“Yes, I do enjoy dry doughnuts.” Ashley said still with a hint of humor in her voice. “That is why I switched to dating post menopausal women.”

Everyone, and what I mean by everyone is Chelsea and Rachel, all had their reaction. Respectively: Laughter that rocked Chelsea to the side, and abject revulsion with a half smirk pulling at the side of Rachel’s mouth like she was a stroke patient. Rachel had looked to her left to notice me watching, and only winked which made me blush and turn my head back to Madison and Natalie who were no longer engrossed in their conversation. I had become the object of the focused attention.

“What?” I asked shocked to notice them, noticing me, noticing the rejects.

Natalie’s mouth was dropped into a perfect ‘O’ when she asked me, “What has been your damage lately?”

I began to distractedly pick at my French fries and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Oh come off it Spencer.” She said cynically poised with her diet coke at her mouth, straw dangling between her lips. “Ever since you got detention you have been acting strangely.” She took a sip, set the can down, and began ticking off each item she mentioned. “We find you a date with Justin for Homecoming and now you are blowing him off. You don’t seem very interested in cheer practice. When we talk to you, you are always looking off into space.”

“It has only been four days since the Pep Rally, and now you are saying I am acting strange?” I said slamming my palms to the table causing a few people around to stop and stare, even Ashley, Chelsea and Rachel. “I am just still pissed about getting in trouble for something I did not do ‘cause of dykadelic over there!” I said pointing forcefully over at Ashley who was only sitting eyes wide with shock.

Some kids were making oohs and ahhs close around us, and few were snickering. I chanced a look over and saw the disappointment etched on Ashley’s slight pretty face that nearly broke my heart. Even though I knew that it was only because Ashley felt like she was taking a step back in whatever she was plotting, I liked to think it was because she was truly upset that I said that about her even though she apologized.