Eyes up here please Gabi for a readied herself long boring presentation She slipped her sketchbook out of her bag and placed it flat on her lap She tried to ignore the whispering giggling girls around her and finish up a sketch of the stage This was a challenging perspective looking through the space between two kids heads in front of her She sketched quickly tuning out the giggling selfie girl in the seat next to hers But then the girl elbowed Gabi hard in the ribs causing her pencil to lurch and tear her paper Hey Gabi gasped Too loudly she realized too late What’s your problem the girl snapped I was drawing Gabi said through her clenched teeth Sheesh Sorry Don’t freak out Gabi looked down at her ruined drawing and sighed She was tongue-tied as usual Ms Munn a teacher’s aide standing at the end of the row shot a glare at Gabi The gigglers giggled some more Ms Munn crooked her finger and beckoned Gabi You in the purple sweater come with me Gabi was dumbfounded She hadn’t done anything She glanced down to the end of the row
bristling at the giggling girls Ms Munn put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows at Gabi With a sigh Gabi climbed over the row of girls with their book bags and wiggly knees and sneakers trying hard not to trip and fall on her face Nobody seemed to make any effort to get out of her way The heavy satchel Gabi had slung over one shoulder combined with one girl’s foot that stuck out at just the wrong time made Gabi lose her balance She went flying sprawling across people’s laps She bit her lip so as not to cry and got herself to the aisle where the aide was waiting You’re making a scene young lady Ms Munn said It wasn’t me Gabi started to speak but Ms Munn shushed her Gabi clenched her jaw even tighter Up on stage music was playing slides were flashing and Principal Keystone kept talking Selfie Girl and her friends were looking innocently up at the stage as if Principal Keystone was the most fascinating speaker ever Gabi shook her head at their good-girl act We cannot tolerate outbursts in assembly Sit over here Ms Munn whispered in Gabi’s face with toxic coffee breath She directed Gabi to a row on the opposite side of the aisle next to a boy Gabi had never seen before like that
Gabi wanted to melt into the carpet She was probably the least dramatic girl in the entire sixth grade and yet she had been swept up into drama She wanted nothing to do with it but she didn’t seem to have a choice She huffed and sat down Gabi felt the heat inside of her head ready to steam out her ears When Gabi looked back she saw that Selfie Girl was now applying lip gloss Huh Wasn’t there a rule about doing that in an assembly Why wasn’t Ms Munn yelling at her Different rules for different people Gabi located Genna in the crowd Genna had clearly been trying to catch her eye She shrugged as if to say What was that Are you okay Gabi mouthed so Genna could read her lips So unfair The strange boy leaned over Did you say something What Gabi said in surprise The boy gave her a funny look then smiled Who was this He had a tousle of dark hair and deep dimples appeared in both cheeks when he talked He had faded jeans on his long legs that barely seemed to fit in the row of seats Gabi considered him like she’d consider a specimen in science class And why did he smell so good like the lime aftershave in the bathroom that her stepdad used
He looked right into Gabi’s eyes I guess assemblies stink at all schools don’t they Gabi looked away His eyes were too green Movie-star green Principal Keystone was talking more loudly into the mic now clearly getting excited about something He launched into a lecture about test scores and test preparation Gabi exhaled loudly without even realizing she’d done it The boy leaned over to whisper again Is the principal always like this Gabi allowed a small smile Always I’m Max the boy said Gabi nodded Hi Max Uh do you have a name Oh Gabi blushed Gabriela Gabi for short And I know I’m short Not that short Unless you’re actually standing up right now Max teased Gabi laughed So what’s your story she asked surprised by her own boldness Max smirked Well I could tell you But then I would have to kill you Gabi smiled again and shifted down into her seat Out of the corner of her eye she caught Selfie Girl staring The microphone squealed loudly as Principal
