第12部分(第1/7 頁)

with　any　more　conversation。

〃I'll　make　plans　with　Jessica；〃　I　called　over　my　shoulder　as　I　strapped　on　my

school　bag；　not　meeting　his

eyes。　〃Maybe　I　won't　be　home　for　dinner。　We'll　go　to　Port　Angeles　and　watch　a

movie。〃

I　was　out　the　front　door　before　he　could　react。

In　my　haste　to　get　away　from　Charlie；　I　ended　up　being　one　of　the　first　ones

to　school。　The　plus　side　was

that　I　got　a　really　good　parking　spot。　The　downside　was　that　I　had　free　time

on　my　hands；　and　I　tried　to

avoid　free　time　at　all　costs。

Quickly；　before　I　could　start　thinking　about　Charlie's　accusations；　I　pulled

out　my　Calculus　book。　I

flipped　it　open　to　the　section　we　should　be　starting　today；　and　tried　to　make

sense　of　it。　Reading　math

was　even　worse　than　listening　to　it；　but　I　was　getting　better　at　it。　In　the

last　several　months；　I'd　spent　ten

times　the　amount　of　time　on　Calculus　than　I'd　ever　spent　on　math　before。　As　a

result；　I　was　managing　to

keep　in　the　range　of　a　low　A。　I　knew　Mr。　Varner　felt　my　improvement　was　all

due　to　his　superior

teaching　methods。　And　if　that　made　him　happy；　I　wasn't　going　to　burst　his

bubble。

I　forced　myself　to　keep　at　it　until　the　parking　lot　was　full；　and　I　ended　up

rushing　to　English。　We　were

working　on　Animal　Farm；　an　easy　subject　matter。　I　didn't　mind　munism；　it

was　a　wele　change

from　the　exhausting　romances　that　made　up　most　of　the　curriculum。　I　settled

into　my　seat；　pleased　by　the

distraction　of　Mr。　Berty's　lecture。

Time　moved　easily　while　I　was　in　school。　The　bell　rang　all　too　soon。　I　started

repacking　my　bag。

〃Bella？〃

I　recognized　Mi