Tara Kelly - Harmonic Feedback

I nodded and swallowed hard, thinking about Justin, wondering if his mom had said the same stuff to him. I couldn’t imagine Mom not always being around. “I love you,” I said.

Her chest shook. I couldn’t tell if it was from tears or laughter. Maybe it was both.

ON THURSDAY, Mr. Diaz showed his favorite example of a long shot—Godard’s Week End . This included a horrendous traffic jam and a continuous barrage of horns. Apparently, they thought honking made traffic move faster in 1960s France. This little black car managed to weave its way through, while the other cars sat in line.

Justin turned in his seat and whispered, “This has to be the most boring and interesting clip I’ve ever seen.”

I glanced at Mr. Diaz and leaned forward. “That made no sense.”

“It’s getting really repetitive, but I keep expecting Godzilla to show up.”

The last bit showed mangled bodies in the grass and some guy walking around them like they weren’t even there. I used to see people do that to the homeless in the city. Half the time they looked dead, but Mom said they were probably passed out drunk.

“Okay.” Mr. Diaz flipped the TV off. “What did you guys think?”

At least half the classroom was asleep, drawing, or otherwise preoccupied with something on their desks.

The dark-haired emo boy raised his hand. “I don’t get the point. If people were so pissed about the black car cutting through, why didn’t they slug the driver? They just stood there waving their arms like idiots.”

“Yeah,” another guy chimed in. “They kept getting out of their cars like they were gonna give him a beat-down and then nothing happened.”

“I thought it was obnoxious,” Casey said.

“All good points,” Mr. Diaz said. “Why do you think they held back?”

I raised my hand. “It’s a picture of society. How nobody tries to help each other—it’s everyone for themselves.”

“I think the black car is breaking free from the rat race in a sense,” Justin said. “All these people were lined up for the daily grind, and the driver of the black car said, Screw it, nobody is going to stop me.”

“Nobody wanted to see them get ahead, but their persistence eventually paid off,” I said.

Mr. Diaz nodded at us and smiled. “It’s good to see you two working so well together.”

A couple people giggled, and Casey shot me a dirty look. I sank lower in my chair.

Mr. Diaz opened his mouth to speak, but the bell cut him off. “We’ll continue this tomorrow! Don’t forget to write up your movie reviews for this clip. They’re due tomorrow—first thing.”

Justin waited for me as I shoved a binder into my backpack. Casey hovered around her desk, watching us.

“It was good to hear your voice today, Drea.” Mr. Diaz said. “I can tell from your reviews that you understand a lot more than you think you do.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, my cheeks growing hot.

“We’ve got the camera this weekend,” Justin said.

I flung my backpack over one shoulder. “Crap, I promised my grandma I’d help her with a garage sale.”

He grinned. “Maybe there will be some fun customers to film.”

“Hey, Justin,” Casey said as we passed her, “Kari wants to talk to you. She’s waiting out front.”

Justin’s jaw tensed. “Okay.”

The two of them walked ahead of me toward the school parking lot. Naomi grabbed my shoulders from behind, pulling me back a couple paces. My lunch box slipped out of my grasp and crashed onto the floor. The contents—my iPod, loose change, crayons, lip gloss, and two maxi pads—scattered across the green tile.

“Can you not do that?” I knelt down and grabbed my iPod.

“God, cranky much?” She got on her knees and picked up the quarters.

A couple guys walked by, laughing. “Are those the extra-absorbent kind?” One of them kicked a pad over to me.

I snatched it and shoved it inside the box. Apparently the fiasco had caught Justin’s attention because he handed the other pad to me and picked up some of my crayons. I really wanted a blanket to hide under.

“Why don’t you use tampons?” Naomi asked.

“I’ll wait for you guys outside,” Justin said, getting up. He jogged after Casey.

“I really hate you right now, Naomi.” I slammed my lunch box shut. “Why do you have to embarrass me in front of him?”

“Uh, Drea. Most guys our age know we get periods. It’s not like a big secret or anything.”

“My mom says guys get weirded out when you talk about it.”

“I know.” She gave me a big smile. “That’s why it’s fun. I like to watch them squirm.”

I shook my head and headed toward the double set of doors. “Why? That’s a pointless goal.”

She walked ahead of me and shoved the door open. “Don’t you ever get tired of being such a priss?”

“Whatever that means.” I hadn’t told Naomi the truth yet. Her words kept spinning in my head. The only one I trust .

Justin leaned against the trunk of his car, eyeing the ground. Kari did most of the talking, using animated hand gestures that resembled sign language. Casey paced behind them with a cell phone glued to her ear.

“Drama-queen alert.” Naomi tugged me along. “Let’s go spy.”

I followed her. At least we wouldn’t be in Kari’s line of vision that way. We slouched over and crept behind a pickup truck next to Justin’s BMW.

“You didn’t strike me as a coward,” Kari said.

“I didn’t know what to say—it was awkward.”

“Only because you made it that way.”

Naomi let out a snort and covered her laugh.

I elbowed her in the side.

Justin shoved his hands into his pockets. “I told you, Kari. It’s not you.”

“Are you gay?”

“I just don’t want to hook up with anyone right now.”

“Is that why you and Drea are attached at the hip?”

“We’re friends.”

“Right. You should hear the way she salivates over you in the locker room. Good luck with that.” She shook her head and walked off with Casey.

I really wanted that blanket.

Naomi jumped up. “For the record, we merely admire you—our salivary glands aren’t involved.”

I followed her, keeping my eyes on Justin’s tires. Looking at him would be too intense. Too embarrassing.

“Good to know,” he answered. “We recording?”

“I’m game. Did you mic my drums yet, Drea?”

“Yep.” We’d finally moved her drum kit over yesterday, but she’d played for only five minutes before Grandma had major issues. No drums after sunset, she said. I guess she feared they would attract vampires or something.

“Sweet! I can’t stay for long, though. My dad is taking me out to dinner tonight,” she said.

“That’s good, right?” I asked.

She shrugged. “As long as he shows up.”

I insisted on riding in the back today. The thought of being so close to Justin made me nervous. If he didn’t know how I felt before, he certainly did now. Kari sucked. And so did Naomi for teasing me so much in the locker room.

“So, did you totally shoot Kari down, or what?” Naomi asked as we turned onto Holly Street.

“She made a move on me, and I told her I wasn’t interested. Took her home.”

“Let me guess. She either gave you a shoulder rub or just leaned in and kissed you. I’m guessing the first one—she uses that on the good boys.”

I peeked at Justin in the rearview mirror, and his eyes met mine. I hadn’t told Naomi about him.

“Neither,” he said. “Anyway, she took it personally and wouldn’t let it drop. So I’ve been avoiding her.”