第12部分(第2/7 頁)

ke's　voice；　and　I　knew　what　his　next　words　would　be　before　he

said　them。

〃Are　you　working　tomorrow？〃

I　looked　up。　He　was　leaning　across　the　aisle　with　an　anxious　expression。　Every

Friday　he　asked　me　the

same　question。　Never　mind　that　I　hadn't　taken　so　much　as　a　sick　day。　Well；

with　one　exception；　months

ago。　But　he　had　no　reason　to　look　at　me　with　such　concern。　I　was　a　model

employee。

〃Tomorrow　is　Saturday；　isn't　it？〃　I　said。　Having　just　had　it　pointed　out　to　me

by　Charlie；　I　realized　how

lifeless　my　voice　really　sounded。

〃Yeah；　it　is；〃　he　agreed。　〃See　you　in　Spanish。〃　He　waved　once　before　turning

his　back。　He　didn't　bother

walking　me　to　class　anymore。

I　trudged　off　to　Calculus　with　a　grim　expression。　This　was　the　class　where　I

sat　next　to　Jessica。

It　had　been　weeks；　maybe　months；　since　Jess　had　even　greeted　me　when　I　passed

her　in　the　hall。　I　knew

I　had　offended　her　with　my　antisocial　behavior；　and　she　was　sulking。　It　wasn't

going　to　be　easy　to　talk　to

her　now—especially　to　ask　her　to　do　me　a　favor。　I　weighed　my　options

carefully　as　I　loitered　outside　the

classroom；　procrastinating。

I　wasn't　about　to　face　Charlie　again　without　some　kind　of　social　interaction

to　report。　I　knew　I　couldn't

lie；　though　the　thought　of　driving　to　Port　Angeles　and　back　alone—being　sure

my　odometer　reflected　the

correct　mileage；　just　in　case　he　checked—was　very　tempting。　Jessica's　mom　was

the　biggest　gossip　in

town；　and　Charlie　was　bound　to　run　into　Mrs。　Stanley　sooner　rather　than　later。

When　he　did；　he　would

no　doubt　mention　the　trip。　Lying　was　out。

With　a　sigh；　I　s