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he could respond to that, my stomach roared, startling us both.
    One of his brows shot up in question. “No Pop-Tarts this morning?”
    “We were out,” I lied.
    He shoved up to his feet, grabbing my hand to pull me up, too. “Well, I'm starved, too,” he said. “Let's get some grub, and then get going. We've got to hand those papers into Mr. Wilson.”

F IVE
    “SO, KAL TOLD ME YOU ROPED HIM into going shopping with you tomorrow,” Ricki said as she dropped down into the seat next mine. “God, I hate Biology.” She scowled at her book before turning back to me and more important topics of conversation. “Anyway, so I told Adam that since Kal was going, he had to come, too. And, Adam told me to tell Kal that he needs to stop being so whipped. He's setting the boyfriend bar way too high.” She ended that remark with a giggle.
    “Naturally, you decided to tell me all this instead of Kal, especially considering that he's not my boyfriend, and you and Adam both know this. Hell, everyone knows it.”
    “No, Mia.” She rolled her eyes as if she couldn't believe I could be so dim-witted. “Everyone knows that you two should be a couple. You're always together. You practically live in each other's pockets. It's like you two are one person. You even finish each other's sentences.”
    “We do not.”
    “Do, too. And, it's always been that way. You should've been dating by now. Really, you're already like an old married couple.” At my derisive snort, she shoved forward. “It's borderline disgusting, watching you two. You have your own little inside jokes. Stories that no one else was there for. You live in this bubble where it's just the two of you. All the time. The Kal and Mia Show.”
    “He's my best friend! Oh…er…well, he's one of my best friends,” I amended when her face screwed up into a pained frown. “Besides,we've known each other for years. He's my neighbor, for crying out loud. Of course, we've spent a lot of time together.”
    “Okay, okay.” She threw up her hands in resignation. “I'm just saying, is all.” Her eyes sparkled and she threw a sly grin my way. “But that boy is totally hot.” Her eyes went dreamy. “I definitely wouldn't kick him out of bed. Hmm…no, I'd probably tie him to it, actually.”
    A loud groan jumped out of me. “You did not just say that, Ricki. I really didn't need that image seared into my brain for the rest of my life.”
    “You'll be thanking me later,” she predicted. “When he finally does get up the nerve to ask you out, you'll know exactly what to do with him. You're welcome.”
    “You're welcome for what?” Kal asked as he and Adam slid into the seats behind us.
    Ricki's face flushed instantly, and suddenly, her Biology book was extremely interesting. But I just couldn't help myself, so I turned around in my seat, intending to give Kal a detailed account of the conversation that he'd missed. Ricki jumped in first, cutting me off.
    “Adam and I are going shopping with you tomorrow,” she told him.
    He chuckled softly. “So, Mia recruited you guys, too, eh?” He shrugged. “The more, the merrier.”
    “Dude,” Adam interrupted, flicking his hand in the air like he was cracking a whip. “You are so whipped.”
    “I'm only whipped if I'm doing something I don't want to do,” Kal replied easily. “Aren't you coming, too?” He lifted his hand up to his ear in a make-shift telephone. “Hello, Kettle, this is Adam, aka the Pot. You're black.”
    Ricki and I dissolved into giggles at the murderous look Adam shot Kal just as Mr. Bainbridge entered the room. The bell rang, and the volume level of the class settled to a low hum as attendance was taken. Afterward, Mr. Bainbridge handed our graded tests back and answered any questions we had. Since it was the last day before winter break commenced, he gave us the rest of the hour to do whatever we wanted, just as long as we were somewhat on the quiet side.
    Ricki and I turned around to face the