Abby whispered to Ivy. Then Ivy whispered to me. “Brandon is wearing fingerless gloves.”
“So?” I said.
“Don’t you think it’s odd?”
“No. It is cold out,” I defended.
“Maybe he got a tat,” Abby said.
“On his hand?” I asked.
“On his knuckles,” Abby corrected.
“Yes, that’s big with the juvies,” Ivy said.
“There is no evidence he’s a juvie,” I said. “You both watch too much TV.”
“He’s just not like us,” Abby said. “It’s like he doesn’t want to fit in with the rest of us—or even try to.”
“Why should he?” I asked. “It’s not like anyone is overly friendly toward him.”
“I think he’s trying to hide something,” Ivy theorized. “He doesn’t make eye contact, he sits alone, and now he’s all about coats and gloves in class.”
“Yes . . . I’m sure that’s it,” I said. “Has to be hiding something, otherwise it’s not worth discussing.”
“You are so right,” Ivy said with a smile.
“What could it be?” Abby asked.
I was the only one who knew what Brandon was hiding. And I wasn’t about to tell.
By lunchtime, Jake and Dylan were showing signs of strain, trailing Ivy and Abby and holding their girlfriends’ trays, backpacks, and purses. The students laughed as they passed by, and so did I. They were doing their best to live up to “servants for a day.”
Nash grabbed a burger from the line and passed Brandon.
“Hey, dude—what’s with the gloves?” Nash said. “We are inside, you know.”
Brandon paused. I wasn’t sure what he was going to say. I’m hiding a wound I received while saving your girlfriend’s life? Didn’t she already tell you?
But he didn’t answer.
“Wolf got your tongue?” Nash challenged.
“Don’t be rude!” I said to Nash.
“I was just wondering, is that the new fashion in Riverside?” Nash asked.
Abby, Ivy, Dylan, and Jake remained at Nash’s side. Brandon was alone.
“You can tell me,” Nash said.
Brandon remained silent.
“Or maybe you’re trying to hide something,” Nash taunted.
I pulled Nash away.
“Sorry. He got an A in football but an F in manners,” I said to Brandon. I continued to lead Nash back to our usual table.
We sat down and Jake and Dylan began cutting my friends’ salads.
“You aren’t going to feed them, too, are you?” Nash asked.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Abby said with a laugh.
“So what did you have Nash do as your servant?” Ivy asked.
“So far, nothing.” He grinned triumphantly. “And the day is half over.”
“Nothing?” Dylan asked, outraged.
I’d thought about it all day. What would I make Nash do? I could carry my own purse and backpack. I guess the point was to humiliate them and be able to order them around like we couldn’t normally. Nash wasn’t used to taking orders, and I wasn’t used to giving them. I was the kind that let my opponent win a board game for fear they might feel bad if they lost.
“You have to make him do something,” Jake urged.
“Yes, and it better be good,” Dylan threatened.
“Okay. Okay,” I finally said.
My friends waited for my command. Nash tensed up, sure I was going to order him to run naked through the cafeteria. I wasn’t sure, however, if he’d object to such a stunt.
“I told you I want you to have a party,” I said.
“That’s it?” Nash replied happily. “I always have parties. No big deal.”
“That’s not all,” I said. “I haven’t provided you with the guest list.”
“Oh. Is it boys only?” Jake asked. “You getting to hang out with the entire basketball team?”
“No, maybe it’s only Nash,” Dylan said.
“That’s not much of a party,” Jake said.
“Yeah?” Nash finally said.
“You’ll invite the usual crowd. Plus one special guest.”
“Who’s that?” he asked.
“You were just talking to him,” I said. “Brandon. The guy with fingerless gloves.”
“Are you kidding?” Nash asked, slapping the table.
“That’s not it,” I said. “I want you to march over there and apologize to him for your behavior. And then, invite him to your party.”
“You want me to kiss him, too?”
“Now, that’s a good idea!” Dylan said.
I was beaming. Even my best friends were thrilled.