Maybe He Just Likes You

Mila is nervous and starts to keep to herself. She knows she can’t rely on anyone to protect her from the boys. When she arrives at band, Callum informs her that he left his music sheet at home, so he will have to share Mila’s. When Mila refuses, Callum says that Ms. Fender “won’t be happy if [Mila] mess[es] him up” (163), and Dante adds that the whole band will be mad at Mila. Mila asks if sharing a stand with her is worth anything on the scorecard, and Callum laughs and says it’s “just a game” (163). Ms. Fender enters, and when the band starts practicing “Pirate Medley,” Callum stands up to practice his solo. Mila kicks the music stand and causes the sheet music to go flying.

Ms. Fender keeps Mila after band to talk to her. She wants to know why Mila kicked the music stand and has been “lost in the clouds lately” (166). Ms. Fender asks if everything is okay at home and with Mila’s friends, and Mila lies and says that everything is great. Ms. Fender decides to move Mila to the back row with the kids who never practice or care about band.