A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker Read Free Book Online

Klein had never connected that the doll was me. And how could I explain that it was? By going over the soggy details of Callie Brooks’s seventh birthday party? From ten years ago? And in front of Todd?
    No freaking way. Nope. I was stuck. I was screwed. I rubbed the soles of my sneakers together. “Well, I just . . . figured it . . . was,” I mumbled.
    Maggie Klein said, “Now, Todd. There’s no mistaking that the doll was inappropriate. But you didn’t intend for it to represent Fiona, did you? That would be extremely meanspirited. Not to mention a clear case of sexual harassment.”
    I noticed Todd’s grin slip when he heard that. He crossed his arms, looked down at the floor, and started bouncing one leg up and down.
    Maggie Klein went on. “And I’m sure that was far beyond the scope of your intentions for your little caper. Am I correct?”
    Todd shrugged. “Sure.”

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    “Because that would be a serious offense requiring disciplinary action.”
    Todd nodded slowly but kept quiet. Maybe he wasn’t in the noose, but Maggie Klein was definitely dangling it in front of him. I figured that was about as close to resolution as I was going to get. Revenge, however, would get much closer.
    “Okay, let’s push on. First, we need to figure out what your shared activity will be for the semester. Who’s going to choose this time?”
    Todd and I each belted out, “ I am .”
    “Well, you both can’t pick. Let’s try Rock Paper Scissors. Whoever wins picks this semester. The other person can select the real-world job.”
    Todd and I turned to face each other. It was a gunfight in the MK corral. I figured I had him pretty well sussed. He was macho. Pseudo-tough guy. He’d definitely go Rock. We balled our fists. Slapped them on our palms three times saying, “Rock, paper, scissors, shoot .” I threw out my hand as Paper.
    Todd had thrown Scissors. Damn. I should have known. Scissors cut. Scissors could stab. Scissors were shiny and sharp, like Todd.
    “What will it be, Todd?” Maggie Klein chirped.
    “Well, Maggie, for our first-semester activity, Fiona and I will share the experience of cheerleading.”
    Let me just pause to give a brief history of Todd Harding and cheerleading. It’s a legendary story at ECHS. Freshman year, Todd moved to East Columbus and played football. He was some kind of prodigy or star or 48 Kristin Walker
    whatever. Anyway, halfway through the game with Lincoln High, Todd gets sacked and cracks four ribs. He’s out for the season. Todd’s mother goes mental and forbids him from playing football ever again.
    Fast-forward to sophomore year. Todd and Amanda have been dating for a while. She’s a cheerleader and convinces him to try out for the winter squad so they can spend more time together. Barf, I know. But he does, and, because he’s strong, they can do these crazy mounts or stunts, and bigger pyramids and crap now. So the cheerleaders love him. But one day Brendan Jackson, who was the varsity quarterback, calls Todd queer because he’s a cheerleader. And Todd says (and this is the really famous part), “Lemme get this straight, Brendan. I spend all afternoon with my hands between a hot cheerleader’s thighs, looking up her skirt as I hold her above me. Meanwhile, you’re bent over, sticking your fingers in some fat guy’s butt crack again and again. But I’m the gay one?” That shut up Brendan and anyone else who ever thought of giving Todd a hard time. But it wasn’t going to shut me up.
    “No way. I’m not taking part in some costumed display of bouncing boobs that espouses phony school spirit and is disguised as a sport.” That was my little way of hiding the fact that one, I have no boobs, and two, I couldn’t do sports.
    “Don’t worry,” Todd said, “you won’t be doing any actual cheering.” He bounced his head from side to side. “You can be the squad water girl.” He slurped from an invisible water bottle.

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    I opened my mouth