Read Online Pink & Green is the New Black by Lisa Greenwald - Free Book Online

Lucy,” Travis says.
    â€œHey.” At the mall he seemed cuter and I felt chattier. But now, in the band room on a Monday morning, I wish he wouldn’t talk at all. Maybe it’s the fluorescent lighting, or the fact that my stomach is already grumbling because I’m hungry for lunch. But I just had a snack on the way to class, so it can’t be hunger.
    My grumbling stomach must be from nervousness. Talking to Travis is making me nervous. This can’t be good.
    â€œYour mall is cool,” he says, and I nod, and then he goes over to his seat in the clarinet section.
    I was rude. I know I was. But sometimes it’s too early to talk to someone you don’t know that well. Making conversation takes energy. And I’m not a morning person.
    Mr. Flagg stands up in front of the band and tells us that we need to take things more seriously. “Take time with your instruments. Don’t just throw them in your locker or under a pile of laundry,” he says. “Take time to get to know them. Don’t consider practicing a chore.”
    I look over at Travis as Mr. Flagg is talking. The rest of the band is mumbling to each other and not paying attention, but Travis actually seems to care.
    I shouldn’t have dismissed him a few minutes ago. He seems to be different from all the other boys at school.
    When I get to lunch, everyone’s already at the table. Annabelle is picking at her wrap, and Georgina has a steaming plate of cafeteria pasta in front of her. Sunny’s eating an Indian dish that her mom must have made for dinner the night before.
    â€œHey,” I mumble, still tired.
    â€œWe have the perfect plan for you,” Eve says, picking all the onions out of her salad. “We heard what happened.”
    I start to think back over the weekend, but I’m not sure whatshe’s talking about. Then I realize—Travis. They’ve heard he likes me, and they probably think I’m the worst person ever.
    â€œIf you and Yamir ever want to hang out alone, you can just go to the spa after hours!” Eve makes this declaration like it’s the answer to all the world’s problems, like she just came up with the solution for peace in the Middle East.
    â€œOh, um, right.” I smile and unwrap my sandwich.
    â€œYou have a key, right?” Eve asks.
    I nod. “I do. Good idea. Thanks, Eve.”
    It’s clear she’s trying to help me. I guess she’s worried that Yamir and I don’t have enough alone time. And since Eve is so obsessed with boyfriends and high school and basically anything grown-up, I get why she’s all revved up about this.
    â€œWhat do you think he’s going to get you for Valentine’s Day?” Annabelle asks, getting a tiny dot of mayonnaise in the corner of her mouth.
    â€œValentine’s Day? Isn’t that, like, pretty far away?” I ask. It feels like Christmas and Hanukkah were yesterday.
    Georgina twirls some pasta around her fork, but it’s hard to do with a cheap plastic one. It’ll be better when we have the reusable metal forks.
If
we have them, I should say. If the school board says yes tonight. “Lucy, it’s the second week of January,” Georgina says. “It’s going to be here before you know it. And it’s a really big deal when you have a boyfriend. You can’t forget about it.”
    â€œThanks, Georgina. I won’t.” I look at Sunny and hope she can read my eyes. What has gotten into these girls? It seems like all they want to do is give me relationship advice.
    â€œWe’re just jealous,” Annabelle admits. “I know that most people hide their jealousy, but we don’t.”
    â€œBe jealous of Sunny!” I say, louder than I’d planned. “She has a boyfriend too, you know.”
    â€œLucy!” Sunny says. “You just yelled, and now Mr. Davenport is coming over.”
    â€œWhat’s the trouble,