ke's voice； and I knew what his next words would be before he
said them。
〃Are you working tomorrow？〃
I looked up。 He was leaning across the aisle with an anxious expression。 Every
Friday he asked me the
same question。 Never mind that I hadn't taken so much as a sick day。 Well；
with one exception； months
ago。 But he had no reason to look at me with such concern。 I was a model
employee。
〃Tomorrow is Saturday； isn't it？〃 I said。 Having just had it pointed out to me
by Charlie； I realized how
lifeless my voice really sounded。
〃Yeah； it is；〃 he agreed。 〃See you in Spanish。〃 He waved once before turning
his back。 He didn't bother
walking me to class anymore。
I trudged off to Calculus with a grim expression。 This was the class where I
sat next to Jessica。
It had been weeks； maybe months； since Jess had even greeted me when I passed
her in the hall。 I knew
I had offended her with my antisocial behavior； and she was sulking。 It wasn't
going to be easy to talk to
her now—especially to ask her to do me a favor。 I weighed my options
carefully as I loitered outside the
classroom； procrastinating。
I wasn't about to face Charlie again without some kind of social interaction
to report。 I knew I couldn't
lie； though the thought of driving to Port Angeles and back alone—being sure
my odometer reflected the
correct mileage； just in case he checked—was very tempting。 Jessica's mom was
the biggest gossip in
town； and Charlie was bound to run into Mrs。 Stanley sooner rather than later。
When he did； he would
no doubt mention the trip。 Lying was out。
With a sigh； I s