Quad Squad by R. Barri Flowers

  Yay, a Little Bit

  Monica was super excited because Andrea had said how about after class we could hang out or something like at lunch, and nobody really ever said stuff like that to Monica. It was usually more like she might end up in a little group at lunch or something with a couple of the girls but nobody on purpose, so this was so cool. Andrea was her partner in Spanish and they had kind of had fun? So maybe because of that, but it was super exciting. Andrea was super fun and super super popular. She had been gone from school for a week a while ago and then she had stopped hanging out with her usual friends, which was not Monica’s business at all, she knew that, but it was hard not to notice when the prettiest girl in the school said do you want to do something and think that maybe after all these years something was maybe changing, maybe high school actually was going to be different than elementary school when everybody teased you for being fat, and middle school, that was the worst, maybe it was going to be like her dad always said, God, he said it way too much, Monica, some day the whole world is going to see how wonderful you are, just like I do, it was so embarrassing when he said that but really he was sweet, but maybe all of that was actually starting to happen for her? So yay, a little bit.

  Monica stood next to the top of the stairs, outside of the classroom. She didn’t want to stand just outside the class because everybody was leaving but she didn’t want to walk too far away or down the stairs because then Andrea might not see her, or forget that she said that they were going to hang out, or maybe not exactly forget but remember that she didn’t actually want to hang out with Monica, so maybe a little friendly reminder of her just standing there sort of pretending to look through her backpack was the best bet.

  Andrea came over, checking her phone, and said, “So, you want to hang out, or whatever?”

  “Yeah, OK? If you’re not doing anything else?”

  “No, nothing much.”

  “Gosh, well, OK,” Monica said, trying to think, “What do you want to do?”

  “I don’t know. Eat.”

  “I’ve got a sandwich and a yogurt. I could share some of that with you if you don’t have any?”

  Andrea blinked, and then looked sort of mad, or confused. Monica thought that it was possibly because of all the people moving around and everything?

  “Or we could go to the DQ or the 7-11,” Andrea said.

  “Oh,” Monica said. “Well, sure. I mean, I’ll walk with you, I don’t really want to buy anything.”

  “Well, it’s all good,” Andrea said, “We don’t have to go anywhere.”

  “Oh, you know what? Is it Wednesday?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “We could go see Eric!”

  “Who’s Eric?”

  “Oh, you don’t know Eric? Oh, he’s the best. Oh, come on. You have to meet Eric.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I’ll show you, there’s always food, like pizza and stuff, do you like pizza?”

  Andrea half laughed. “Hell, yes, bitch, where my pizza at?”

  “Oh, my God, you’re so funny. Come on. I’ll show you.” She led the way down the stairs and said, “I love, love, love that top, Andrea.”

  “It’s Brandy, yeah, it’s OK.”

  “You just have the best figure,” Monica said.

  Andrea didn’t say anything for a second and Monica worried that maybe she had offended her somehow. Then Andrea said, “Thanks? I guess.”

  “Were you sick?”

  “What?”

  “I mean a few weeks ago. When you were out. You totally caught up though in Spanish, you’re super fast.”

  Andrea said, “Who’s Eric?”

  “Oh, I’ve known him since like forever, here, it’s Ms. Stacy’s room, don’t you know her?”

  “Oh, shit,” Andrea said, “Is that the retard-- I mean, the, like, the, how do you say it, the slow kids, basically? Is that where we’re going?”

  “Yeah!” Monica laughed. “You don’t have to be scared you’re saying it wrong. I used to say developmentally disabled, but I think now you’re supposed to say developmentally delayed, but don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”

  “Okay,” Andrea said, and then didn’t say anything else, and Monica was worried that she was being boring or something. She stopped and said, “By the way, I know you’re just hanging out with me because your friends are mad at you, but I don’t mind, I think it’s fun.” She walked up the three little steps to the classroom.

  Andrea said, “I’m not --”

  “Hey, Ms. Stacy!” Monica called out. She pulled open the door and there was in fact pizza and a few of the kids were there including Eric. She walked back, grabbed Andrea’s hand and brought her over to where Eric was sitting at the crafts table and said, “Eric, I want you to meet a friend of mine. Eric, this is Andrea. Andrea, this is Eric.”

  “Hey,” Andrea said.

  “I’m pleased to meet you!” Eric sort of shouted, which made Monica kind of laugh, and she said, “Indoor voice, Eric. Hey, what are you doing?”

  He said, “I’m making God’s eyes.”

  “Oh, how fun!” Monica said. “Can we join you?”

  “It’s fun,” Eric said. “Miss Tyler showed me.”

  “Come on, Andrea,” Monica said, “Let’s make something together.”

  “Yeah, OK, I guess,” Andrea said. She put her backpack down and joined them at the table. They both grabbed a slice of pepperoni pizza and some yarn and sticks, although neither one of them exactly remembered how to start.

  “You’re pretty,” Eric said to Andrea.

  “Thank you,” Andrea said.

  “You’re a good looking guy yourself,” Monica said.

  “That’s not true!” Eric shouted.

  “Indoor voice,” Andrea said.