JoJo hesitated before going into her next class, science. It was her favorite class, but today, she felt queasy, nervous, and afraid, to even step through the doorway. It was her favorite class because it was the last class of the day, and besides, Ms. Rodriguez, the science teacher, usually doesn't notice her much. Which was good. The only bad thing about science was that Julie and Ally were there, too.
Did the word about the incident in history class spread yet? Did Julie and Aly already hear about it? She sighed. It wasn't like she could do anything about it.
JoJo stepped through the threshold of the classroom. Her eyes quickly scanned the sunlit room. Posters with lame scientific jokes were stuck to the walls. A giant chart with the table of elements covered the whole half of the board. Ms. Rodriguez was sitting at her wooden desk in front, shuffling papers around, like usual. Everyone was filing in their seats, whispering to their friends. Were they talking about her? Her heart felt heavy when she saw Julie and Ally sitting at the front where the Populars always sat. They were giggling to themselves, as they set their backpacks on the floor next to the lab tables.
Her eyes kept scanning until they fell on an empty seat in a corner in the back of the room. No Populars were there, only the quiet people that nobody talked to. It looked safe enough. Only 55 minutes to get through until she can truly relax.
Ms. Rodriguez clapped her hands. She was wearing a long skirt and white blouse, like always. "Class, settle down! Today, we are going to begin working on our science fair projects. This year, everyone are required to have a partner. The research paper will be due..." she droned on and on in a monotone.
JoJo only listened until the "partners" part. She panicked, as she realized that for the first time, Aly wasn't her partner. Then who would be her partner? As much as she would like to admit it, she was pretty much friendless. She looked over at Aly. Perhaps she would feel guilty of today's incident and ask JoJo to be her partner? JoJo knew it was ridiculous to get her hopes up. Still, maybe she will turn around and smile...
She watched helplessly as Julie pointed at Aly, then back at herself, raising her eyebrows. Aly hesitated, then nodded. Julie flashed a wide smile at her. Aly pretended she didn't see that and didn't smile back.
JoJo's stomach flipped. How could Aly be such a traitor? Oh well, she’ll show her that she could manage on her own without Aly. She turned around. Nerdy Ned was picking his nose. Again. Ick, no! She would rather die than be partners with him.
The guy in front of her already found a partner. That left the girls on either side of her. On her left, a girl with brownish hair was reading a thick book. JoJo noticed her glasses were way rounder and thicker than other people’s. The girl on her right kept twirling her blonde pigtails while putting on lip balm. Better wannabe than nerd.
She leaned over and whispered while the teacher talked. “Do you wanna be partners?” she asked quietly.
“What?” the girl asked.
“I said, do you wanna be my partner?” JoJo said, a little louder this time.
“What? I can’t hear you!” the girl said.
“Do. You. Want. To. Be. My. Partner!” JoJo practically yelled, frustrated. Julie and Aly giggled. Oops. That was way too loud.
Ms. Rodriguez stopped talking about the project. “You two, stop talking. JoJo, no yelling in class! Detention after school, both of you.”
“But-“ the girl started, not twirling her hair anymore.
“No buts. You two deserved it. I absolutely do not accept talking in my classroom!” Ms. Rodriguez interrupted.
The girl huffed and glared at JoJo. “Thanks a lot, jerk!”
“You’re welcome!” JoJo shot back. She sighed. Now the Populars and one of the wannabes hate her. Down to Nerd Girl for partner candidates.
The bell rang. Finally, the end of the day! JoJo grabbed Nerd Girl’s arm before she left with the others. “Hey, wanna be partners?”
“Huh?” she looked genuinely confused.
“The science project? Were you even listening?”
‘Uhh…no. I mean, yeah, sure we can be partners.” She buried her nose back in her book and shuffled toward the door.
“Hey! We can work at my house tomorrow afternoon after school!” JoJo called out.
“Yeah, sure.” She mumbled before disappearing out the door.
JoJo stared after her. So nerdy. Too bad, she was stuck with her now; there was no going back. At least, she has a partner! She summed up today. Many haters, one partner, and still, no friends.
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