Free The Boy Project by Kami Kinard

she’s waaay strict about bedtime.
    So now I’m sitting here wondering about how Alex’s choice of an older woman impacts my soul mate search. While I’m secretly glad that Maybelline is getting her due (okay, not so secretly), I also find this totally unfair! Alex is the cutest boy in seventh grade and possibly the cutest boy in the ENTIRE school and I can’t even compete with other seventh graders for guys like him, so how am I going to compete with ninth graders? Especially one who looks great in a skimpy cheerleading uniform.Rah! Rah! Blah!
    Seriously, what if Amanda is Alex’s one and only soul mate? I mean, if my one and only soul mate is two years younger than
me
, then
he’s
still running around with those little fifth graders on the elementary school playground. And I can tell you one thing. There’s no way I’m going out with a fifth grader. Seriously. I’m taller than most of the guys in my own grade as it is. So if my soul mate is down there in fifth grade right now, I guess I’m just going to have to miss out on him.

Tuesday, January 23
After breakfast
    Day two of self-induced torture. Just got back from my run with Julie. We took the same route. Right by Lyle’s house. It’s pretty obvious that I’m not cut out for running. I’m sore all over! I mentioned this at breakfast and Mom said, “You haven’t had those seventy-eight-dollar shoes long enough to know. Have you, Kara?”
    When she said “have,” she stretched out the aaaaaaaaaaaa sound in a way that means the same thing to every daughter on the planet:
The answer better be NO!
First period
    I wonder if Maybelline knows yet that she was dumped for an older woman? She’s still sniffing, but no more or less than yesterday.
Second period
    That sniffing is getting on my nerves. I’ve been trying to ignore it, but it’s difficult to
sniff
write
sniff
when
sniff
every
sniff
other
sniff
second
sniff
you
sniff
hear
sniff
a
sniff
.
Fourth period
    It’s hard to pay attention to Mr. DeLacey anymore. I can’t even stand to look at him after the whole survey incident. But know what makes it even harder?
Sniffing
. Right behind your head. I know I’m not the only one who hates sniffing either because I did an experiment. I sniffed about three times in Mrs. Hill’s class, and Cory Livingston turned around and said, “Get a tissue already, Kara!”
Sixth period
    Maybe it was the sniffing. Maybe it was the fact that Maybelline
was so mean that time she called me just to say, “What’s wrong, Kara? All those A’s can’t help you figure out how to get a boyfriend?” Maybe I have completely lost my mind. All I know is I shouldn’t have said what I just said.
    The only thing I’m thankful for right now is that Maybelline
thinks she’s too cool to be in the band. The band room is my new sanctuary. Tomorrow I’m going to guidance to see if I can have all of my classes changed to band. If I claim to want a career in music, they can’t make me take English and algebra, can they?

The minute I got home from school
    Tabbi called just as I stepped off of the bus. That girl has perfect timing.
    Tabs: Maybelline is going to kill you.
    Me: I know.
    Tabs: No one can believe you said that to her.
    Me: Including me.
    Tabs: What are you going to do?
    Me: I don’t know. Maybe when she thinks about it, she’ll know I only said it to her because of what she said to me. I mean, if she can get away with it, why can’t I?
    Tabs: She’s Maybelline. You’re not.
    Me: I know.
    Tabs: Oh, Kara. I think you’re going to be in for a long day tomorrow. But Evan and I will stick by you.
    Me: I know. Thanks, Tabs.
    Tabs: Welcome. See you tomorrow. Unless Maybelline sees you first. Then you’re dead.
    Me: I know. . . . Bye.
Bedtime. According to me. Because being awake isn’t doing anything for me. Unless scientists have