Magdalena waited for her brother next to the car. He always took much more time than she did. That was for sure. No doubt he would probably be giving friends rides, too, which she hated. Hopefully he wouldn't.

"It's a good thing you're not giving free rides today."she told him as she got into the car. "And can't we listen to something that's not sports?"

"I gotta hear the news about the game this weekend."he said.

"You'll hear them later. Please."

"All right."

"Thanks. Just for that, why don't we stop by for an ice cream? I've got money."

"All right."

"You wouldn't believe today, I did see a guy who was so hot."she told him. "Do you know him?"

"I don't know who you're talking about."

"You saw him. He was in my English class!"

"Couldn't you ask them to switch you to another class?"

"No. Besides, don't you want me to be in the same class? I'm your sister."

"I don't know who you're talking about."he told her.

"Well, I don't think I can remember his name right now. I'm terrible with names, but you better not say anything to anyone, you know!"

"I won't. I'm not you, that you always say everything."

"You're mean!"

"Well, you do!"

"I guess I do, but you can't say anything, still. Maybe you could be friends with him. That way, I could get to know him better."

"Maybe."

"He was sitting only a few seats away from me. I think he looks hot. Don't you agree with me?"

"No."he said.

"Why?"

He simply rolled his eyes.

"Oh, well. I'll never stand much of a chance, will I? Hey, look!"she said.

"What?"

"There's the one I told you about yesterday! The one in my math class."She pointed. "I didn't know he knew him! Wow. He must be giving him a ride. A lot of people. Kind of like you. You always give people rides. I hate that."

"Maybe they know each other."

"Do you think I should ask him tomorrow?"

"I don't know."

The next day, Magdalena couldn't wait for History class.

"Hi."she said. "I saw yesterday that you seemed to know someone from my English class."

Pietro looked confused. She showed him her schedule.

"Oh. I don't really memorize other people's schedules, but, yeah, I think I know who you're talking about. I only know one person who's that good at English."

"So you do know him?"

"Lance?"

"That's the name."she said, delighted. "Sorry, I have a terrible memory for names sometimes. Not for the meanings and etymologies, of course, and for associating them with famous people, characters, and all that. Mine are Batul is one kind of name associated with the Virgin Mary in Arabic, and Magdalena, who was mentioned in the New Testament, but surely you know her story, and I know for a fact that yours means stone. You know, una piedra, petroleum."

"Oh."said Pietro, not sure what she was talking about. "That's interesting."he said.

"I should look up him name. It might mean something really neat!"

"Uh, yeah, it might."he said, not knowing what else to say. "Um, so today, we're going to be learning about the Civil War, it seems."he said, looking up at the board.

"I hope they teach it right. I've read tons of books on the Civil War. But I like other history better. Like the history of the Ottoman Empire. And especially almost all parts of the Eastern Hemisphere. I don't know why they don't teach us that."

"Don't know."he said.

"I like the names they gave their daughters, though. Mihrimah, Esmikhan, and all that. Beautiful names."

"Oh."

He didn't have another chance to talk to her, as class started, and she became completely absorbed in what the teacher had to say. It wasn't so in math. She would spend most of the time looking at the clock or her watch, whichever, and perhaps doodling in her notebook.

"I can't wait for English this tomorrow."she said.

"Really? Is it your favorite class?"

She shrugged.

"I like it."

"I never liked reading much. Or writing."

"Don't you?"

He shook his head.

"Perhaps you should read some books I've read. They'll definitely change your mind. But that's okay. No one else in my family reads. They can't, they say."

She shrugged again.

"Well, books are just...you have to sit still for a long time, for one thing."

She nodded.

"That's okay. Sometimes I change positions because it's just too uncomfortable."she said.

"Well, you see. What do you do after school?"

"Go home."

"And...?"

"Read."

"That's it?"

She nodded.

"Don't you watch tv?"

"What is there to watch? I only watch movies. Disney movies mostly."

He nodded. He suddenly noticed that indeed, her bag, her notebooks, her binder, and just about all her supplies had some sort of Aladdin theme on them.

"I like Disney, too."he said.

"Really?"

"That's especially my favorite."he said, pointing t her bag. "Yup. Aladdin."

"Really!"she asked.

"Yeah."

"Mine, too!"

"What a coincidence!"

"I've never met anyone who likes him before!"

"Neither have I."he said.

"Oh, well, the bell is just about to ring. Thank goodness. I hate math! Well, bye. See you tomorrow!"she said.

"Bye."he said.

Pietro hurried out. He had to convince Lance to let him watch his movies, since he was also a Disney freak. If only he had paid more attention to him while he went on about the movies, but he never cared for them much. Now, however, he had to become the best Disney fan ever.