Debbi Michiko Florence - Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai

Heartbreak is for suckers.

Smart people protected their hearts, and I wasnt stupid. Far from it. I locked my heart in a vault and buried it where nobody could trample on it. Which was why even though Elliot Oxford dumped me right before Christmas break, my heart was still whole.

Two weeks later, Id made it through the entire first day back at school without any mention of Elliot. My best friend, Keiko Carter, hadnt brought him up once. Shed texted me while I was at my dads in Texas for the holidays to see if I was okay. But I didnt answer. And after several long, meaningful looks from her at lunch, it looked like shed taken the hint. Now all I had to do was avoid Elliot at newspaper club. It wasnt as if we had to work together. Ignoring him was going to be a piece of cake.

Unfortunately, I ran into Elliot on the way to my locker after school. And I mean literally.

I rounded a corner too quickly in my rush to get to Ms. Fontess classroom, and Elliot and I crashed into each other. My messenger bag slipped off my shoulder and thudded to the ground. We both leaned down to reach for it at the same time and knocked heads.

Ow ! I straightened and rubbed my forehead.

It was an accident, Elliot said, handing me my bag. I snatched it from him. He was the last person I wanted to talk to.

His eyes traveled over me. You cut your hair. And colored it.

Way to state the obvious, I grumbled. I tugged the shorter turquoise strands. While I often dyed my hair when I was upset, this time Id just wanted a fresh start: new year, new shade. Or at least thats what Id told myself.

Right. Elliot pressed his mouth into a straight line.

I hefted my bag onto my shoulder as we stood there awkwardly.

Are you heading to newspaper club? he asked.

Why? Did you hope Id drop it?

Elliot frowned. I used to think that furrow between his eyebrows was cute. Not anymore. Why do you have to be so angry all the time? he asked.

Why cant you stop judging people?

Its not judgment. Its observation. A great journalist is a great observer. You should know that.

Oh, he was going to go there again? A great journalist is also objective.

Something you cant be if youre shooting angry flames out of your eyes all the time.

Thats physically impossible, I snapped.

Thats called a metaphor, Elliot said calmly.

Gah ! I hated when he got all condescending. I decided to skip my locker. I pivoted and stalked to newspaper club. Alone. The way I liked it.

I swooped into the room and took a quick look around. Ms. Fontes, our sponsor, wasnt here yet. She always ran out for a coffee after school but left the door unlocked for the rest of us. I counted seven, so only Elliot was missing.

Passing the table I used to share with Elliot, I made my way to the opposite end of the room and sat next to Isabella Baker.

Hey, she said. She wore gold eye shadow that sparkled against her dark brown skin. Oh ! I love your hair !

Thanks. I smiled.

Did you have a good break?

Pretty good. Id spent the entire two weeks at my dads. My first Christmas away from home, without both of my parents together. At least the weather in Texas hadnt been too different from Southern California. How was yours?

Stellar ! My sister came home from college, and she helped me with my fashion designs. Isabellas eyes flitted behind me. Wheres Elliot?

Oh. Id forgotten about this part. Id have to actually tell people we broke up. Im not sure, I said.

There he is !

I turned, and yep, there he was. He strolled in, and when I saw him this time, from a distance without him right in my face, I was able to check him out. He wore a blue-and-green plaid button-down with cargo pants and Vans. His chestnut-brown hair was, as usual, a little long, but Id liked it like that. It always smelled like coconut and was so soft. My chest tightened. Id never touch his hair again. I quickly swung back around in my seat.

Isabella made a small sound when Elliot sat across the room at our old table.

Are you two fighting? she whispered.

I liked Isabella. I admired her writing style and fashion sense. We both favored T-shirts with sayings and bold graphics. Today mine was the Sandra Oh quote ITS AN HONOR JUST TO BE ASIAN, while Isabella wore her BIG IS BEAUTIFUL shirt. Except while I paired my tees with jeans, she usually wore hers with colorful skirts.

It was better to come clean. As Keiko always said, rip that Band-Aid off.

We broke up, I said at a normal volume.

Isabella gasped. Caitlin and Laurel at the next table glanced at me and then at Elliot. I followed their gaze. He was talking with Carlos and Thea, who usually sat with us. Him. Sat with him, I mentally corrected.

What happened? Isabella asked. She had that same concerned look Keiko had had when I told her the news the day before Id left for my dads. You two were so perfect together.

Perfect? There was no such thing. Id made a big mistake with Elliot, thinking our relationship would work because he was cute and we both wanted to be writers. Relationships were a waste of time. Look at my parents. Theyd bragged about their meet-cute storybook romance, had a Hawaiian destination wedding, and celebrated their anniversaries with extravagant gifts. Sixteen years and a billion arguments later, they got a divorce.

Fortunately, Ms. Fontes walked into the room just then, holding her giant reusable mug of iced coffee. I was relieved not to have to continue the conversation with Isabella but also glad to have it out in the open. Maybe then nobody else would ask about Elliot.

Good afternoon, reporters ! Ms. Fontes smiled and leaned against her desk. Last semester you learned the aspects of putting together a newspaper. Researching, interviewing, writing, revising, and also design, layout, and production. This semester Im going to push you out of your comfort zones. Your first assignment will be to try out an area of journalism you havent necessarily gravitated toward in the past. And its due on my desk next Thursday. I know thats not a lot of time, but to put out a paper, you will need to learn to work fast. And yes, Im aware that we arent actually putting out a paper. This club is all about learning so when you get to high school, youll be ready for the real thing. Ms. Fontes looked down at her notebook and started calling out assignments.

Elliot, sports.

I held in a snicker. I definitely knew more about sports than Elliot. Most people knew more about sports than Elliot. This was going to be entertaining.

Ben, youll handle the Pacific Vista beat, covering school announcements. Caitlin, write an article, any topic, at least two hundred and fifty words long.

Caitlin tapped her pencil against her sketchbook. She was our resident photographer and artist.

Ms. Fontes continued. Thea, you write great movie reviews. Try a book review or two. Brody, instead of the sports page, give me an opinion piece. And it cant be your opinion of the Super Bowl.