Studying Boys by Stephie Davis

rigid? They were defending Theo, the one who they all said wasn't nice enough for me to like? I couldn't believe it. Total betrayal by my friends.
    And then George walked into the foyer. "I have to take off too."
    Relief rushed through me at the sight of him. George liked me exactly how I was. My intensity about homework was so impressive that he'd actually asked me out. I gave him a big smile. "Thanks for coming, George." And I meant it. I really did.
    "Friday night, then?"
    "Yes." I'd show everyone. I could have a social life being myself. So there!
    His cheeks turned pink again, but he looked pleased. "So, I'll e-mail you for directions to your house?"
    He was going to pick me up? I mean, yeah, his mom would, but that was a real date, unlike suggesting we meet somewhere. I grinned again. "Sure."
    "Great, well, see you then." He sort of glanced at my friends, then ducked out.
    I stood in the doorway and waved to him, waiting until his mom's station wagon had disappeared down the street. Then, with my only ally gone, I turned and faced my former friends. "See? George doesn't think I'm too uptight. He asked me out on a date for Friday. How many of you have a date Friday night?"
    My expression kept Blue from piping up that she no doubt had a date with her perfect boyfriend.
    "So, on Friday, maybe George and I will discuss plans for a new Homework Club for people who actually take school seriously." A club that obviously wouldn't include my friends. When none of them argued, saying that they still wanted to be a part of it, I lifted my chin, trying to pretend I didn't care. "Bye."
    And I walked out.
    Alone.
    And I felt horrible.
    * * *
    "You aren't going out with this boy on Friday," my mom said.
    This was turning out to be the worst day of my life. "His mom is driving us. What can happen?"
    My mom shook her head. "You're fourteen. Too young to date."
    "Mom!"
    "You can date when you're eighteen," my dad said.
    "Eighteen?" Eighteen? I groaned and dropped my head to the kitchen table. My forehead hit with a loud thunk, but neither of my parents seemed impressed.
    "Right now, you need to focus on school. Plenty of time to date when you're older." My dad picked up his fork and resumed eating the meatloaf my mom had kept warm for him after his late shift.
    "I don't need to study every minute of every day," I said.
    My dad looked up sharply. "Words like that will get you grounded."
    I stared at him. He would ground me simply for saying that I shouldn't have to study every second of my life? Was that really what my life had turned into, without me noticing? "So, that's it then? No dating? Ever?"
    "School, Frances. Do you really want to end up like your dad or me, working so many hours we barely get to see each other, let alone our kids? Living in a house that's too small for our family? No. You're going to do better, and it starts now. Everything you do matters. You can't waste time on boys." My mom untied her apron and folded it over the back of her chair, as if to make me notice that it was frayed and stained because she couldn't afford to buy a new one.
    "Maybe I don't want to study all the time." My parents were insane! How could they do this to me! I was their perfect child and they were still treating me like I was some irresponsible deviant? Did they have any idea what I went through to live up to their standards?
    My dad set his fork down. "That's it. To your room. Now. You can come back when you're prepared to be constructive."
    "But..."
    My dad pointed to the stairs. "Now."
    I slammed my chair back and stomped out of the room. Stupid tears. Why was I crying? Just because Theo thought I was an idiot, and my friends had disowned me, and I wasn't allowed to go on a date with the one person in the entire world who thought I was cool the way I was.
    Eighteen? Were they kidding?
    I slammed my feet on each step and threw my door closed as hard as I could, managing to knock a science award off the wall. Stupid science award. If I was