Mia Goes Fourth

But other than that, I don't see us getting back together. I will, of course, give him his birthday present, because I went to

all the trouble of stealing it.

But I know it won't do any good. It's over. Like my life.

They just announced the name of the newest member of the Albert Einstein High junior varsity cheerleading squad. It is Shameeka Taylor.

Who even cares?

Friday, January 22,

Algebra

Michael did not stop by here between classes. It is the first day all week that he hasn't slipped in to say hi on his way to

Senior English, three classrooms away from this one.

It is obvious why. I mean, we are broken up. He hates me now. I don't blame him. I hate myself.

To make matters worse — as if I can even care about something so trivial - Lana just turned around to hiss, 'Don't think

just because your little friend made the squad that anything is going to change between us, Mia. She's as much of a pathetic geekette as you are. They only let her on the squad to fulfil our freak quota.'

Then she whipped her head around again — but not as fast as she should have. Because a lot of her hair was still draped across my desk.

And when I slammed my Algebra I—II text closed as hard as I could - which is what I did next - a lot of her silky, awa-puhi-scented locks got trapped between page 212 and 213.

Lana shrieked in pain. Mr G, up at the chalkboard, turned around, saw where the screaming was coming from, and sighed.

'Mia,' he said, tiredly, 'Lana. What now?'

Lana stabbed an index finger in my direction. 'She slammed her book on my hair!'

I shrugged innocently. 'I didn't know her hair was in my book. Why can't she keep her hair to herself, anyway?'

Mr. Gianini looked bored. 'Lana,' he said, 'if you can't keep your hair under control, I recommend braids. Mia, don't

slam your book. It should be open to page two-twelve, where I want you to read from Section Two. Out loud.'

I read out loud from Section Two, but not without a certain primness. For once, vengeance on Lana had been mine, and

I had NOT been sent to the principal's office. Oh, it was sweet. Sweet, sweet vindication.

Although I don't even know why I have to learn this stuff; it isn't as if the Palais de Genovia isn't full of dweeby staffers

who are just dying to multiply fractions for me.

Polynomials

term: variable(s) multiplied by a coefficient

monomial: Polynomial w/ one term

binomial: Polynomial w/ two terms

trinomial: Polynomial w/ three terms

Degree of polynomial = the degree of the term with the highest degree

In my delight over the pain I had brought upon my enemy, I almost forgot about the fact that my heart is broken.

Must keep in mind that Michael is dumping me after the black-and-white ball tonight. Why can't I FOCUS????

Must be love. I am sick with it.

Fiday, January 22,

Health and Safety

Why do you look like you just ate ANOTHER sock?

I don't. How was your breakfast meeting? You do, too. The meeting went GREAT.

Really? Did they agree to print a full-page letter of apology in the Times?

No, better. Did something happen between you and my brother? Because I saw him looking all furtive in the hallway just now.

FURTIVE? Furtive like how? Like he was looking for Judith Gershner to ask her out tonight????

No, more like he was looking for a pay phone. Why would he ask out Judith Gershner? How many times

do I have to tell you, he likes you, not J.G.

He used to like me, you mean. Before I was forced to cancel our date tonight due to Grandmere forcing me to

go to a ball.

A ball? Really. Ugh. But excuse me. Michael isn't going to ask some other girl to go out with him tonight

just because you can't make it. I mean, he was really looking forward to going with you. Not just for concupiscent reasons, either.

REALLY????

Yes, you loser. What did you think? I mean, you guys are going out.

But that's just it We haven't gone out

yet I mean.