Come lunchtime, the trio meets up at the food line. The girls pack their plates with tuna wheat wraps, kettle chips, and water. Kayla surveys the alternatives: pizza, fries, hot dogs, chips, soda, and cookies.
“Let’s make it a junk day.”
Jia fixates on the steamy apple pies; the aroma is so tempting. She reaches for one, holding it over her plate. “Maybe just one cheat day.”
“We have a show. Anyway, I can’t have sugar… my mom always knows. I break out in bumps.” Mya sighs.
Jia gives Kay a puppy dog peer, still holding the apple pie. “The sodium will bloat my feet, sorry. We have to tough it out.” Jia drops the pie back into the tray, moping.
The three walk to the back of the lunchroom. Table after table, teens chomp on junk food. A few students gulp down soda in a drinking contest. Some plates are loaded to the max.
Fred has four slices of pepperoni pizza, two bags of chips, and extra dipping sauce. “We’ll get Smith next time.” He speaks with a full mouth. “There’s no way that man doesn’t have a funny bone.”
“It’s a lost cause; he’s a robot.” Kay cracks.
There’s a bench that looks out at the busy lanes of downtown; this is where the friends sit. Mya runs her hands through her kinky red hair and leans forward. “Back to boy talk. Now, what time do your parents get home tonight?”
I should lie to avoid the chat. Kayla thinks fast, her eyes shifting a bit. “5 p.m.”
“Oh… that won’t work. We can try some other time.” She nibbles on her tuna wrap.
Good, she didn’t notice I lied. I would be a laughingstock if she realized I did. I’m not as outgoing as Mya, who has had three boyfriends. I’ve only had one. Darius. Making out is all I’m ready for. She needs to butt out. Again, Kayla hides her frustration, being too kind to hurt her friend’s feelings.
“How about you, Jia?” Mya delves on, drinking her water. “I know you’re crushing on Fred.” Jia blushes, shushing her fast. “Don’t be shy; share your hot dreams about him.”
A long beep comes from Kayla’s bookbag; she unzips it, pulling out a Motorola pager. Darius sent her a message. A row of digital hearts post across the screen. Her chest flutters. Kay flashes her teeth, her irises now wide and high on love. Does that mean he loves me? Is that his way of saying so?
Kay closely examines the bedazzled device. “What does it mean when a boy sends you hearts?”
“Is that why you’re glowing right now?” Mya singsongs.
“Maybe…”
She leans forward with a large smile. “It means he doesn’t just like you. If you catch my drift.”
“I’ve been thinking about saying it.”
“Go for it.”
“But Teen Magazine says the guy has to do that.”
Jia nods in agreement with Kay. “True… it’s not lady-like to speak it first.”
“Stop listening to that trash.” Mya scorns. “Girls can cut to the chase; guys prefer it over getting their egos hurt. Trust me.”
In history class, a big-bellied man rolls down a projector. The out-of-range screen is illuminated by a lamp. The teacher moves the projector box to clear up the image. On the screen is a lengthy video. “Pay attention.” The man says, pressing a button on the wall near his desk; automatically shutting the shades on the large windows. Darkness falls. A documentary plays. The caption reads:
The Lost WWI Vampire Dugout
The Underground War.
“VAMPIRE?!” a student yells, perplexed.
“It’s a figure of speech, referring to the dead below the trench.” The teacher clarifies. “Now quiet; eyes on the screen.”
The documentary displays grainy footage of WWI. “It was a secret war, a clandestine war, a barbaric war.” A man in a tunneling suit states gravely as old battleground footage plays. Students recite word for word into their notebooks, Kayla amongst them. She writes fast, as if a transcriber, finishing words as they are said. Diggers on the screen use hammering drones on solid stone. The machinery chips away on domed sections of concrete.
“It’s like breaking into an Egyptian tomb or something. This thing’s been sealed since the First World War.” Another explorer says, geeking out.
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