“Tamara and Hayden,” Amber sang.
“Hayden and Tamara,” Josh joined in.
“Shut up! Both of you!” Tamara tossed a fry at them.
“Hey, Tamara,” Hayden said, taking the seat next to her.
Amber and Josh fell quiet and walked away, leaving Tamara to explain their behavior. She opened her mouth to tell Hayden that they were just giving her a hard time, but he spoke first.
“Are you coming to chess today?”
“Yeah, I sort of have to, don't I?”
“I guess. See you there.”
By three-thirty Tamara still wasn't sure what Hayden had wanted at lunch. She also still didn't know if he had heard Amber and Josh singing.
“Sure you don't want to skip?” Amber asked.
“Positive.”
“I'll think of you while I'm sipping my coffee and buying some cute new earrings.”
“And I'll remember you while I sit across from the hottie.”
“That's okay, I have my own,” Amber wrapped her arm around Josh's waist.
“Have fun guys!”
“You too.”
Tamara was later than she had been on Friday. The stairs were still crowded with students trying to escape their daytime prison. Greg and Cindy were ahead of her.
“Glad you decided to come back,” Greg said.
Tamara shoved her hand in her purse, pretending to be looking for something.
“Don't worry about her,” Cindy said leaning her head on Greg's shoulder, “She's embarrassed to be seen with us.”
Tamara rolled her eyes.
“Hey,” Hayden said, appearing beside of her.
“Hi.”
“Rough day?”
“It's Monday.”
“Fair enough.”
“Oh!” Greg turned back to Hayden, “Did you hear there's going to be another Darkness Lies movie?”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yeah!”
Hayden pushed past Tamara and the others so he could talk to Greg without shouting over everyone's head. She frowned and shook her head. What the hell was she doing with these people? That's right, her mother was making every attempt to ruin her life.