November Blues Read Free Page B

been neatly stuffed with extra substance. She wore a massive boy’s football jersey that came down to her knees and a well-packed pair of blue jeans. And then there were those unfortunate-looking shoes. She wore no makeup on her cocoa brown face, and her very high cheekbones and dimples were things November could only wish for. She grinned at November warmly.
    â€œOh, yeah, I know you,” November said weakly. But Olivia was one of those girls who sat in the back of every classroom, never joined in hallway conversations, never caused a scene or did anything to bring attention to herself, the type easily ignored by girls like November and Dana. “Aren’t you in the band?” November asked. She vaguely remembered a concert her friend Jericho had once played in. She knew that Jericho, Josh’s cousin and very best friend, grieved deeply for him as well. The two had been as close as brothers.
    Olivia brightened. “Yeah! I play the tuba in concert band, but the sousaphone in marching band. Tubas aren’t good for marching,” she explained.
    â€œI don’t think I could handle either one,” Novembersaid frankly. “They’re awfully big suckers to lug around.”
    â€œYeah, but I do my best to keep a low profile. Well, as low as I can, seeing how I’m the biggest thing in the eleventh grade!” Changing tones, she added, “Everybody and their sister knows you, November. You the bomb, girl. You got millions of friends, and you used to go with Josh Prescott.”
    â€œThe only thing you’re right about is the Josh part,” November replied. “It’s hard to get over the fact that he’s never coming back.” She felt like she might cry.
    â€œHe was always nice to me, you know. In fifth grade, he knocked a boy down who was making fun of me, then he did a little jig on the boy’s backpack. I’ll never forget that.”
    â€œYeah, that was Josh—making the world go ’round.” November felt another wave of nausea and rushed back into the stall. The flushing toilet echoed loudly, to November’s further embarrassment.
    But Olivia said nothing when November reemerged from the stall. “You sure you don’t need the nurse?” she finally asked.
    â€œThat little old lady can’t help me,” November replied sullenly. “By law all she’s allowed to give out to kids are bandages and tissues and candy. She can’t even slide anybody a cough drop, let alone an aspirin.” She rinsed her face with cold water, while Olivia watched her silently.
    â€œYou’re pregnant, aren’t you?” Olivia finally asked bluntly.
    November looked at Olivia in the mirror, astonished. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Olivia shrugged. “Forget I asked. It’s none of my business, anyway.” She picked up her bag to leave.
    November suddenly felt the need to talk to someone, even an almost stranger like Olivia, and before she could stop herself, she put her hand out and touched the other girl. She glanced around the small bathroom, making sure no one else was in there with them. “You’ve got to promise not to tell anybody,” she said, her voice low.
    â€œWho’s gonna listen to me, anyway?” Olivia replied with a shrug. Her look then turned serious. “But for real, girl, you know that this is the kind of secret you can only keep for a little while.”
    â€œI keep feeling like if I don’t think about it, it won’t be true, and everything will go back to like it used to be.”
    â€œNot gonna happen. You’ve got to deal with this. Have you seen a doctor?”
    November blinked. “Oh, I couldn’t. Not yet.”
    It was Olivia’s turn to look astonished. “Well, that’s stupid. You have to get yourself checked as early as possible. Don’t you have a brother who’s disabled or retarded or