The next day, Claudia slid into Chemistry just as the bell was ringing. Jessie had apparently already talked to Lisa because the seat next to Kelly was empty. Claudia sat down next to her.
"Kelly, can I talk to you?" Claudia asked. Kelly looked over at her and groaned.
"What do you want?" Claudia glared at her.
"I'm not sure what has made you so mad at me, but I don't like it at all. I haven't done anything to you; so why don't you leave me alone?" Kelly shook her head. Claudia was right. She hadn't done anything to her and yet all she had done was snarl at her.
"Look, I'm sorry; I've just been upset lately and I really shouldn't have taken it out on you." Claudia nodded.
"I believe you're right." She paused. "But there is another reason I wanted to talk to you." The teacher walked in and put his stuff on the desk.
"Today class we are going to be working with Nitrogen." Kelly turned and blocked out the teacher so she could hear Claudia.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Kelly asked.
"About Zack." She replied and Kelly turned red.
"What about him?"
"When I moved here, I just wanted to fit in with some people. I didn't mean to destroy the relationship you had with Zack." Kelly pushed her hair behind her ear.
"You didn't; I'm sure you know that our relationship was over when you came to town Claudia." Claudia nodded.
"You weren't physically dating because you are with that guy Jeff; but mentally you are still together. I can see it. I think you should be together." Kelly became tongue tied.
"You—you don't understand. You weren't here. You don't know what I did to Zack. I really hurt him." Kelly fumbled for the words. Claudia shook her head.
"You're right; I wasn't here, but I've got eyes. I see the way you look at each other when you think nobody notices. I went steady with Zack because he asked me and I do like him; but you love him and I can tell you are meant to be together."
'What should I do?" Kelly asked. "I can't just ask him to go out with me again."
"I'll step aside and I think that you should go back out. He really likes you and he misses you even though he doesn't say so."
"You think so?" Kelly asked. Claudia nodded.
"I know you guys aren't married, but I remember the way my parents acted when they first got divorced. You are a smaller version of that. So I think you should get back together. You are supposed to be together." Kelly smiled.
"Thanks Claudia. I really appreciate it." Claudia smiled.
"That's what I'm here for." When they looked up their teacher was standing right in front of them.
"Excuse me, but do you think this conversation could hold off until we finish here or should our conversation wait for yours?" Both girls looked down at the table and everybody laughed. "Thank you." He walked back up to the front of the room and finished his lecture. Claudia looked across the room and saw Zack. He smiled and waved at her. She took a deep breath in. The hard thing would be telling Zack. She liked him, but she knew that he and Kelly were supposed to be together, they could still be friends.