The Best Friend by Melody Carlson Page B

what?”
    â€œAnd they bought that?”
    â€œWasn’t much else they could do.”
    â€œYou are one smooth operator, Todd.” She placed a salad on her tray.
    â€œDon’t look now, but you are being watched,” he whispered in her ear.
    â€œHuh?”
    His eyes darted to the left and back.
    Following his gaze, she spotted Gillian glaring directly at her. “Uh-oh.” Lishia gave Todd a worried look.
    â€œDon’t worry, I’ll protect you,” he teased.
    â€œI’ll take you up on that,” she said as she waited for him to get his cheeseburger. No way was she leaving his side now. They got in line for the cashier, and trying not to be obvious, she sneaked a couple of peeks at Gillian, who was now getting her own lunch. Maybe Lishia had imagined the dagger looks. Just the same, she stayed close to Todd as they joined Riley and Dayton and several others at what Lishia used to consider the “popular” table. Oh, she never would’ve used that term out loud—it would only classify her as lame. But in her mind, that’s what it was. And to be welcome here today, to be sitting with Todd, well, it was almost too much to absorb.
    â€œHey, there’s the birthday boy,” someone called from the end of the table. “Did you spend the night in jail too?”
    â€œNo way.” He laughed.
    â€œBut did you hear about Gillian?” Riley said, probably to deflect attention from the kids who escaped the police on Saturday. Everyone was all ears as Riley and a couple other girls relayed the whole incident of Gillian being wasted and naked and how there was a discipline meeting scheduled for after school.
    â€œShe’s getting suspended from cheerleading,” Vanessa said.
    â€œWe don’t know that for sure,” Amanda corrected. “Don’t forget this is America and you’re innocent until proven guilty.”
    â€œOh, she’s guilty, all right,” Vanessa declared. “It’s all on record down at city hall. I’m telling you, the girl is toast. I’m just thankful I got out of there before it was too late.”
    â€œI’m glad I didn’t go,” Amanda admitted.
    â€œGillian was a fool to get caught like that,” Vanessa said. “But now she’s ruined it for our cheerleaders. Thanks to her, we won’t have a chance at regionals this year.”
    Lishia couldn’t believe how quickly Vanessa had turned on her friend. Just days ago, those two were inseparable. Now Gillian was sitting by herself on the fringe of the cafeteria. Lishia wasn’t sure if this was Gillian’s choice—and she couldn’t blame her—or if her friends were simply freezing her out. But it was strange to think that last week Riley had been the castoff, and now it was Gillian. What a fickle crowd. But then Lishia remembered her own so-called friends. Glancing toward their regular table, she realized that some of them were actually looking at her with curious expressions. Of course, they would wonder what turn of events had landed her here. She suppressed the urge to laugh, then turned back to the conversation at her table.
    â€œSo much for our dreams of getting to state too,” Riley said sadly—and believably too. “There’s no way we can get it together now.”
    â€œDon’t give up yet,” Amanda told them. “We’ll still have a few weeks to break someone in.”
    â€œOnly if Glassman deals with this quickly,” Vanessa said. “Don’t forget that this week is Thanksgiving, which means no school for several days—maybe a whole week of lost practices.”
    â€œThat’s right.” Amanda started counting the days on her fingers. “We need to push Mrs. Glassman to make her decision right away.” She looked at the other cheerleaders. “Now, I know some of you were at the party. Is there any chance anyone else can get suspended