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"Yes." I wasn't sure if she had told them I hadn't attended much this past year, but I guessed probably not.

"You know Guy Davis? I think he goes there. He'd be a junior."

"No," I said, "but that doesn't mean anything. I didn't make a lot of friends there."

"Oh? How come?'

"I don't know," I said. I sipped my drink and looked down, but! could see him smiling. Was that a dumb thing to say? I wondered.

"I don't have all that many friends at school either," he revealed. "I'm not in any sports or clubs. Most days I go straight home from school and hang out with my younger brother Judson until our mom gets home."

"What about your father?" I asked quickly.

"He died. Heart attack. He had a problem with a heart valve that required surgery. We thought it went okay. So did the doctors, but... it didn't?'

"I'm sorry. How long ago was that?"

"Three years ago. I kinda feel I have to take up some of the responsibilities," he added, looking down at his glass of punch. "It's why I don't get out much, I guess. David's always after me to do stuff with him. He's a popular guy at school and on the basketball team." He paused, sipped his drink, and looked around. Misty was still hovering near the door. "What about your parents?" he asked. "Where are they tonight?"

"My mother went to visit her sister in Phoenix," I recited.

'And your father?'

For a moment I felt my throat close. It seemed so wrong to lie to Stuart, whose father really died. Mine did, too, and technically, I suppose, I wasn't lying, but

I was about to pretend I had known my father. Star, who was half listening to our

conversation, paused in talking to Larry and looked at me.

"My father is gone, too," I said. "He died in an automobile accident."

"Oh, I'm sorry. David didn't mention that."

"Maybe he doesn't know," I said.

The doorbell rang and Misty practically flew out of the room. Moments later, she appeared with Chris at her side. He was cute, but it was also easy to see from the way his eyes shifted and his smile flickered, that he was as shy as she had described. Misty led him straight to the spiked punch.

Jade turned the music up, and she and David began to dance. Almost immediately, Star and Larry joined them and then Misty tugged Chris onto the floor as well. Stuart and I remained seated on the sofa, watching.

"I feel silly dancing with this," I said pointing to my cast.

"That's okay. I'm not that great a dancer even without a cast on my leg."

We both laughed and watched the others.

"My cousin's a good dancer," he leaned over to tell me. "Yes, he is?'

"Star's pretty good too," he added.

"I think I should start cooking the meatballs," I told him. 'We're making subs and they'll need a half hour or so."

"Oh. I'll come with you," he said, surprising me. "I've become something of a cook," he told me as we walked down the hallway to the kitchen. "My mother works and sometimes, I make our dinner."

I nodded and he watched me drop the meatballs into the pan of sauce.

"Mind if I taste?" he asked.

"No. Go ahead."