Even When You Lie to Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

the girls who are taking yoga can come with me.”
    We headed outside, where the boys were already trudging around the far end of the track. I started jogging with the others, moving somewhat faster than usual so the guys who finished first wouldn’t be standing there watching my breasts parabola as I ran. As I neared the end of the track, I noticed with a jolt that Mike from the pool was standing near the back of the group of boys. He saw me looking at him. He hesitated for a minute, and then he started to move toward me. I froze, but a boy clapped his shoulder and he turned away, distracted.
    I looked around to see whether I could find anyone to talk to who would make me look a little less desperate. I didn’t want Mike reporting to Austin how vulnerable I was without Lila. I noticed Dev and Asha from my English class talking to each other, but once everyone finished their lap and the boys left, Asha was alone too. I’d only ever said hi to her, though, and the thought of starting a conversation just for it to stall out was enough to keep me away. Why would she want to talk to me anyway?
    Once we were back inside, Mrs. Deloit said, “All right, ladies. Everyone go get a mat and then we’ll begin.” She sat down in a plastic chair and started the music. She already looked exhausted.
    I could see why Lila had warned me. The recording was some old relaxation guide, probably something Mrs. Deloit had found at a garage sale. There were wobbly panpipes on the sound track, and the instructor was vaguely British. A few girls exchanged smiles, and by the time we were doing a downward dog to the echoes of whale song, some had broken into cautious giggles. When it came time to relax our bodies and the instructor urged us to loosen our groins, a gale of laughter shot out. By that point Mrs. Deloit was half asleep.
    I glanced at Asha, who was on the mat next to mine. She gestured at Mrs. Deloit’s drooping eyelids. That small invitation was enough. I nodded and whispered, “She must have really relaxed her groin.”
    Asha’s eyes widened. “I hope not too much or this room’s going to smell even worse than it already does.”
    I laughed, surprised that she’d made a joke. She hadn’t spoken much in class the day before, and I had assumed she was shy.
    The music finished and there was silence for a moment. I realized a couple of girls were breathing heavily. It took another minute for Mrs. Deloit’s head to bob up. Asha and I snickered.
    “Okay, girls,” she said, blinking slowly. “That was very relaxing, wasn’t it? I see a few of you were as relaxed as I was. Let’s head back.”
    I deliberately avoided walking to the changing rooms with Asha. The sudden pressure of having to talk to her stopped up my thoughts, and it was easier to avoid conversation entirely. But when I started toward Mr. Drummond’s classroom, she appeared out of nowhere in the hallway.
    “My mom would not have called that yoga,” she said.
    “I don’t think most people would have,” I said. I smiled at her tentatively.
    She was silent for a few steps, and then she said, “Mr. Drummond is interesting.”
    I laughed. “Yeah, that seems to be the general opinion.”
    “You don’t think so?”
    “Don’t really know him well enough yet,” I said. “But hopefully he’s a step up from Mr. Mickler.” Mr. Mickler had been known as the English department’s tenure jockey until he’d retired the year before.
    “Oh, him,” she said. “Dev heard that last year he made them watch movies while he napped.”
    “And you’re sure he won’t come out of retirement?”
    Asha laughed. “Not likely.”
    Lila gave me a smug look when we walked into our classroom. I quickly waved goodbye to Asha as she headed to her seat. Lila glanced at her suspiciously.
    “What now?” I said.
    She looked back at me. “I’ve solved your dilemma. I accept Weird Al merchandise.”
    I sat down next to her. “What’s your brilliant