Alexis Gets Frosted by Coco Simon Page B

chairs around into little clusters. But there wasn’t anyone there yet. I sat in my seat, and guess who walked in next?
    She and I looked at each other, caught and frozen, like deer in headlights. I opened my mouth to say something, but Mr. Donnelly came bustling in with a cheery hello. The moment had passed, and the room quickly filled.
    Our group was good, and I hated to admit it, but Olivia was one of the best (along with yours truly, of course). She didn’t say one mean thing to me for almost the entire class, either. Actually,she didn’t say anything to me. She just acted like I wasn’t there. She did say one meanish thing to George Martinez when he missed a question, but that was all. I started to wonder if my friends were right. Maybe I had won. It was a weird, new feeling—kind of powerful—and I’m embarrassed to admit to myself that I kind of like it.
    But then I got a really hard question I knew the answer to, and in my excitement, I jumped up, and my chair knocked back and tipped over. Everyone laughed, including Mr. Donnelly and finally, me. It was funny, I realized. When I’d successfully answered the question and sat back down, Olivia leaned over, so everyone could hear, and said, “Very exciting. Kind of like a bake-off, right, Alexis?”
    So I turned to look her right in the eye and said, “Meet me after class.” Just like that!
    OMG. After I said it, my whole body flooded with a cold feeling, then a hot feeling. My knees wobbled, and I didn’t look around to see who’d heard me. I just willed myself not to blush. What the heck was I going to say to Olivia Allen after class? I did not know. All I knew was that this had gone on long enough and it was totally distracting me.
    The remaining fifteen minutes of class flew by,of course, and when the bell rang, I rose, packed my things, and waited for Olivia outside the door. It took her so long, I had to look back in to see if she slipped by without me seeing her (which really would have been impossible), but she was still there, slowly loading her bag.
    Finally, finally, just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, she came through the door and into the hall.
    She stopped and then looked at me with a challenging tilt to her chin. “So?” she asked. “What do you want?”
    I took a deep breath and just plunged in.
    â€œTo apologize. I may have said something rude about you, and I’m sure you heard about it. I wanted to apologize and to say that it wasn’t nice and probably wasn’t true.”
    Olivia just stared at me. A moment went by, and then she said, “It isn’t true. I happen to be a really good skier. We used to go all the time.”
    So Maggie was right! Olivia had been holding this grudge all this time. Wow.
    â€œWell, I am sorry for being mean. I regret hurting your feelings. And now I’d like you to apologize as well.” I can’t believe my nerve!
    â€œFor what?” Olivia asked, narrowing her eyes.
    â€œFor treating me terribly. For embarrassing me on purpose. For teasing me, mocking me, and humiliating me. What I said was wrong, but your punishment has been unbearable, and it needs to stop.”
    Olivia blinked.
    â€œWell . . .,” she started. “Thanks. Thanks for apologizing. I didn’t know why you said that, and I thought it was really mean.”
    â€œIt was,” I said. But I had to hold my ground. I wanted Olivia to apologize too. I took another deep breath. “But probably not mean enough that you had to torture me for the past few weeks. You were really mean back, and it’s a terrible way to treat another person. Also, I’m not sure why you are so fascinated by me that you are always watching me. I guess I’m flattered.”
    Olivia looked around. None of her BFFs were around, and it was just Olivia and me. Was Olivia nervous? Embarrassed? I couldn’t tell. “I don’t watch