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Vanessa?” asked Wyatt.
    It was obvious that we’d caught her off guard. With a suspicious expression, she looked from Wyatt to me and back at him again. “Okay, what’s up? What kind of game are you two playing here?”
    “We’re not playing a game,” I said. “We’re just friends doing homework during lunchtime. Is there anything wrong with that?”
    She scowled. “You guys are
just
friends? Yeah, right.”
    “It’s true,” I assured her. “I wish we could all be friends.”
    She laughed. “Oh, you mean
friends with benefits.”
    I frowned. “No, that’s
not
what I mean.”
    “So why aren’t you and Dominic together?”
    “That’s a good question. The truth is, I hurt his feelings, and he’s not talking to me now.”
    Vanessa pointed a finger at Wyatt. “So is that your story too? You two are just friends?”
    He nodded toward me and grinned. “What she said.”
    Vanessa seemed to be at a loss for words now.
    “Look,” I told her, “it’s true. We are just friends. And Dominic and I were just friends too.”
    “Then why is he mad at you?”
    I considered this. “I guess because it’s hard to just be friends sometimes.”
    She glared at Wyatt now. “You got that right.”
    “But I think it’d be cool if we could.” I attempted a smile at her.
    She softened now. “Yeah, I guess it would be cool. But I’m not sure that it’s possible.”
    Wyatt brightened now. “But why not give it a try?”
    She narrowed her eyes at him. “You mean by being just friends with you?”
    He shrugged. “Or with Maya…or whatever.”
    She looked at me now. “I don’t know… I’ve seen you hanging with those two Bible thumpers, and I’m not really into that.”
    I kind of laughed. “To be honest, I’m not either. I mean, I am a Christian. But I don’t always agree with everything Brooke and Amanda say.” Then I told her about how they’d laid into me for being friends with Siobhan.
    Vanessa laughed. “Well, I think I’d have to side with the Bible thumpers on that one.”
    “I don’t see why,” I countered. “Siobhan is an intelligent and interesting girl. Sure, she’s no angel, but then who is?”
    Vanessa’s expression got serious. “Yeah, I guess that’s true. Although Siobhan has a pretty slutty reputation.”
    “According to her, she made some bad choices a couple of years ago. But she says she’s not into that now.”
    “She told you about it?” asked Wyatt with a little too much interest.
    “Not the details,” I said quickly, not really wanting to go there, mostly for Siobhan’s sake. “Just that she wishes she hadn’t done it.”
    “She said that?” Vanessa looked skeptical.
    I nodded, then took another bite of salad. Siobhan and I have been talking a lot during art class, and she’s pretty open about her life. I honestly don’t think she’d mind if I straightened a few people out about her. Not that she seems to really care what people think. Or at least she acts like she doesn’t. But underneath…I think maybe she does.
    But here’s the bizarre thing about lunch today. After we got over that initial awkward stage, the three of us (Vanessa, Wyatt, and me) actually had a pretty fun conversation. Oh sure, they gave me a bad time about being such a green freak. And now Vanessa calls me “Queen Green,” but it’s almost like we are friends. How weird is that? But here’s the coolest part—Dominic was watching. He was trying to look like he was reading a book, but I could see him glance up occasionally, then quickly back down. I could tell that our strange little trio must’ve had him thinking. So now I’m determined to try—just one more time—to talk to him. And I have a plan.
    After school I went to see Marissa again. It’s not easy to go there, and I only go about two or three times a week now, but she looks forward to the visits. For that reason and because I care about her, I’ll keep going. Still, I feel guilty for not being more thrilled about seeing