The Wednesday after that, Denise was sitting with her friends like always, and her thoughts were wandering off. She looked at Odessa. She was sitting alone, as always, but Denise suddenly felt sort of jealous. Odessa didn't have to care about wearing the right outfit or liking the right movies. How easy that would be. How free she must be. And if you have friends, you know they don't only like you because you're popular. You know they genuinely like you for who you are. The free life, where you can do the things you really like.

'Denise, right?'

Denise quickly turned around.

'Wow, you don't have to be scared of me,' Nick, because it was him, laughed.

Denise smiled nervously: 'Okay.'

'But Denise,' Nick said, 'I really like you, and I would like to get to know you better. Would you like to come with me to Justin's party Friday night?'

'Uhm...' Denise turned around to her friends, who were eagerly staring at her. What would they want her to say? She turned back to Nick, smiling: 'Yeah sure!'

That afternoon, Denise walked out of the school. She was actually going home, but then she saw something in the corner of her eye. Odessa was pinned to a wall, not by Fé and Rose, but by Nick and Justin this time. Odessa looked downright terrified. Denise ran towards them: 'Hey! Leave her alone!'

Nick looked up: 'Denise? But...'

'Get out of here!' Denise shouted.

'Wow wow wow girl,' Justin said, 'No need to shout!'

'What did you plan to do to us if we don't go?' Nick laughed.

'So you want to go on a date with me?' Denise said, 'Well, if you don't leave my friend alone, that's not gonna happen.'

Justin started laughing: 'She's got you in a corner, man. And there's nothin' you can do about it!' Still laughing, he walked away. When he was almost gone, he turned around and sarcastically said: 'Good luck!'

Denise looked at Nick and raised an eyebrow. Nick sighed and yelled: 'Goddamnit I'm out!' and ran away.

'Hey are you okay?' Denise asked, pulling an arm around Odessa. Odessa immediately pulled away. 'I didn't need your help,' she hissed. Then she ran away but immediately came back: 'And one more thing, I'm nót your friend!'