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Isn't Jack, like, your best friend?"
"No," Sam said.
"You aren't in touch with him?" Nell said.
"Why would I be?" Sam said. "The guy's a loser."
Emmi hated that word. It was a bully's word. She took a sip of her beer and looked away.
"Loser?" Nell said. "Seriously? What happened? The four of you were inseparable."
Sam shifted in his chair.
"Drew's such a sweet guy," Nell went on. "Rosie's brilliant, and Jack---"
"Drew's got zero frizz, and Rosie's basic," Becca said. "Girl needs a makeover."
Emmi had always thought her English was pretty decent, but her lack of comprehension around people her own age made her feel like a beginner.
Nell ignored Becca. "I figured you were upset when Jack got expelled," she said.
Sam's face had turned red. Emmi saw him swallow.
"Upset?" Becca said with a laugh. "Sam's the one who showed me the list. And I showed it to Cynthia, and her mom went absolutely ballistic---"
"You?" Nell said to Sam. "You're the one who got Jack in trouble?"
"He thought I should know what that asshole was saying about me and all of us," Becca said. She leaned over and kissed Sam. "He's my hero."
Nell rolled her eyes. "I don't buy it," she said. "Jack was my lab partner in bio all junior year, and he was always so decent to me. No one becomes an asshole overnight."
Emmi was intrigued; Jack had a defender in this girl.
"It's pretty simple actually," said Sam. "Jack is bitter because he's never had a girlfriend."
Nell was shaking her head. "He never came across like an angry guy. He was always nice."
"Maybe you should date him then," Sam said.
"I'm not saying I want to date him," Nell said. "It's just confusing to hear you talk bad about him."
"According to Jack's list," Becca said, "I'm worth a small Mercedes while you're worth, like, a Starbucks Frappuccino. You're the one who should be the most pissed off at him."
"And yet I'm the one telling you," Nell said, her voice strong, "Jack liked me. We got along."
"The only good thing about Jack Holt," Becca said, "is that he's the reason Sam and I got together."
"You're wrong about him," Nell said. "Everybody is. I even went to the principal, the disciplinary committee, and my teachers, and I told them I thought Jack should get a chance to show and explain the math he did. I assumed you stood up for him too." No one at the table said anything.
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