"Linda? Linda hates me Nadine." Jon was sure about that from the day before.
"She puts on that act in front of everyone else, but I notice things when you two think no one is there. I know you're her confidant or something." Nadine pressed the issue, though had quieted her voice to not draw any attention.
"Why would I be Linda's confidant? What would she want to keep between me and her?" Nadine thought Jon was taking playing dumb too seriously. He honestly had no idea what she was talking about.
"Look, I heard you talking about your moms once. All that pressure. Just be careful with her Jon. She'll just use you if you let her." Nadine sighed as if it was obvious. "I'm supposed to be your friend, why don't you talk to me?"
"Well, why don't we talk about you for once? If my life love is on the table...how is yours going?"
Nadine sighed... "Don't remind me..." she said. "I mean...the way people treat me sometimes...People can be so stupid and superficial. Except you..."
Jon looked at her. "And I'm with Tiffany."
She looked at him, and laughed. "C'mon Jon...dating you would be like dating my....brother. If I had one. And I know you feel the same way about me. All these girls throwing themselves at you is starting to affect your brain..."
"But...why are they all of the sudden?" Jon asked her...and himself again.
"Look at the nerdy kids in school....it's like they are completely oblivious about anything. You're smart...you aren't socially inept...well, you have this cute awkward thing going...but...and you are sort of cute...and you are just too nice to hurt people's feelings most of the time. That appeals to a lot of girls."
"Just because some girls are interested in me doesn't mean I'm interested back. Tiffany is..."
"I know...Stop rubbing it in, lover-boy. Some of us are still painfully single. Well, if you have time for your oldest friend this weekend, who has a lot more free time on her hands, we're already two episodes behind.."
Episode of what? he wondered. He and Karyn had a lot of different shows they followed, but this wasn't Karyn. This Nadine...Nadine Black, had picked up some of Karyn's characteristics...they were friends now apparently, but was a bit more biting than Karyn was. At least she was more relaxed than as Nadine Ferguson. Nadine was like a gigantic wound up spring which uncoiled at pretty much everyone around her.
"I lost my phone...hopefully I'll get it back...because I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing this weekend..." He said.
She shook her head. "Maybe you are taking on too much...I know your Mom keeps pushing you...but maybe take a few hours off and relax..."
As they waited for the homeroom teacher to handle some business....and the announcements, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Mallory was in the hallway, trying to get his attention.
