Go to the diner

You need to eat. If Professor Austen finds you, so be it. You can handle her.

You toss the grade book into the backseat and get on the road. On Main Street, you pass the library. A familiar figure in a checkered skirt and blue cardigan is hurrying up the stairs.

It’s the French girl. Studying at the library on a Saturday? She really is a kindred spirit.

But you keep driving, taking a turn, and pulling to the curb.

Plenty of people are inside the diner this time of day, and that’s for the best. There will be witnesses if Officer Lang or Professor Austen decide to come in. You need your pie. That will help you emotionally prepare for tonight. Tomorrow would be stressful enough without this Free Gurls business tonight that you have to get through first. Maybe you can disguise yourself? No… Alex is counting on your identity to be a part of this. She wants to humiliate you a little, and you have to go with it.

You walk into the diner. Your booth is taken, so you sit at the counter.

“Looking sharp, Jenny,” the waitress says. She’s straight.

“Thanks.” She doesn’t even have to ask you what you want; your pie and coffee are in front of you in seconds. You can finally relax, at least for a moment.

As you chew, you wonder if the others have found Sissy yet. You can picture a scenario where Sissy is alarmed that she’s been found out, and is hiding at Professor Austen’s place because she doesn’t want to face CCL or anyone else. Maybe she doesn’t want to get in trouble with Officer Lang. Maybe she’s worried that she’s gotten Professor Austen in trouble. Sissy is way more romantic than Lisey. If Lisey had a crush on Professor Austen, Sissy’s probably in love with her.

The bell rings and the door opens. You look up automatically, but it’s not Officer Lang or Professor Austen: it’s Roxy, and her eyes are on you.

She joins you at the counter, and you see the look in her eye.

“Don’t even think about it,” you warn. She was about to lean over and give you a peck on the cheek. You’re in public. And besides…

She looks hurt for a second, then she seems to realize where she is.

“Hi,” she says, still unable to keep the adoration off her face. For fuck’s sake, you are not the only girl in Gurlberg. Why is she so stuck on you? It’s very sweet, but you have a lot going on right now.

“Hi,” you reply.

“You don’t anything later? I was thinking we could see a movie. Or, uh, study. Read some poetry.”

“Poetry,” you repeat, and she laughs.

“I don’t know. You seem like you would like poetry. I’d do anything.”

Wow. You’re smiling. You look down at your pie.

Tell her about the wet T-shirt contest?

Or don’t?