Queen of Likes Read Online Free PDF Page B

there’s a spotlight shining in a bright circle around us, announcing we’re all superclose friends.
    â€œWell, for one thing, we’re going to win the Spirit Stick. Aren’t we, girls?” says Bailey. She nudges me with her elbow.
    I’m feeling light and airy, as if I might lift off the ground. Ella will be so happy when she hears the news about getting to cochair publicity.
    I am a supergenius.
    I, supergenius, gaze at my best friend and realize she still looks confused. “You and I have been picked to be the publicity chairs,” I squeal.
    â€œReally?” Her eyes grow emoji-big and her skin practically sparkles.
    Everyone nods. Janel gives a big thumbs-up.
    Ella jumps up and down and claps her hands and then hugs me. I’m feeling like an awesome best friend right now because I have made her dreams come true.
    And mine, too.
    My Stats:
    2 cochairs of the publicity committee
    1 real chair, but I won’t tell Ella
    3 Bees who think I’m a goddess, even though I don’t have my Snappypic
    6,343 more followers than Auggie
    1 seventh-grade class that will love me when we win the Spirit Stick

    Mood: Superexcited!

6
    MONDAY, MARCH 5: DAY 2 WITHOUT LIKES
    You What?
    As soon as Bailey and the Bees swish around the corner to their class, Ella clutches my arm. “I’m so excited that they picked us,” she says.
    â€œMe too,” I say, biting my lip. She would feel awful if she knew how much they didn’t want her. “It’ll be fun. We can do everything together. I mean, that’s what best friends are for, right?”
    â€œDefinitely,” she says. We probably have three minutes until the bell rings and we have to be in social studies.
    â€œCan I borrow your phone?” I ask. “We need to begin our Spirit Week plan.”
    Ella’s eyes nervously dart around the hall. “Quickly.” She hands me the phone.
    â€œI’m going to start the seventh-grade Spirit account on Snappypic. Just think of me as your”—I pause for the right word—“your assistant.” I navigate over to the place where you can put up new pages and get to work.
    â€œThe bell’s about to ring,” says Ella.
    â€œIt’s okay. Half the class rushes in as the bell rings anyway.”
    â€œHurry.” Ella glances over her shoulder through the doorway into the classroom. Most of the kids are sitting down at their desks and getting textbooks out of their backpacks. Bailey gives me a significant look as my social studies teacher, Mrs. Kirkland, sits at her desk talking to two students.
    â€œThe seventh-grade page is done,” I say. “Why don’t you change the banner? Make it more artsy or something?”
    â€œSure. I can do that,” says Ella.
    â€œI know you can.” I smile and we both duck into class just as the bell rings.
    The Meeting After School
    Mrs. Grayson stands by the door directing kids into her classroom. Even though her name is Mrs. Grayson, she is not gray. She has bright eyes and reddish brown hair, and she’s almost young, probably in her late twenties. She points to seats as Ella and I stroll through the open doorway. Around twenty students have already arrived, and they stand around in clusters, talking.
    â€œOkay, sixth graders off to the left,” Mrs. Grayson says. “Seventh graders in the middle and eighth graders over here. Council members sit in front.” The desks have been pushed into a U formation.
    â€œHey, Karma. Hey, Ella!” Bailey waves at us as if we’ve been friends forever.
    Ella grins and I wave back. The Bees point to seats behind them and we sit down. Mrs. Grayson glances at the clock. It’s 3:40. School’s been out for ten minutes.
    â€œWe’re starting in five minutes,” explains Mrs. Grayson as more students arrive. “That should give everyone enough time to get here.” She confers with an eighth grader with a trendy