"Because I thought you could keep your mouth shut but I guess I was wrong."
"Trystan, relax. I won't tell anyone."
"I'm surprised Peyton didn't tell you. She thinks you two are best friends."
"That changes by the day. Or the minute. One minute I'm her bestie and the next minute she's telling me to get lost."
"That's just how she is. The girl needs some serious therapy." He pulls up to the school and parks. "If you go tonight, I'll give you a ride."
"Alyssa offered to pick me up."
"What's with you and Alyssa? Since when are you friends?"
"We're not. She just doesn't want to sit alone at the game."
"Trystan!" a guy yells. It's one of his soccer friends.
Trystan jumps out of the car and meets up with his friend.
I go in the school and see Alyssa coming over to me. She doesn't look sick, not even a little. Her skin has color, her eyes are bright, and she's walking fast like she has energy.
"Rumor, what'd you decide about tonight?" she asks, following me to my locker.
"I guess I could go. But Trystan can take me. You don't have to pick me up."
"I don't mind. Why don't I come over early and bring pizza? There's a really good place by my house."
"Yeah, I guess we could do that." I open my locker and drop off the books I don't need.
Alyssa leans against the locker next to mine. "Did you hear about Ms. Pruitt?"
"No, what about her?"
"She might not come back."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Something about a nervous breakdown. She's past retirement age so she might as well just retire."
"Nervous breakdown? Did something happen to her?"
Alyssa shrugs. "Not sure. I just know I won't have to work so hard to get an A in that class if she doesn't come back."
I close my locker. "I was kind of starting to like her."
"I didn't mind her but I'd rather have someone who doesn't make us work so hard. I have enough hard classes. I could use a break." The warning bell rings. "See you at lunch."
She walks off, a bounce in her step. She's not sick. She made it up. I wonder why.
"Hey, bestie," Peyton says, coming up beside me, wrapping her arm around mine. "Going to the game tonight?"
"Yeah. With Alyssa. Why aren't you going?"
She leans down to my ear. "Getting down and dirty with the old guy."
I rear back. "I'm sorry I asked."
She laughs. "You're such a prude."
