“That's what they think.” Taylor managed a wan smile. “Still, I could use your help.”
“Oh. Definitely. I'll read it today,” I said, backing away.
“Where're you going?” she asked.
“To my room. To get my bag, remember?” I said.
“Oh. Right. Okay. See you downstairs!” Taylor said brightly. “And Reed? Thanks.”
“No problem.”
I jogged back to the safety of my own room, closed the door behind me, and looked at the paper. Poor Taylor. She thought she needed a sophomore to tell her that her paper was good? And Kiran! Who knew it was possible that these paramours of perfection could be hiding such secrets?
The other girls in this school would kill for information like this. Unfortunately, there was one person who couldn't have cared less: Natasha. There was only one bit of info she was looking for and I hadn't found it. Yet.
117
MATCHMAKER
Saturday was a gorgeous fall day, with a crisp wind and a sky so blue it looked fake. A perfect day for soccer. A perfect day for taking out days of pent-?up aggression on unsuspecting Barton School girls. Orange, brown, and yellow leaves danced their crackly dance across the dewy grass as Josh, Noelle, Kiran, Taylor, and I made our way to the visitors' parking lot, where several buses were parked, waiting to whisk us to Barton for our away games. Taylor and Kiran both played field hockey and their game would be on the field adjacent to ours. Basically, it was going to be mayhem- whistles, shouts, and crunching bones. I was very much looking forward to it.
“God, I could just go to sleep right now,” Josh said, stretching his arms above his head. “I think I ate too many pancakes this morning. They put me right out.”
'Wow. You're gonna be really useful on the soccer field today," I teased.
Josh, like me, played defense--on the men's team, of course.
“I don't know how you can eat those things,” Kiran said,
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crossing her arms over her stomach as we rounded a bend under a tunnel of colorful leaves. “That's enough calories for a whole week right there.”
“Like you've ever eaten enough calories for a whole week. Even in a whole week,” Noelle joked.
“Hey! I eat! I do! You've seen me eat,” Kiran replied, suddenly manic. “You've seen me eat, right, Reed?”
“Uh . . . yeah,” I said. Because I had. Until I'd found that psycho box I never would have known Kiran had issues. “Of course you eat. And you look perfect, by the way.”
A little affirmation couldn't hurt, right?
“See?” Kiran said triumphantly. “Reed's seen me eat.”
“Okay! Okay! Calm down already before you give yourself the shakes,” Noelle said.
“I vote for a change of topic!” Taylor put in, casting Kiran a worried look. So maybe she did know what went on in her roommate's closet.
“Fine. Reed, how's it going with Whittaker?” Noelle asked.
I glanced warily at Josh, who instantly became very interested in the nearest tree.
“How's what going?”
“Has he asked you to go steady yet?” Kiran said sarcastically, causing Taylor to snort a laugh.
'Yeah. Did he pin you?" Taylor asked.
“He does sort of seem like he's out of another era, doesn't he?” I said. “Like we should all be wearing poodle skirts and superhigh ponytails.”