The Heartbreakers by Pamela Wells Page A

Alexia’s view. She was about to turn away when he reappeared in the window and put a note up to the glass.
    MS. FAIRWEATHER JUST ASKED ME TO MARRY HER. WHAT DO I SAY ?
    He had this panicked look on his face.
    Alexia laughed. She mouthed, “Tell her you’re taken.”
    He widened his eyes in mock exasperation. “Thank you.”
    â€œYou’re welcome,” she said, face beaming as if she actually had been crucial to his fake dilemma.
    When he disappeared again from the window, Alexia went behind the library counter to get her instructions from Mrs. Halloway. The short, curly-haired librarian went through the computer and filing system. Alexia nodded when she was supposed to and said, “Okay.” “Sure.” Except every few minutes she’d look up at the computer lab door, hoping to see Ben in the window again.

NINE
Rule 3: You must not write The Ex letters or text messages saying you miss him .
    Sydney typed in a text message to Drew on her phone:
where were u this weekend? y didn’t u call? we need 2 talk. i miss u.
    syd
    xoxo
    She hit the SEND button and flipped the phone closed, sliding it into the front pocket of her bag.
    There, he couldn’t ignore that, could he?
    Beneath her desk, Sydney’s knee bobbed up and down. She put her index finger to her lips and started to try and chew on the already nonexistent fingernail tip.
    She felt like she was wasting time by sitting here in the middle of Creative Writing, listening to the old and deaf Mr. Simon drone on in his monotonous voice about their next writing assignment.
    She thought the first day of a new class was supposed to be laid back while the teacher explained a few ground rules and passed out textbooks.
    Of course, that sounded boring, too. Particularly when she had somewhere to be. Or rather, someone she needed to talk to. Drew was still MIA, though if she believed the witnesses, he was somewhere within the walls of Birch Falls High. The problem was, he was everywhere she wasn’t.
    So far they hadn’t shared a single class, which was disappointing, considering they’d scheduled their classes together. Mrs. Hunt, the guidance counselor, promised she’d do her best to get them in the classes they chose.
    But Sydney’s first-hour trig was a bust, as was her second-hour study hall. At first she thought Drew was absent, but then she asked a few of his friends if they’d seen or talked to him. They all said yes, though they were adamant about not saying anything more, as if they knew something she didn’t.
    The rest of class dragged on. She hoped it wasn’t going to continue like that for the rest of the semester. She actually liked writing, but Mr. Simon was ruining the experience. Probably he could make skydiving sound as interesting as watching paint dry.
    When the bell rang, Sydney scooped up her things and hit the hallway at a fast pace, heading toward B hall where Drew’s locker was. She waited for him to show, but within minutes the hallways thinned out as the students headed to their next classes. There was still no sign of Drew.
    Then she spotted Craig Thierot rounding the corner up ahead. “Craig!” she called, jogging to meet him. “Hey, have you seen Drew?”
    â€œYup. I just talked to him in study hall.”
    He had study hall fourth hour? What, did he purposely switch on her at the last minute?
    â€œSo, uh…” Uh, what! What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to fish for information without sounding like a petty girlfriend? Unfortunately, the talent for prying for information was a mystery to her. Kelly was better at that. Probably because she was so cute and bubbly. It was easy for her to sound casual while asking for information.
    â€œHey, Syd, I gotta jet before the bell rings,” Craig said. “I’ve already got a tardy today.” He started running off, but turned halfway. “Hey, I’m sorry, you know,