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There was more laughter.

My face turned white before it turned scarlet. I

glanced back at Chandler. He was looking my way

now, an expression of concern and disgust on his face. "Come on," Susie said in a mock-friendly tone

of voice. "tell us about it. You can trust us. We're all

your friends."

"Some friends," I said. I glared at Karen. "Are

you satisfied? Think they like you any more than they

did before school started today?"

I rose, picked up my fray, and left the table,

their laughter roaring like a waterfall behind me. I sat

out the remainder of my lunch hour in a stall in the

girls' room. Two of the girls who had been at the table

came in. and I heard them talking and laughing about

me and Chandler. What interested me was their

conclusion that he and I were made for each other.

Somehow, because I was unable to participate in

after-school activities and did so little with them and

the others, they interpreted it to mean I was just as

snobby.

As I was entering Spanish class. Chandler

caught up with me.

"Don't take the school bus home," he said. "I'll

take you. Just wait at your locker."

He spoke quickly, like someone giving very

secret information about an impending rebellion, and

then took his seat and ignored me the rest of the

period. Every once in a while. I saw some of my

classmates looking my way, whispering and then

laughing to themselves.