Maybe He Just Likes You

One warm September day, Mila and her friends Zara and Max prepare a birthday surprise for their friend, Omi. They create a giant “O” out of pebbles on the blacktop at their school to honor Omi and represent a “Circle of Friendship.” Omi arrives and is thrilled by the surprise, and she shares a hug with her friends. However, a group of boys who were playing basketball nearby join in on the group hug, which makes Mila uncomfortable, especially when one of the boys, Callum, “clamp[s] the fuzz of [Mila’s] green sweater” (6). When the boys leave, Mila explains her discomfort, but Zara dismisses her and says that the boys were “just being friendly,” and Mila shouldn’t be “such a baby” (6).

Mila plays the trumpet in her school band, and she loves the feeling of peace and relief when she gets lost in the music. On the day of Omi’s birthday, section leaders are announced, and Mila is unsurprised to learn that Callum earned first chair in the trumpet section. Callum stands to take a bow along with the other section leaders, and his hand “swishe[s] across [Mila’s] shoulder” (12) during the motion.