Julia Winston rapped at Mae’s bedroom door, then adjusted a red pigtail. “Mae, let me in. I’ve got your homework assignment.” She listened closely, a concerned look on her face. For the past two days, Mae was missing from school.

“It’s open,” Mae finally called out. Julia hurried into the bedroom. Mae was sprawled out in bed, listening to an old ‘N Sync CD. Julia raised her eyebrow, puzzled, trying not to cringe too much at the horrible sound. She couldn't help but wonder why Mae was listening to it, or why she would even have a copy of it.


“Hey, Mae, why did you miss class?” Julia asked. She briefly felt Mae’s face, neck, and wrists. “No fever. Pulse seems pretty normal. And no swollen glands. I think you’re just playing hooky.” She raised an eyebrow again. “By the way, how did things go with Ophelia? I mean, you did tell her, right?”

Mae shifted her gaze away. Julia gasped a little. “Did you have a fight or something?”

“Something like that,” Mae mumbled. She didn’t feel like telling Julia the truth. Better to let her keep believing that she liked Cy.

Julia frowned. “So, what was really wrong today?”

“Nothing.”

Julia gazed around the room. Her eyes settled on Mae’s favorite pair of jeans. The knees were all bloody and tattered.


“What happened?” Julia gasped. “Do you need to me wash these for you? Sew them up? I can if you want.”

Mae shook her head. “I fell,” she said. That’s the short version, she thought. The long version is that I ran, trying to get all the frustration and sadness out, and I ended up totally destroying my jeans on some asphalt. “And don’t worry about washing them,” she finally added. “I have other clothes I can wear.”

Julia frowned. This is not the Mae I know. It's... it's Cy's fault. Cy's the one who came between Ophelia and Mae and made them stop being friends! Cy led Mae on and... and... ooh, no one messes with my friends! Just let Cy come around, we'll see who gets the last hit in, she thought.