starts crying.
    Devon huddles close. “Yeah. It’s my fault. I asked for her or C.A. to kiss Kush.” He nudges me. “You know, as a test .”
    Amber sucks in a breath as the nurse touches her ankle. Or is it because of what Devon said?
    â€œDid you?” I ask. “Kiss him?” Every time I think I’m finally going to say what I need to say to this girl, another wrench gets thrown in the works.
    â€œYes,” she says. “I did. But it’s not what you think.”
    â€œBut you kissed him.” I need the facts.
    Volcano girl reappears. “It’s not like I have a boyfriend, even if I had been into it. Which I wasn’t.”
    The nurse shoos us out of the room before I can say anything else.
    â€œDevon?” It’s the only question I need as we walk away, toward the cafeteria.
    â€œShe’s not into Sean. I checked. And she’s telling the truth. You should get her to tell you the whole story. It’s messed up and now Kush is being a total douche bag. Makes me extra glad I didn’t keep barking up that tree.”
    Okay. So she kissed the dude. But she doesn’t like him: it was a dare. And she’s right. She’s not my girlfriend.
    â€œSo are you going to ask her out, or what?” Devon hands me a tray as we reach the front of the food line.
    â€œYou don’t care?”
    â€œI told you I didn’t.”
    â€œDo you think she’s interested?”
    Devon rolls his eyes at the lunch lady and mouths “boys.” She winks at him and smirks at me. “I don’t know, Will. Should I send her a note? Check yes if you like my brother.”
    â€œWould you?”
    He stops the line and stares at me for a full five seconds without blinking.
    I shake my head. “Okay, stop. I know.” I take the pizzathe lunch lady offers.
    Devon huffs. “You sound like a whipped dog. But, yes, I will ask her if she likes you.”
    We punch in our student account numbers at the register.
    â€œToday?”
    He cranks his head around and goes all bug-eyed and annoyed. “Yes, Will. Today. I’ll ask her today.”
    â€œGeez. You don’t have to be so testy.” But even as I growl the words, I can’t stop the smile from creeping onto my face.
    Before lunch ends I text Amber to see if she’s okay. Turns out her ankle was broken not sprained and she’s getting a cast, but I ask about our tentative practice plans