“You let these kids on the catwalk?” Mr. Brimwell accused. His round face turned red like a tomato with anger, but that didn’t dissuade Claire.
“Why wouldn’t I? I’ve been taking people on the catwalk for years, and it’s never bothered you before. I’ve always ended tours there.”
They drew closer together and the heated argument became indecipherable amongst the growing babble of Mina’s classmates. Mr. West’s head seemed to be shaking in disbelief and he kept looking over at Mina skeptically. She didn’t blame him. She could hardly believe her own actions.
Mina blushed as he looked past Savannah and over the heads of the students, searching for something or someone. She saw Brody spot her among the crowd and start to move in her direction. She tensed. She couldn’t imagine him thanking her for such an embarrassing stunt, especially in front of twenty students with cell phones. She was likely to say something dumb and make a fool of herself.
Mina couldn’t look away as he maneuvered around the sympathetic girls to reach her. He was only feet away when Savannah cried his name and caught his attention. Brody and Mina both turned to find her running toward him, impossibly blond hair swinging behind her as she ran into his arms. “Are you okay?” she asked hesitantly, unsure of her reception. Mina hoped he’d blow her off, but to her surprise he cradled her in an enormous hug.
“Brody, I’m so sorry!” Savannah said when they’d pulled apart. Could she really be so oblivious to the audience around them? “I’m sorry about how I acted in the factory. You’re right, I do need to grow up and I promise to never embarrass you like that again.”
Her bottom lip actually trembled. “Savannah, what are you talking about? This wasn’t your fault.”
“No, not that. Our argument. I’ve done a lot of thinking and…”
“What argument?” Brody said, sounding frustrated. Mina heard stunned whispers throughout the crowd. “Savannah, I almost died. Can we talk about this some other time?”
“Wait…You don’t remember?”
“Truthfully this whole morning is kind of a haze. I’m really not feeling well… maybe I should just go home.”
Hope filled Savannah’s face, her trembles ceasing when she realized Brody didn’t remember their breakup. “You’re right, Brody. Let’s get you home.” She clutched his arm possessively and led him toward the bus and a panicked Mr. West.
“Brody, my boy, I hope your family doesn’t think it was negligence on my part. I got called away on an important phone call.” Mr. West placed his hand on Brody’s shoulder and gave a wary glance toward Mr. Brimwell. Turning toward the rest of the students, he called out in the tone that only a teacher can do. “All right students, lets load up.”
Mina filed behind Nan and Pri and waited to board the bus. She watched as unsteady Brody was led up the steps onto the bus with the help of Savannah.
“Well, I guess that was the shortest breakup in history,” Pri mumbled.
“Don’t be too sure about that,” Nan said, thoughtfully glancing at Brody.
Mina watched him take a window seat and stared balefully out it toward her direction. He seemed to be staring at her! Mia immediately looked at the ground, but when she looked back up she still had his gaze. It was a tad uncomfortable. “I mean, I don’t even know what he sees in her,” Pri continued on.
“Don’t worry, Pri. I have a feeling that the make-up is only temporary.”
As Mina boarded the bus, students began clapping and calling her name, reaching out to give her high fives and congratulate her on her heroic act. Except for one, who was still staring out the window. She felt like she was going to be sick; her guilt was making her a nervous wreck. Should she apologize to Brody? That would mean she would have to go up to him and actually speak to the world’s most handsome boy, who didn’t seem eager to talk to her. Definitely not. Maybe she could slip him a note? That wouldn’t do. What if his family sued hers? Yep, Mina was definitely going to puke.
Keeping her head down, Mina hastily made her way to the back of the bus and slid down as far as she could into her seat, in an attempt to hide. Nan slid in next to her.
“Kinda nice to be sitting next to a celebrity,” Nan laughed.
“No, it’s not. It’s horrible,” Mina said. “You were wrong. I don’t want to be popular.”
“Maybe I should get your autograph and sell it on eBay. Or better yet, I could auction off your old English papers. I wonder how much money I would get for a D plus?” Mina was terrified at the prospect. “Then I could buy that new handbag I wanted,” Nan said.
“I hope you choke on the handbag,” Mina shot back.
Nan chuckled, but she quit making ribs at Mina’s expense. She leaned out the bus aisle to take a peek. Sure enough everyone was still looking toward her, pointing and whispering in her direction. Sighing in regret, she leaned back dramatically and drummed her fingers on her thighs.
“Aren’t you going to tweet this?” Mina said, noticing the lack of an electronic accessory in Nan’s hands. “I thought for sure you would have taken fifty photos by now.”
“Can’t,” Nan sighed wistfully.
“Why not?”
“I don’t have my iPhone anymore.”
“What happened?”
“I threw it off the catwalk as soon as I saw you were in trouble. I mean, come on, it was either hold on to my stupid phone or save my best friend’s life,” she said, holding out her hands and weighing imaginary items. “Duh! Not a tough decision.”
Mina reached over and hugged Nan as tightly as she could. She knew how much Nan’s life revolved around that stupid phone and her friend did help save her.
Nan made gagging noises as she squeezed harder and harder. “Gee, let go, let go.”
“Thank you, Nan,” Mina smiled.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. You’re indebted to me for life. You’re my eternal slave and must sacrifice yourself to save me now. Blah, blah, blah.” Nan waved her hands in the air like it was nothing.
Mina and Nan sat back down in the seats and listened to the harmony of a busload of students, texting, talking and playing games on their cell phones. The chiming noise was a constant reminder of Nan’s sacrifice.
“Nan?” Mina began, getting ready to apologize again.
“Don’t!” Nan snapped, holding her pink polished finger up to silence any more words. “I already regret it.”
Mina laughed.
Chapter 3
Mina hadn’t told her mother what had happened at Babushka’s, knowing exactly how she would react. Sara was an extremely overprotective mother, far beyond what seemed normal or even sane. Anytime a crazy unexplained accident happened to Mina, she would pick up the family and move, no questions asked. Mina wasn’t really sure why.
In first grade, Mina took a trip to the zoo and was overcome with anxiety as all the animals in the petting zoo started following her around. They had moved the following week.
In fourth grade Mina's garden-variety science project produced two car-sized pumpkins overnight. They moved the next day.
In seventh grade during Home-Ec., Mina kept falling asleep during her knitting projects. Sara told the school it was mono and their family was packed by the time Mina got home.
