Then I see myself breaking that delicate wrist, and Matt screaming, "Arrgh, mate! What'd you go and do that for?! I'll never be able to have me a barbie again!"

I don't know why. My imagination is a weird place, okay?

At least I feel a little better now.

A teacher finally shows up, but it's not the rotund wheezing Mr. Tanner. A very young looking, very handsome guy with strawberry blonde hair, gla.s.ses, and a short beard introduces himself as Mr. Jensen, a subst.i.tute for Mr. Tanner. I notice some of the girls take notice as he talks.

"We'll go over the syllabus, so you guys kinda know what to expect this year. Then you all can introduce yourselves while I pretend to listen," Mr. Jensen says with a laidback smile. The cla.s.s laughs appreciatively.

Lauren and I exchange blah looks. We both hate the stand up in cla.s.s and talk about yourself thing. Lauren always talks too softly, and I always end up sounding psycho.

"Lauren Cooper."

Lauren rolls her eyes at me, and half-stands at her desk. "I'm Lauren," she mumbles, and that's all I can make out-and I'm sitting right next to her.

"Speak up, Lauren. I don't read lips," Mr. Jensen says. His nice hazel eyes twinkle behind his gla.s.ses.

Lauren glares at him, looking like a p.i.s.sed off kitten. "I'm Lauren," she snaps. She plops back down in her seat.

"Oo-kay, I think we've established that. Care to tell us anything else?"

"Nope."

I don't know how she gets away with talking to teachers like that, but she does. Maybe it's because she looks so cute when she's mad. Even her hair sticks up cute.

As if to make up for Lauren's curtness, everyone else seems to be in an extra sharing mode. When it's Matt's turn, he talks in his ridiculous "Australian" accent. People laugh, but I cringe in embarra.s.sment for him.

"-and this is my right best summah evah 'cause I fell in love with this beautiful sheila."

Matt's grin is huge as he points dramatically to a blushing Rachel sitting at the desk next to him.

My jaw drops open. I can't believe he just announced it in cla.s.s like that!

Everyone's looking at me for my reaction. Flushing hotly, I stare down at the scarred surface of my desk.

"a.s.shole," Lauren says quite clearly.

"Excuse me, Lauren?" Mr. Jensen says. "Did you decide you want to share something after all?"

"Nope."

I refuse to look up. Tears of humiliation threaten to fall, so I keep my eyes wide, willing them to dry up.

How could he do that? What, all of a sudden he doesn't care about my feelings anymore? I have to wonder if he was always this big of a wad, or did losing his virginity fry something in his little brain?

I hate him. I hate her!

"Violet Mercer."

Great.

I don't bother to stand. "I'm Violet," I growl. "I thought I lost something this summer, but I just realized, I never needed it."

Total silence.

Then someone mutters, "Is she talking about her virginity?"

In retrospect, I realize I could have worded that better.

Thank G.o.d the day is over. I'm exhausted, like I've been through a war. All I want to do is lie in bed and cry tears of self-pity. And then order a meaty pizza. I'm starving!

"I need to get my jacket from my locker," Lauren reminds me as I make a beeline for the door.

I sigh and reverse direction. "Okay."

On the way there, I hear someone call my name. It's Kim Marshall, Matt's younger sister.

I like Kim. Like her brother, she's always good natured and cheerful. She knows all the latest gossip, but never spreads any herself.

"Violet, just because my brother is a giant douche bag, I hope that doesn't mean we can't still be friends," Kim says, an anxious look on her pretty face.

"Of course not," I rea.s.sure her. "I've always liked you better, anyway."

Kim laughs and nods. "You know, everyone's telling Matt that you were too hot for him, anyway so it's good he downgraded. I can't believe him and Rachel!"

I shrug. What can I say to that?

"Oh, and I hear your English sub is pretty hot," she says, opening up her locker.

"He's okay," I say.

"I don't like him," Lauren says flatly. "But you probably would, Kim. He's blonde and kinda scruffy."

Everyone knows Kim has a thing for scruffy blonde guys. Just look at her locker-it's plastered with pictures of the singer, Aiden Cross and John h.e.l.ler-some WWE wrestler, I a.s.sume from the pictures. Aiden Cross is gorgeous, and his voice is amazing-as are his darkly beautiful songs. But that other guy is scary-looking, from his huge bulging muscles, to the bloodthirsty look in his sea green eyes. Kim is obsessed with them both.

"Hmm, maybe I'll have to visit your cla.s.s someday," she says, waggling her eyebrows. "Well, I'm off to my job at Freezy Pete's. You guys should stop by sometime. My shift ends at nine."

We agree to visit her soon, then we exchange goodbyes, and Lauren and I head for the parking lot.

I feel better after talking to Kim. I'm glad she still wants to be friends, despite me hating her brother's guts. I wonder if she'll be friendly with Rachel, too?

No. I quickly banish that thought from my head. That's none of my concern.

"At least you got that awkward first run-in over with," Lauren says as we get into my car.

"Yup," I sigh. "And now everyone thinks I've lost my virginity. I can tell this is going to be an awesome year."

"Oh, V," she says comfortingly. "Most people think you lost it a long time ago, anyway."

Great. Thanks, Lauren. I can always count on my best friend to make me feel better.

Chapter 7.

Mom is leaving for her honeymoon, and I don't want her to go!

"You can't overdo it," I tell her for the fifth time.

We're at the airport right now. Bill and Jane are here, too, but I ignore them.

"I'll be fine, Violet." Mom laughs. Her eyes are sparkling excitedly. She can't wait to get on that plane.

"And remember to stay away from anyone that looks sick. But even if they don't look sick, they could still-"

"Violet."

Mom stops my babbling by putting both hands on my cheeks. "We don't have to worry about that, anymore. I'm okay. In fact, I've never felt better in my life."

I stare into her shining eyes, seeing the happiness there-and I swallow all my words of caution. "Maybe I just don't want you to have too much fun without me."

Mom grins and squeezes my cheeks together. "You'll always be there in my thoughts," she says sweetly.

"I hope not always," I say through squished lips. "At least, not when you and Bill are getting it on."

"Violet!" Mom laughs and lets go of my face. She turns to Jane to hug her goodbye.

I look over at Bill who is standing there, fidgeting with his armful of electronic devices. I suppose he has them out and ready for when they go through security.

"Have a good trip, Bill," I say. "Send me lots of cool pictures."

He nods at me, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I will. I'll take care of her, too."

I tentatively pat his shoulder. "Thank you."

We all say our goodbyes, and then all too soon, Mom and Bill get in line at the security checkpoint. Both Jane and I are sniffing at this point.

"Doesn't Lily look so beautiful?" Jane sighs, staring dreamily after Mom.

I've always wondered if Jane had a thing for her. Sometimes, the way she looks at her...it's kinda like the way I used to look at Twinkies.

Or the way I stared at Zane...

"Well, kiddo," Jane says, throwing an arm around my shoulders. "Looks like it's just you and me. How do you feel about pizza and Ho Ho's for dinner?"

"Jane," I reply, looking at her. "I'm think I'm going to love staying with you."

"Oh, my G.o.d, Violet. You can't stay with me, anymore!"

I sit up from the couch I had been lying on. "Huh?"

Jane is pacing back in forth, cell phone in hand. Her bushy black hair is floating in a disheveled cloud around her head. "Emily's going into labor right now," she says tersely. "I have to go to her."

My eyes widen in concern. Emily is her only daughter, pregnant with Jane's first grandchild. "Isn't she only six or seven months along?"

"Six and a half. I need to book a flight to Atlanta...oh, where did I put my purse?"

I point towards the kitchen. "I saw it on the counter, next to the microwave."

"Thanks." She stands there indecisively. "I don't know what to do-I don't know how long Emmy will need me to be with her. I guess I should call your mother. Or...is there anyone you can stay with?"

I bite my lip, thinking. I quickly discard Lauren from my prospects. Her apartment is way too crowded already, and her mom is really weird about people staying the night over there-I doubt she'd allow it. Who else did that leave? Not Matt's, for obvious reasons. G.o.d, I don't know. None of my relatives live close enough to Hidden Cove for it to even be feasible, and I'm not close enough friends with anyone else to ask. "Can't I just stay here by myself?" I ask.

Jane mulls it over, but then quickly shakes her head. "No, no! The whole point of you staying here is so you wouldn't be alone. Lily would freak. Oh, I hate to do it, but we don't have a choice. I guess I'll call her..."

"No, wait!"

There is no way I'm going to allow this to interrupt Mom's dream vacation. And knowing her, she would immediately hop on a plane and head back home. I couldn't let her do that.

"You know what? I can stay with Lauren," I say quickly. "It's totally fine. I can sleep on the couch, no problem."

Jane hesitates. "Are you sure? Call her right now and ask."

"Um...okay."

I jump off the couch and grab my phone off the coffee table. Pretending to punch in her number, I walk towards the kitchen for privacy. Then, in case Jane is listening in, I pretend to have a conversation with Lauren, in which she agrees to let me stay at her place.

When I come back out into the living room, Jane stares at me hopefully. I force a smile and nod. "She said yes."

She sighs in relief. "Oh, thank G.o.d! Okay, I've got to order my ticket online, and pack and everything. Honey, do you think you could book the flight for me? My credit card is in my purse-use the business one, though. I don't think I have room for a ticket on my other ones."

"Sure, no problem."

I secure a one way flight for her from here to Atlanta, leaving at seven-fifty tonight-in five hours. Jane runs around frantically, packing her bags and worrying about her daughter. I try to stay out of her way, doing whatever she asks of me.

Finally, she is packed and ready for me to drive her to the airport. She checks her purse anxiously, making sure she has everything.

"I gave you a key, right?" she asks again as we head out the door.

"Yep."

"Okay. I called Linda from next door to check on my apartment and water my plants, so you don't have to worry about that. Oh-could you do something with all the perishable in the fridge? Take 'em with you, or give them away."