"Come in," Mrs. McCleowski called.
The door pushed open, and Coach Bronwin, the girls' basketball coach stood beside a tall, thin girl with white-blond hair.
"Hey, Mrs. McC," Coach Bronwin said. "Do you have Skye Tukano in here this period?"
"Sure do," Mrs. McC. told her. Skye blushed as everyone's gaze shifted to her. The blond fidgeted awkwardly with the him on her oversized sweater.
"This is Abby Reynolds. She's on the basketball team. She's also got the identical to Skye's schedule," Coach Bronwin explained. "I was hoping that the two could sit next to each other...or something?"
"No problem. Abby, why don't you join Skye at lab station 5?" Ms. McC. said, gesturing toward the empty stool next to Skye. Skye studied Abby carefully. It dawned on her where she had seen her before.
Carpenter High School. State Basketball Finals the year before. The only two starting sophomores on the roster of ALL the teams competing. They'd had the opportunity to meet briefly in the cafeteria.
Unfortunately, they'd both been all but snarling at each other.
The girl now smiled shyly, and glanced Skye over. Skye felt awkward, suddenly, in her cute pants suit. She was a basketball player, not a beauty queen...
But the thought fled as quickly as it came, when she remembered her thoughts of Taylor as more-than-a-friend. She became nauseous just remembering that, and shook her head. Abby was sliding onto the stool beside her.
"Hey," the girl whispered.
"Hey," Skye whispered back.
"Tell me before I get into this: what's she like?"
"Mrs. McC?" Skye asked. The girl nodded, and Skye told her, "The human sleeping pill."
"Ugh," Abby said, rolling her eyes.
"Tell me about it," Skye grumbled.
