Cameron and the Girls by Edward Averett

Author:Edward Averett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The rest of the afternoon, I sit in class, trying to make my head stay clear. I have important questions to ask The Girl, such as what is Nina doing asking me out; why does she want to walk around as if she’s my girlfriend; and why is it that kids need to say things like those girls said to Nina and me.

Nina turns and raises her eyebrows. Now I think her eyebrows are very pretty. She quickly scribbles something down and passes it to me.

Forget what those stupid pigs said, it says.

I write back, Okay.

Griffin is missing when Mrs. Owens comes into class. She glances at me and I feel the heat.

“I think we need to have a little talk,” she says to the whole class. When everyone is settled, she leans against the side of her desk. “I know it’s hard for everyone to know that you are members of this class. I told you that on the first day. I hear what other students say, and I think I know how it feels on the inside when you hear it. But please, don’t allow that to make wrong decisions for you. Please. Those of you who take medications take them for a reason. They keep you as healthy as possible. If you decide that medications are not for you, that may not be what’s best. I’ve called Griffin’s parents, and they will be taking him home. He needs a rest.”

We nod our heads as a unit. We’ve been through this before. At least once a month, one of us is sacrificed to the gods of reason.

“Is it safe?” asks the little rabbit girl in the back of the class. She barely rises above the top of her desk and wrinkles her nose like a bunny.

“Of course it’s safe, Amy,” says Mrs. Owens. “There’s nothing wrong.”

“It seems like there’s something wrong,” Amy answers back.

“Griffin’s freaking,” Nina says.

“Now, Nina,” says Mrs. Owens. “Let’s try to use correct language, shall we?”

“Freaking is part of the language,” Nina says.

Mrs. Owens lets out a big, long breath and crosses her arms. “I think you know what I mean, Nina.”

They go on for a minute, but I try to block them out. I don’t like banter. It makes claws in my brain that scrape against my skull. Their voices start out strong but now are like ants’ voices. One ant arguing with another. I can’t take it anymore. I track the words as they rise out of my stomach like a hot geyser and then spew forth.

“He’s just trying to be who he really is!” I shout. “That’s all!”

The whole class quiets down. Mrs. Owens’s face drains of color. Nina turns in her seat and wrinkles hers. The little rabbit girl cowers under her desk.

“Cameron?” Mrs. Owens tries cautiously.

“That’s all,” I say, more quietly.

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