How Do You Spell G-E-E-K? by Julie Anne Peters

Author:Julie Anne Peters [PETERS, JULIE ANNE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780316251181
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2013-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

9

It took all morning to work up a plan—or maybe it was courage. After English I told Lurlene, “I’ll probably be really late for lunch today. I have to do some research in the library for a, uh, a project in gym.” Oh, lame, Ann. Like what? An essay on the history of hockey? Bull hockey. I continued, “It might be a good idea if you found another table to eat at. You know how bugged Kimberly gets when people bother her.”

Lurlene held my shifting eyes, or tried to. “Especially me. When are we going to practice spelling again?”

“I don’t know. But don’t wait for me. You go ahead and practice on your own.”

She sighed. “That’s no fun. You let me know when you’re free.”

I felt my face catch fire and turned away. “I better get going,” I mumbled before fleeing down the hall. Why did she have to be so nice?

I stalled around after gym to make sure I’d be really late to lunch. I figured I could sneak to the corner table without Lurlene noticing. Dumb, huh? When I rounded the corner, there she was. Like she was waiting for me.

“Ann, I was hoping to catch you. You wouldn’t believe what just happened.”

“Lurlene, you weren’t supposed to wait for me, remember?”

“I wasn’t waiting. I just got here. I’m sorry.”

I wanted to scream.

“This really weird thing happened,” she said. “I was coming down the hall, and all of a sudden people started saying hi to me. Not just one or two people. Everybody. It was so great. I didn’t know if I’d ever fit in here, but now…” Her metal teeth sparkled at me. “Thank you. I don’t know what you did….”

Me neither, I thought as I smiled wanly. It really was weird. A girl with purple hair ambled by us on her way to the cafeteria. She stopped, backed up a couple of steps, and stared at Lurlene’s back. Then she smirked and said, “Hey, Lurlene. Nice to meet ya.”

Lurlene turned around. “Nice to meet you, too.”

The girl almost somersaulted through the door, she was so doubled over with laughter.

“See?” Lurlene beamed.

I shook my head. I didn’t get it.

“I’m starving,” Lurlene said. “I wonder what’s for lunch today. I hope McDonald’s brought Big Macs.” She headed for the doors. “Have a nice lunch. I won’t bother you guys.”

Then I saw it. “Lurlene, wait.” I positioned myself directly behind her. A note was stuck on her back. In bold black letters it read, BE KIND TO GEEK WEEK. MY NAME’S LURLENE. I’M A GEEK. WON’T YOU SAY HI?

“Oh, Lurlene.” I ripped the note off her back.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Nothing.” I crumpled it up.

Before I could pitch it in the trash can, she plucked it out of my hand. As she read, her jaw began to quiver.

“Lurlene, it’s just a stupid joke. Forget it.”

Her hand fell to her side, and she let the note drop. Without warning, she tore off down the hall.

“Lurlene!” I raced after her.

She disappeared into the girls’ rest room.

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