The Perfect Arrangment?

Spencer and Nick arrived late for lunch. The crowded cafeteria was filled with hungry students and there were no free tables. The guys quickly bought lunch and began their search for somewhere to sit. They spotted some seats open next to a group of girls they didn’t know very well. Walking over they smiled to the girls.

“Can we sit down with you girls?” Spencer flashed a smile. The girls nodded and they sat down.
Tanya sat especially straight through lunch. She was captivated by Spencer’s smile and hung on his every word. It didn’t take long for the other girls to notice.

After lunch Katie caught up with Tanya in the hallway. For a few minutes they chatted about school but Katie had something else on her mind. She grinned and looked straight at her best friend “Spencer’s pretty cute, huh?”

Tanya turned away but Katie saw her cheeks flush red. “Yeah, well he’s okay looking.” She focused her attention on opening her locker.

“Oh yeah right, I saw the way you were looking at him. You were in fantasy land. It was written all over your face.” Katie leaned back against another locker. She studied Tanya’s face. She was not a very good liar. “The other girls noticed it too. I think Megan liked him too so you might have so competition.”

“Do you think?” She pulled out her science book. “Megan is so pretty. Next to her I look like a frog.” She pointed to the frog on the cover of the book. “That’s me. Ribbit ribbit.”

Megan giggled. “Nah, you’re pretty too, just in a different way.” She thought for a minute before continuing. “Megan is celebrity pretty. You’re cute girl in the back of the room pretty.”

Tanya frowned. “Are you sure?” She wasn’t sure that was a good thing. Spencer probably would like celebrity pretty much better.

“I’m positive.” They started to walk to class. “Hey, I have an idea. My sister is friends with his sister. Maybe I could get her to put in a good word for you.”

Tanya thought about it for a minute. “Okay, but don’t tell her that I like him.”

She waved her hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep your secret.”

The bell rang and the girls parted ways. Sitting in science class Tanya tried to settle the uneasy feeling in her stomach. Katie was trust worthy but still there was something that bothered her about the arrangement. Was this the only way Spencer would notice her? True, she was plain next to Megan and her perfectly straight blond hair but Tanya had never thought she was ugly. Maybe it would work out after all. At least she hoped so but there was something about middle school were everything always seemed to go wrong…