Free The Islanders by Katherine Applegate

CALLED POLYNESIAN Surprise,” Nina said, dragging her fork through the slimy mess on her lunch tray the next day. “I think it involves pork. And either bean sprouts or white worms. I’m betting worms.”
    â€œThanks for making me sick,” Aisha said.
    â€œBased on your vast and superior knowledge as seniors, are Polynesians more likely to cook with sprouts or worms?” Nina asked Zoey and Aisha.
    â€œWhy don’t you just bring your lunch if you’re going to complain about it every day?” Claire asked, taking the remaining vacant seat.
    â€œTradition,” Nina said promptly. “I like complaining about the food.” She managed a tight smile, though her sister’s voice was like fingernails on a chalkboard to her.
    â€œWhat is it with guys?” Zoey asked, suddenly changing the subject. “I mean, would it really kill Lucas to go along with this whole homecoming thing?”
    â€œWhy do you go out with guys if you’re just going to complain about them every day?” Nina asked, mimicking Claire.
    â€œThey’re like food, my child,” Aisha said in a low, husky voice, tossing her hair and closing her eyes to slits in a parody of worldly wisdom. “A necessary evil.”
    Claire shot Nina a mocking look. “Some people manage to do without. Sort of a starvation diet.”
    â€œAnd some people gorge on anything they can get,” Nina shot back, more angrily than she’d intended.
    â€œOne point each,” Aisha said. “A draw.”
    â€œI think all guys are at least partly jerks,” Zoey said.
    â€œOh, it’s worse than that,” Aisha said. “All guys are mostly jerks.”
    â€œTrouble in paradise?” Nina asked Aisha, glad to divert attention from herself. Her leg was bouncing up and down under the table and she couldn’t stop it. She felt wired and edgy. She hadn’t slept well last night.
    â€œNo, not trouble,” Aisha said. “Everything is great between Christopher and I.”
    â€œMe,” Zoey said.
    â€œMe what?” Aisha asked.
    â€œBetween Christopher and me ”
    â€œNo way,” Aisha argued.
    â€œYes. It’s me.”
    â€œWho gives a rat’s ass, Zoey?” Nina demanded. “Either way, things are fine, right?”
    â€œUm, hi.”
    All four girls turned to look up at a tall, somewhat frightened-looking guy.
    â€œHi, John,” Zoey said.
    â€œUm, hi, Zoey. Hi, Claire. Hi, Aisha.” He winced and made a face, almost as if he were in pain. “Hi, Nina.”
    Nina made a mechanical half-smile. John Blount sat a desk away in her English class. “What’s up, John? We were just this second having a fascinating discussion of grammar.”
    â€œUm . . . could I, uh . . . talk to you?”
    â€œSure, I still allow the little people to speak directly to me on occasion,” Nina said.
    â€œLike, over there?” John pointed.
    Nina made a groaning noise deep in her throat. This had all the signs of something embarrassing. And this was not the day for it. “Nobody touch my Polynesian Surprise.” She got up and followed John a few feet away, hoping against hope that he just wanted to borrow her homework or something.
    â€œThere’s like a football game tonight,” John said, digging his hands deep into his pockets.
    â€œThank you for letting me in on that, John.”
    He laughed, then blushed. “Do you want to, like, go with me?”
    Nina cringed, for herself and for him. She hated saying no, not that it came up all that often. “Actually, um, John, I wasn’t going to go to the game.”
    â€œThat’s all right,” he said quickly. “We could do something else.”
    â€œIt’s nice of you to offer, but I don’t think so,” Nina said, beginning to feel the electric edge of panic.
    â€œOh.”
    â€œLook, it was sweet of you to ask, all right?”
    â€œSo