the history project was due. But this . . . this was different.
âSo you guys are going to the party together too?â Rachel asked.
Taylor nodded as the smile on her face grew even larger.
âTaylor! You like him!â Rachel exclaimed. âWhy didnât you tell me? Aaaah! Iâm so excited for you! You and ShaneâI canât believe it!â
âI canât either!â Taylor shrieked. âItâs just . . . weâve kind of been talking more since last week, and you know, Rach, heâs really funny.â
âI know.â
âNo, I mean, like, really funny,â Taylor emphasized. âAnd heâs really into computers and technology, which is so cool. He knows a ton about websites and is even writing his own app.â
âSeriously?â Rachel asked, impressed.
âI know!â Taylor gushed. âAnd I canât believe I didnât realize this before, but Rach . . . isnât he so incredibly cute?â
Shane? Incredibly cute? Rachel thought about it for a moment. Shane was a pretty good-looking guy, with dark brown hair that perfectly matched his eyes, and a quick, sly smile. But if Brody set the bar for âincredibly cute,â then no, Shane wouldnât qualify. But it doesnât matter if you think heâs cute, Rachel reminded herself. So instead, she grinned at Taylor and said, âOh, definitely. In fact, I think you guys are going to make a perfect couple! Youâll be so great together.â
âSo you think he . . . likes me?â Taylor asked. âReally?â
âAre you kidding? Of course he likes you!â Rachel exclaimed. âWhy else would Shane ask you to go to the party tonight? Itâs not like the dance. I didnât hear aboutanybody else whoâs going together.â
âItâs just hard to believe, you know?â Taylor said. âIâm so used to boys ignoring me. Nobody has ever liked me . . . not like -liked me, I mean. And all this time Shane has been right there, and then . . . suddenly . . . it happened. Just like that. And heâs so sweet, Rach! Do you know what I saw him do the other day? Our English class was doing buddy reading at the elementary school, and he noticed that one of the little kidsâ shoelaces were untied. Shane sat right down on the floor and tied them!â
âShane is such a nice guy,â Rachel said approvingly.
âHe really is,â said Taylor. âAnd he likes me. Me! This has got to be the craziest thing that has ever happened at Archer Middle School.â
âOh, come on!â Rachel teased her friend. âShane is lucky , T. Youâre the best!â
âNo, you are,â Taylor said as she admired her perfect manicure. âMy nails look great, Rachel. Thanks.â
â Donât fidget while I do your hair,â Rachel said firmly. âOtherwise, theyâll get all smudged.â
âI know, I know,â Taylor replied. She sat very still as Rachel started pinning back small sections of her hair with sparkly star-shaped clips. âI really, really wish youwere going to the party tonight. Itâs not going to be any fun without you.â
âWhatever,â Rachel said, rolling her eyes. âYouâre going with Shane . Youâre going to have the best time!â
âWell, it wonât be the same,â Taylor replied.
âIâd give anything to be there tonight,â Rachel said wistfully. âI mean, to talk to Brody in person again after all these months . . . and even just to see him . . .â
Suddenly, Taylorâs eyes brightened. She tried to jump up, but Rachel pushed her back into the chair. âDonât move until your nails are dry!â Rachel scolded.
âSorry, sorryâbut I just had the best idea!â Taylor said. âSo maybe you canât go to the party, but