Page 2 of Love in Development
“I can take you to the office,” Lollipop Girl said.
I didn’t really have a choice.But this girl was just as likely to beat me up in the stairwell for fun as she was to help me.Though there were worse things than a physical beating.
“The name’s Lin, by the way.L-I-N.”
I wove my way through the crowd, following Lin’s quick steps.Though I’d been in track, there were just too many people cutting between us.It wasn’t like I could hurdle them.When I inevitably fell behind, the girl’s firm hand gripped my denim jacket, keeping us close.
“And you are?”Lin asked.
“Molly.”
The bell rang just as we entered a door decorated with a black wreath.Little white ghosts dotted the circle, and a glittery purple “Boo” filled the center.Halloween wasn’t far off.
I was starting to see Lin’s pink orb on a stick as a magic wand.Whether the sorcerer behind it was an ally or an enemy, I had yet to determine.
She collected my schedule—complete with locker number and combination—then tugged me by my backpack back out the door with one hand while perusing my schedule with the other.“Nice.We have some classes together— homeroom, AP English, and digital art after lunch.So, you’re an artist too?”
Uncomfortable with being dragged around, I dug in my heels and refused to budge.There was a ripping sound, and my backpack gave way, spewing books like an opened loot chest.I sighed.
Lin paused at the repeated thuds.“Whoops.”
Whoops was right.At least she had a conscience, squatting down to help pick up the battered and bruised textbooks.But I was done being this girl’s plaything.“Enough.I can do it myself!”
Lin straightened her back and met me eye to eye, holding out my precious idea book.A slow smile stretched across her face, shifting the lollipop tucked into her cheek.With the white stick protruding from her lips, she spoke around the candy.“I like your attitude, Molly.I think we’re going to be fast friends.Meet me for lunch?”
The irritation melted away as I saw myself in her.I nodded.
A few hours later, at lunch, a pixie sat next to us, talking a mile a minute.Between Lin the lollipop chaos sorcerer and now a pixie, I wondered if I was in some sort of fantasy game.
Lin spoke around bites.“Molly, this is Charisse.”
“Lin never makes friends.Who are you?Where did you come from?How did you meet Lin?It’s ever so nice to have someone else to talk to.”
The pixie couldn’t have been five feet tall, her blond wisps in—what else?—a pixie cut, framing blue eyes that were at least two times too big for her heart-shaped face.A tiny chin rested between both hands as she leaned across the table, elbows supporting, and looked expectantly at me.Even her clothes were gauzy and sparkly.
“You don’t need anyone to talk to.”Lin grumbled as she took another bite of her hamburger.“Charisse is what some people politely refer to as a thespian.”
The food here was much better than at my old school.The company was infinitely more interesting.I might actually like it here.
An open milk carton landed on my tray, rolling and pooling milk all over my food, then onto the table.I shot backward, my chair screeching in protest just before the milk dripped onto my jeans.
Did I have a target embroidered on my jacket?
Stephanie crowed, looming behind me.
Looked like the dragon had arrived.I changed my mind about the Barbie metaphor.Going forward, Stephanie was going to be a Big Bad.Whether or not she was a Boss, I wasn’t yet sure.Maybe a Mini-Boss.At the very least, she had Adds, the Mean Girl additional enemies, rounding out her crew.
“Oops.Sorry.”
“Stay away,” Lin growled.
I almost smiled.I had my own group.Protection, Lin had called it.
“Ignore her,” Lin said.“I do.”
High school—senior year—was only a medium-level dungeon.And I was already building my team.Mom would be proud.
THE BELL RANG, ANDI rammed the last of my books back into my locker with the remains of my backpack.I shut my locker door and jumped.Lin and Charisse leaned against the lockers on either side of me.
