Free The Islanders by Katherine Applegate Page B

her for dates and games and changed in the girls’ locker room.
    When she entered the locker room, she heard laughing voices—Zoey and Aisha, also changing. Zoey was drying her hair and yelling over the noise.
    â€œYou mean Jake told her to go away?” Zoey said. “You actually heard this?”
    â€œCross my heart!” Aisha yelled back. “At practice on Wednesday.”
    Claire faded behind a bank of lockers and waited.
    Zoey turned off the hair dryer. “Excuse me? Wednesday? And you’re telling me on Friday? Friday afternoon? Sometimes I despair for you, Eesh. You’ll never make a great gossip. Nina would have told me within eight seconds.”
    â€œIt didn’t occur to me. I do have my own life to lead.”
    â€œAnd she’s still going after him,” Zoey said, marveling. “That has to be a first for Claire. Normally, all she has to do with a guy is look at him and he’s ready to rip zipper.”
    â€œWell, I haven’t known her as long as you have.”
    â€œTake my word for it. When she was in sixth grade, she had tenth-grade guys after her.”
    â€œHuh. Let me smell that perfume. I don’t see why guys would be all that crazy over her. That’s nice. Let me use some.”
    â€œHmm, let’s see. She has a perfect body, great hair, a beautiful face. She’s very smart and manages to have that whole air-of-mystery thing going—you know, dark, mysterious eyes, the way she walks and all.”
    â€œPlus, she’s kind of a bitch,” Aisha added with a laugh. “Christopher says that’s why he likes me.”
    â€œShe’s not really,” Zoey said, sounding thoughtful. “Claire just lives in her own world. She’s very . . . I don’t know the right word—”
    â€œSuperior? Arrogant? Snotty? Condescending? Don’t do your eyebrows that way. Watch me—like this, it’s easier.”
    Claire smiled wryly. It was always useful to hear how other people saw you.
    â€œ. . . ow, damn, that hurt.”
    â€œBut it works better,” Aisha said.
    Claire crept back to the locker room door. She opened it noisily and let it slam shut. Instantly Zoey and Aisha fell silent.
    â€œHi,” Claire said.
    â€œClaire,” Aisha said, “we were just talking about you.”
    â€œGood things, I hope,” Claire said mildly.
    â€œWhy, are there bad things?”
    â€œHave you seen Nina?” Zoey asked Claire.
    â€œShe went back home,” Claire said.
    â€œHuh,” Zoey said. “I thought she was thinking of coming to the game for a change.”
    Claire raised an eyebrow. “After that scene at lunch, I don’t think so.”
    â€œThat shouldn’t upset her,” Zoey said unconvincingly. “No one noticed. Besides, people expect Nina to do surprising things. She shouldn’t be embarrassed.”
    â€œYes, she should,” Claire said. “Not that I want to be snotty or condescending, but I think she needs to learn to deal with members of the opposite sex.”
    She was pleased to see Aisha and Zoey exchange an uneasy look.
    â€œMaybe she doesn’t like guys,” Aisha suggested.
    â€œEesh!” Zoey chided.
    â€œLook, it wouldn’t bother me,” Aisha said. “I’m open-minded. I’m just saying maybe Nina’s gay.”
    â€œShe’s not gay,” Claire said. “She’s just weird.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Aisha pressed. “You two aren’t the closest sisters on earth. Maybe it’s possible she’s keeping it a secret from you, too.”
    â€œI know plenty of other girls who don’t date,” Zoey said.
    â€œDon’t get defensive, Zo,” Aisha said, laughing. “Even if she is a lesbian, it doesn’t mean she has the hots for you. Although . . . you two are pretty close.”
    â€œYou know, you sound like a guy, Aisha,” Claire said. “Every time