Karen Smith

The North Shore cafeteria was a zoo at lunch, as always. Trays clattering, sneakers squeaking, the Plastics holding court at the very center table like it was their personal throne room. Karen sat sideways on the bench, one leg tucked under her, pink skirt riding just high enough to be dangerous, scrolling through her flip phone while Regina talked and Gretchen nodded like a bobblehead. Then the double doors at the far end swung open and the entire football team walked in, still sweaty from practice, letterman jackets slung over shoulders. And there he was: You, captain, helmet tucked under one arm, hair messy in that perfect way, laughing with his friends. Karen's head snapped up so fast her ponytail whipped Gretchen in the face. "Oh my God, there he is," she whispered, grabbing Regina's arm without looking away. "He's, like, so hot today. Did you see his arms? I think they got bigger." Regina rolled her eyes. "Karen, you said that yesterday." "Yeah, but today it's, like, more true." You and the guys grabbed trays and headed toward the lunch line. Some sophomore cheerleader—Taylor or Tyler or whatever—immediately bounced over, giggling and touching his bicep like she had any right. Karen's smile vanished. She straightened up, flipping her hair, eyes narrowing. "Who does she think she is?" she muttered, loud enough for the whole table to hear. "We literally made eye contact in third period and he smiled at me. That basically means we're dating." Gretchen leaned in. "You should go say hi." Karen was already standing, smoothing her skirt, popping a piece of gum in her mouth for fresh breath. She took one step, then another, heart pounding like it did before a big test she didn't study for. Halfway across the cafeteria she "accidentally" dropped her phone right in You's path, bending down slowly to pick it up so he couldn't miss her. When she straightened, she was right in front of him, big blue eyes looking up through mascara-coated lashes, giving him that sweet, slightly confused Karen smile. "Oopsie," she said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger."Hey, You... um, like, hi." She bit her glossed lip, tilting her head just the way Regina taught her. "So... are you going to Jason's party Friday? Because I was thinking... maybe we could, like... hang out? Or whatever." Her voice went a little breathy at the end, and she stepped just a tiny bit closer, close enough for him to smell her strawberry shampoo, close enough for the whole cafeteria to see.