Here to Stay: Chapters 1–2

by Sara Farizan
When Bijan Majidi sinks the winning basket at a varsity basketball game, he unexpectedly finds himself enjoying the perks of popularity. But his success also sparks rivalry — and makes Bijan the target of an anonymous cyberbully.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–6, Chapters 7–8, Chapters 9–13, Chapters 14–18, Chapters 19–24
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. lofty
    having or displaying great dignity or nobility
    “I do love that rule.” I grinned at the scowling Carter Prep player. “If I was in your lofty position, I would have called a time-out. But hey, what do I know?”
  2. deficit
    (sports) the score by which a team or individual is losing
    “Well, not really. I mean, it was only a sixteen-point deficit. Also, since when are prep school games in our contracts? I need to talk to my agent about this.”
  3. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    He gave her his solemn vow that he would look out for me.
  4. relegate
    assign to a lower position
    We’d been relegated to the basement, which was bigger than my home, a two-bedroom condo in Somerville.
  5. respective
    considered individually
    This is the part where I’m supposed to use food metaphors to describe everyone’s respective complexions. It makes me cringe a little, the way all the books we read in English class describe people’s skin color using food metaphors.
  6. complexion
    the coloring of a person's face
    This is the part where I’m supposed to use food metaphors to describe everyone’s respective complexions. It makes me cringe a little, the way all the books we read in English class describe people’s skin color using food metaphors.
  7. hypocrisy
    pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not have
    “Thanks. We’ll go peep,” Sean said, never one to sugarcoat his displeasure at the hypocrisies of high school nonsense.
  8. carnal
    marked by the appetites and passions of the body
    Sean never acts like he’s superior to me because of his carnal knowledge, except when a group of pretty girls is standing nearby.
  9. beneficiary
    the recipient of funds or other advantages
    We know athletics are the only thing people care about. Is that depressing? Sure! But you’re a beneficiary now!
  10. upstanding
    meriting respect or esteem
    Your mom raised you to be an upstanding young chap, you’re smart, you’re tall, and you can put together a mean bowl of cereal. You’re a catch!
  11. repartee
    adroitness and cleverness in reply
    Now we’re going to go over there, and we’re going to talk to those girls and impress them with some witty repartee...
  12. hierarchy
    a series of ordered groupings within a system
    They were to “run” the social scene once the senior yearbook girls graduated, though seniors cared less about the social hierarchy the closer they got to graduation.
  13. evoke
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
    “Hi, Bijan,” Elle said. My heart felt like the Grinch’s, expanding three sizes with Elle’s voice evoking all the Whos in Who-ville singing on Christmas Day.
  14. incoherent
    without logical or meaningful connection
    Her high cheekbones and long eyelashes were making me incoherent. “Sorry. I mean, uh, thank you. W-we all played well, so...”
  15. exasperated
    greatly annoyed; out of patience
    Erin’s phone buzzed again. She let out an exasperated sigh at her screen and shoved the phone into her jeans pocket.
  16. interject
    speak abruptly, especially as an interruption
    “Will is pretty handsome. For a Neanderthal,” Sean interjected.
  17. glower
    look angry or sullen as if to signal disapproval
    “Sorry, I was asking Elle,” I said. Jessica wasn’t grinning anymore. She took a sip from her drink and glowered at me over the rim of her cup.
  18. solidarity
    a union of interests or purposes among members of a group
    “Fellow juniors! Nice to have solidarity in numbers,” Stephanie said as though she were campaigning for next year’s student council election.
  19. compliant
    disposed to act in accordance with someone's wishes
    “I got a text that there would be a party this evening,” Stephanie explained. Erin’s green eyes widened, as if she was shocked anyone would invite Stephanie Bergner to a Thompson house party. “I thought it might be good to get some signatures while people are in a compliant state.”
  20. alumnus
    a person who has received a degree from a school
    He wrote his own op-ed for Granger’s glossy alumni magazine, discussing his disappointment with the lack of respect for tradition.
  21. galvanize
    stimulate to action
    Mr. Thompson’s piece galvanized Stephanie’s cause, and suddenly a group of students and their parents began to voice their opinions online and in person at school events.
  22. inclusive
    encompassing much or everything
    “We’re hoping to work with the administration on choosing a more inclusive mascot,” Noah explained.
  23. ambivalent
    uncertain or unable to decide about what course to follow
    Her face reset to ambivalent frostiness, but Jessica had already noticed.
  24. amenable
    open to being acted upon in a certain way
    “I would be amenable to that. Thank you,” Stephanie said, linking her arm with mine.
  25. unnerve
    disturb the composure of
    “We’d probably have a better time if we were drinking. Only I find the notion of not being in control of myself a little unnerving,” Stephanie said, looking over her shoulder at Jessica, Elle, and Erin.
  26. dystopian
    characterized by human misery
    “Well, that’s a better reason than being terrified of your mom,” I said. “If my mom smells me reeking of booze, she’ll lock me up in my room until the dystopian future arrives. That is, if we aren’t living in one now.”
  27. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
    “Always a pleasure to see you, Drew,” Stephanie said dryly. “We were wondering if you would be interested in signing a petition to change the school’s mascot to something less violent but still formidable?”
  28. loll
    hang loosely or laxly
    “You got lucky. That’s all,” he said as his head lolled forward and he stumbled even closer to me.
  29. accolade
    a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
    “How’s your sister Cheryl, by the way? Didn’t she earn way more accolades than you growing up?”
  30. exodus
    a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment
    I pulled Stephanie back by her sweater, doing my best to keep her away from the exodus of booze, Gatorade, and nastiness coming out of Drew’s mouth.
Created on Tue May 28 13:08:00 EDT 2019 (updated Tue May 28 16:17:47 EDT 2019)

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