could see that the kids with lockers near hers were taking their
sweet time getting their stuff together. She really wished they
would leave, but no one at Nantucket High would pass up an opportunity
for a front row seat at another possible brawl.
?Some of us think it would be a good idea if we tried to smooth
things over,? he said quickly, as if he wanted to get it done with as
fast as possible. Helen thought for a moment.
?Some of you? You mean there hasn?t been any unanimous decision
made yet? About me, I mean,? Helen said pointedly.
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?No, sorry,? he said, understanding her meaning immediately.
?But we think?well, at least a few of us think that we should at
least try to be nicer to each other.?
?I don?t see how we?re going to be able to do that, do you?? Helen
replied, not meaning to sound unfriendly but unable to stop herself.
She heard one of the girls loitering nearby tisk at her.
?We just want to be friends with you. Or if not friends, then at
least not enemies. Think it over,? he said, and then left.
It took Helen three tries to get her lock undone with everyone
standing around staring at her. Using all her energy to not attack
Jason as he walked away, she had none left over for patience. She
wanted to scream at everyone for judging her, but that would never
be possible. What would she say? I?m not usually a bitch?I?m just
super-grouchy because I?m being stalked by three blood-crying
ghosts who won?t let me sleep at night?
At lunch, she was surprised to see Ariadne and Cassandra sitting
at her customary table with her friends. Even from a distance
Helen could see that Matt was flushed with repressed hormones.
Gretchen and Zach, who never sat at their lunch table, were there,
too, kissing popular ass. Helen wavered in the doorway for a moment,