Girl Upside Down by Nicole Williams

Author:Nicole Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2019-06-24T16:00:00+00:00

“I can smell my paper from here,” Kel whispered over at me during the last few minutes of sixth period.

I eyed the stack of homework we’d turned in at the beginning of class. Kel’s was clearly rippled with a slight brown tint to it.

“Did you see Mr. Johnson’s face? He wouldn’t have cared if your homework had poison spikes sticking out of it.” Mr. Johnson gave us the warning stare but didn’t break stride in his lecture.

Kel moved close enough that I could just detect the scent of his soap. “Turning in a boozy piece of homework. My greatest accomplishment yet.”

I smiled at the whiteboard Mr. Johnson was scribbling on, praying Kel didn’t notice the way my skin had prickled when he’d come closer.

After hanging at his place awhile longer last night, Kel took me home. His mom never emerged from her room. I knew having me over had made him uncomfortable, but I didn’t know how to tell him that it shouldn’t. That I understood. That I knew what it was like to feel like you were out of place in your very own life.

When the bell rang, Kel lingered in his seat as I packed up my bag. “Want me to walk you home?”

I threw my bag on. “Don’t you have practice?”

Kel stood with me. “Yeah, but you don’t live far and I can haul ass back. We have a half hour once school’s done before we have to be on the field anyway.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I think I can manage less than a mile on my own,” I said as we headed for the door.

“Did you and your dad talk at all?” Kel asked once we were in the hall.

My nose wrinkled. Nick had been asleep when I’d gotten home last night, and I’d taken off this morning before he was awake. It was a chicken move, I knew, but I wasn’t ready to confront him after running away last night.

“Nope.”

“Are you going to?” he pressed.

“Not planning on it,” I answered, focusing on the doors up ahead.

“Maybe you should try. He seems like a decent guy.”

My “dad” thinks you are a very undecent guy.

“We still on for tutoring tomorrow night?” he asked as a stream of students emerged from behind, breaking around us. “I’ve got our first game tomorrow, but it should wrap up around seven.” He paused, his eyes shining at me. “If that’s not past your bedtime.”

My nostrils flared. “I don’t have a bedtime.”

“I know Red doesn’t, but what time is Quinn’s?”

When I slugged him, he didn’t flinch. Like he’d been expecting it or was used to people landing unexpected hits. “Congratulations,” I said. “You’ve hit your annoying quota for the day. I’m leaving now.”

When I turned to take off, Kel called, “You wanna come watch tomorrow?”

My feet stopped moving. “Your game?”

“Well, me and, you know, the rest of my team, along with the opposing one.”

“Is there a decent chance I’ll get to watch you lose? I think some humility would do you good.

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