Page 41 of Inferno

Manning thought of what he’d told his mother when she’d asked him about playing basketball.It’s not the same here.

Maybe Taylor felt the same way.

“My brother plays the saxophone,” he told her.

“Really?Which brother?”

“Monty. He’s in the seventh grade jazz band. Sometimes when I’m feeling down, he comes into my room and plays songs for me. He’s really good. You should hear him sometime.”

Taylor smiled warmly. “I’d like that.”

“Yeah, I think you would.” Manning hesitated,thenadded gently, “You should keep playing the violin, Taylor. If you’re good at it, and it’s something you enjoy doing, you shouldn’t give it up.”

She held his gaze for a long moment, then glanced down at the table and swallowed tightly. “Maybe you’re right,” she whispered.

“It happens every once in a while,” he joked.

She looked up at him, and they shared a quiet smile.

When the moment passed, Taylor ate the rest of her cake,thenbrushed the crumbs from her fingers. “Let me finish my story.”

“Go ahead.”

“Well, as I was saying, I was in the bathroom stall feeling sorry for myself when I suddenly remembered that you were, at that very moment, getting in trouble for defending me. So I wiped my tears and ran down to the principal’s office to tell him what had really happened, because I know about the stupid ‘code of silence’ that kids have been brainwashed to follow to protect bullies like Rory Kerrigan.” She rolled her eyes in disgust. “Anyway, by the time the office secretary finished taking phone calls, setting up appointments, signing hall passes—giving her attention to everyone but me—you and your mom were already coming out of Principal Henderson’s office.” She eyed Manning apologetically. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”

“It’s okay. You couldn’t have stopped Henderson from suspending me.”

“Maybe not, but I should have been there to plead your case.”

“You did. Principal Henderson called my mom at work today to tell her everything you said on my behalf. Not only that, but you convinced some other kids to come forward to complain about Rory’s bullying.” Manning grinned, shaking his head. “That dude’s in so much trouble that if he evenlooksat anyone the wrong way, he’s getting expelled.”

“Good,” Taylor said with such vehement satisfaction that Manning laughed.

She smiled shyly at him. “I just want to thank you again for what you did. No one’s ever stood up for me like that before. Well, except for my brother, and he’s family so he doesn’t count.”

Manning chuckled. “You don’t have to keep thanking me, Taylor. If the situation were reversed, I know you would have done the same thing for me.”

“Maybe.”She grinned ruefully. “The only difference is thatIdon’t have a killer left hook, so I would have gotten my butt kicked.”

They both laughed.

Sobering after several moments, Manning told her, “I’m sorry you lost your necklace.”

“Oh, but I didn’t!” Taylor exclaimed, grabbing his arm in her sudden excitement. “When I got home from school yesterday, I found my necklacerightwhere I’d left it on top of the dresser. I must have forgotten to put it on that morning, which is something I almostneverdo. I’m absentminded about a lot of things, but not when it comes to wearing my necklace. But this is one time that being forgetful worked out for me.”

“That’s great, Tay,” Manning said warmly. “I’m glad you didn’t lose the necklace after all. I know you would have been—” He broke off, puzzled by the odd look she was giving him. “What’s wrong?”

“You called me Tay.”

“I know. It’s short for Taylor.” He paused. “You don’t mind if I call youthat,do you?”

“No.” She smiled shyly. “You can call me whatever you want, Manning.”

He smiled, feeling something swell in his chest. “So are you wearing it now?”

She blinked at him. “What?”

“The necklace.”