Maybe He Just Likes You

For the rest of the week, the boys tease Mila about the kicking incident. They call her names like “Ninja Warrior” and “Kickstarter” (197). On Thursday, in math class, Samira asks Mila when she’ll return to karate class. Mila explains that she can’t attend because of detention, and after that, her family’s free trial period is over. Samira encourages Mila to get her mom to talk to Erica, but Mila explains that her mom is “too embarrassed” (198) to admit that money is tight. Samira suggests that Mila talk to Erica instead.

Mila isn’t allowed out on the blacktop for the rest of the week, so Zara and Omi have lunch with her every day. In time, Max and Jared join them as well, and on Friday, Jared says that he’s “sorry about that scorecard thing” (199). Omi, Mila, and Max panic, and Zara slowly realizes that none of her friends told her about the scorecard. Omi explains that Mila “wanted to keep it private” (200), but Zara becomes angry and accuses her friends of keeping secrets from her. Mila complains that Zara always tries to make things about her, and Zara storms off.