Confectionately Yours #4: Something New Read Online Free PDF Page A

aren’t dog treats.”
    Omar reaches into his pocket and holds out his hand. The dog nibbles the brown lump he offers, then prances around, hoping for more. Omar pats her on the head. “Maybe later,” he says. Then he stands up and turns to Meghan. “So — Meg — Marco told me you talked to Sunrise.”
    “Yes! And she’s going to run for vice president! Isn’tthat great?” Meghan holds out her bag of candy, offering some to Omar.
    “What?” Omar’s head draws back in surprise, but he takes a red fish from the bag. “Thanks.”
    “We’re a ticket! I’m running for president, and she’s running for veep!” She does a little jiggy dance, then bites the head off a gummy fish.
    Omar looks at me.
    “I don’t think Omar’s talking about the election,” I tell my friend.
    “I thought you were going to talk to Sunrise about my tutoring idea,” Omar says.
    “Oh!” Meghan stops mid-chew. “I forgot all about that!”
    I put a hand over my face as Omar’s dark eyes smolder like hot coals.
    Meghan squirms. “I kind of got sidetracked planning the election strategy —” She looks to me for help. “You know, we had to think about what to put on the posters and stuff….”
    “Making it worse,” I mutter, shaking my head. Sometimes, Meghan doesn’t know when to stop talking.
    “Meghan,” Omar says, “it’s been a whole week!”
    “Well, I wasn’t even sure you were still going to care about it in a week,” Meghan admits.
    “Of course I care!” The little dog pricks up her ears, then prances over Omar’s feet. He scratches behind her ears absently. “There are people who need help!”
    I crunch into a malted milk ball.
    “Okay, okay, Omar. I’ll mention it to Sunrise.”
    “How do I know you won’t forget again?” Omar demands.
    “Oh, come on,” Meghan says. “Why are you making a huge deal out of this?”
    Omar’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I think I see a spark in them, as if the smoldering coals are about to catch fire. “Why are you acting like the election is a bigger deal than tutoring?”
    “Because it is!” Meghan twists the neck of her plastic bag, as if she’s trying to strangle it. She looks at me. “Right, Hayley?”
    “Um,” I say.
    “Hayley, you’re with me on this one, right?” Omar demands.
    Actually, I am. But I don’t really want to say so. Meghan is my good friend. “Uh — I think I’ll just be a Swedish fish on this one.” Omar looks confused, so I wave at Meghan’s candy. “Neutral. Like Sweden.”
    “Isn’t that Switzerland?” Meghan asks.
    “Who cares?” Omar demands. “The point is that you said you would do something and you didn’t do it! You’re more worried about your dumb election!”
    “Look, Omar, I’m not going to drop everything just to do what you want,” Meghan shoots back.
    “Isn’t that what a president is supposed to do?” Omar demands. “Stuff to help the class?”
    “Okay — I’ll take care of it when I’m class president.”
    “And maybe you won’t,” Omar says. “Maybe I should run for president, so I can make sure things happen.”
    “Oh, please.” Meghan looks at him over the top of her glasses. “Are you serious? You’ve never organized anything more complicated than a prank.”
    Omar presses his lips together and gives Meghan the kind of look that could melt plastic. “You don’t know as much about me as you think you do,” he says.
    “I know as much as I need to,” Meghan snaps. “Look, I’ll help you, Omar, okay? Just let me get through the election first. We can start the program next year.”
    “That’s too late,” Omar says.
    “What’s the rush?” Meghan demands.
    But Omar just shakes his head. The little pinscher has spotted a Great Dane lumbering down the street a few stores away and is straining at the leash. “Forget it,” Omar says. “I’ll see you around, Hayley.” He lets the little dog lead him off.
    Meghan bites her lip and sucks through her teeth as she watches