Free Girls in Charge by Debra Moffitt Page A

nearly as nice as kissing Forrest.
    But I did like Jake, as a person. So why was liking Jake so different from liking Forrest? What I really wanted to know is when I would meet someone who was not Forrest that I would have Forrest-like feelings for.
    I told Kate I’d close the subject for the next forty-eight hours and give her a break.
    â€œThank you very much,” she said. “It will give me a chance to tell you about my latest Zumba class.” Kate had gone head over heels for dance. She was on the dance troupe at school and, whenever she could make it, she took dance classes at the Y. She stood up on our blanket and started demonstrating a tango-type move. She took a long blade of grass and held it like a rose in her teeth.
    â€œI just wish I had music,” Kate said. “You try it.”
    No way was I trying that move, barefooted, on our baseball beach blanket, in front of the rest of the baseball spectators. I was grateful I had decided to stay seated because Taylor Mayweather appeared on the edge of our blanket.
    â€œHi, Taylor,” Kate said. “Want to sit with us?”
    â€œI actually wanted to talk to Jemma a minute.”
    â€œOkay, sure,” I said.
    We walked a few paces away toward a weeping willow tree.
    â€œI don’t know how you knew to be in your locker at that very moment, but thank you.”
    â€œI was in my locker by total accident.”
    â€œWhy is it that you sometimes go into your locker and close the door? It is unusual, you know?”
    â€œI know. I know. I don’t just stand in my locker with the door closed. I was coming back from somewhere.”
    â€œYou said ‘Think pink’! Does it have something to do with the Pink Locker Society? That’s what they always say. I love that Web site.”
    â€œMaybe,” I said.
    â€œNo way!” Taylor said, grabbing me by the shoulders, an OMG look on her face.
    â€œShhh!” I said.
    Taylor lowered her voice and leaned in closer to say, “I still don’t know where you could have been going to or coming from in your locker.”
    â€œI can’t really say.”
    â€œWell then, can I ask how you got to be in the Pink Locker Society? I don’t remember, like, an open audition or anything,” Taylor said.
    â€œIt wasn’t like that.”
    â€œLucky you and whoever else is in it. My mother keeps saying I’d do better in school if I was involved in something. But I’m bad at sports.”
    â€œI used to think I was bad at sports, but now I’m running. You should try it.”
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œHave things with Clem been any better?”
    â€œIt’s only been two days, but maybe. I think you scared her, you know? I’m worried about the class trip, though,” Taylor said.
    â€œYou’re still going, right?”
    â€œI don’t know. She might just hassle me the whole time. It will be easier for her to corner me when we’re out of town and the teachers are all distracted,” Taylor said.
    The idea of anyone voluntarily not going on the New York trip amazed me.
    â€œYou have to go. Don’t miss it. Not for that reason, anyway.”
    Taylor just shrugged.
    â€œClem’s smart. Another week will pass and she’ll figure out that you’re not really the bully police,” she said.
    â€œWell, I still think you should go. How many chances do you have to go on our eighth-grade field trip?”
    As soon as I said it, I wanted to reel my words back in like a big dumb fish.
    â€œHa-ha. Well, this won’t be my only chance, I guess,” Taylor said.
    â€œOh, jeez. I am so sorry. I can’t believe I said that.”
    â€œIt’s okay, really. I have to get used to it, I guess,” Taylor said.
    I thought about telling her how I wasn’t going to be going even once, but I decided to keep it to myself.

 
    Twenty-four
    As the field trip drew closer, Kate, Piper, and I plunged