Genie was nervous. I could hear it in her voice as I leaned against the row of lockers. But I couldn't stop my mind from drifting. I wondered where Jiro 's locker was.

Genie bent over her backpack, which sat open on the floor in front of her locker. "I thought I brought some apples for lunch. One for each of us. Where did I put them?"

"Hey, Genie!" a voice called. Genie's boyfriend Calvin Chen came up behind us. He planted a gentle kiss on Genie's cheek.

"Hi, CK," I said, wiggling my fingers at him. Calvin had spent the summer interning for a senator. "You ready to run for a spot in student government?"

He smiled and waved off the idea. "The internship was great, but Genie and I are going to have our hands full with yearbook. I've got to find Ms. Coco," he told Genie, checking his watch. "We need to pin her down for a staff meeting this week. You want to come with me?"

"I'm having lunch with my friends," Genie said, squeezing his arm. "We need bonding time."

Calvin shot a look over at me. It wasn't an angry look. More like one of those blank "It must be a girl thing" looks. "Okay," he said. "I'll catch up with you later." Then he disappeared into the stream of kids, and we headed toward the cafeteria.

"Thanks for ditching him today," I said.

She gave me a look. "I didn't ditch him."

"You know what I mean, Genie Bear. Soemtimes a girl just needs her girls."

She laughed, giving my arm a squeeze. "I'm so there." The the worried look came back. "And I'm so worried that I'm messing up my senior year by doing this college thing. Tell me I'm not ruining my life, Rainie. Please, please, please tell me."

"You are not ruining your life," I said firmly.

"Are you sure?" she asked quietly, her brows furrowed.

"Positive. Swear. That thing at the U is just the beginning of your long, brilliant writing career. And a couple of college classes aren't going to put a dent in our senior year. It's going to be awesome. Stop stressing."

"I hope you're right," Genie said as we stepped into the noisy cafeteria. I spotted Ella and GuiGui at table near the soda machines, and we headed over.

"I'm starving," I announced as Genie and I dumped our stuff onto the table. I know it's not fashionable but I like food. And since I spent three days a week leaping and lunging at cheerleading practice, I could usually eat whatever I wanted. "What's on the menu?" I asked.

"Apples!" Genie said, proudly pulling a plastic bag out of the pocket of her backpack. "I knew I had them somewhere."

I picked one up and shined it against my baby blue t-shirt.

"I brought French bread. Want to split it with me?" GuiGui offered. "I'm too nervous to eat, anyway. Wang Zi is right over there." She jerked her head toward a nearby table.

"I'll take a taste, but I want something more---"

"Come with me. I'm going to jump in line at the burger bar." Ella offered.

"You go," I told Ella as I sat down between GuiGui and Genie. "I'm not sure what I want." Biting into the apple, I scanned the cafeteria, searching for Jiro. I didn't see him.

Genie touched my shoulder. "There's Bonnie. She's the one who told me about Jiro and Han."

"Do you think she knows the whole story?" I asked.

She swallowed a bite of apple, then wiped her hand on a napkin. "We'll see," she said, heading over to Bonnie's table.

I checked the doors and food lines--- still no Jiro.

"I wonder where he is," I said aloud.

"Jiro Wang?" GuiGui asked. "Maybe he has lunch next period."

"Don't even say that," I sighed. "Well, he'll either show up or he won't. That's my problem." I clapped my hands together briskly. "Your problem is Wang Zi. Time to get over to his table and talk to him."

"Now?" A look of panic crossed GuiGui's face as she stared at him. He was sitting with three other basketball players. "What do I say?"

Ella returned, sliding a tray with a burger and fries onto the table. "Feel free," she said, gesturing toward the fries.

I grabbed one. "Ask him a question about chorus. Or something about the basketball team."

"Like... like what?"

"It doesn't matter," I said. "Whatever you ask, he'll know you're asking because you like him."

"This is sounding really forced," Ella said. She began to make a sculpture with her fries. "I relationships that are more organic."

GuiGui turned away from me, shaking her head. "I can't do it. I'm too chicken." She sank down into her chair, looking defeated.

"Don't worry about it," I said reassuringly. "You'll get up the nerve one of these days." I snapped my fingers. "Hey! I almost forgot. I came up with list for you during calculus. A strategy to follow."

Ella grinned as I pulled a notebook out of my backpack. "Rainie Yang reveals the secrets to her success with guys. Exclusive photos."

"I have no secrets," I said. "Let's get cracking."

I opened my notebook to my list and slid it over to GuiGui. Ella read it over her shoulder.

HOW TO SNAG A GUY:

1. DECIDE WHO YOU WANT.

2. LET HIM KNOW YOU EXIST.

3. LET HIM KNOW YOU LIKE HIM. HONESTY IS KEY!

4. FIND OUT WHERE HE HANGS OUT AND KEEP RUNNING INTO HIM "BY ACCIDENT."