Happenstance Read Free Page A

courtesy, so even the teachers tried to ignore his
antics. Brady Beck had been caught vandalizing the school, drinking on school
grounds, skipping class, and bullying dozens, but he never once sat through Detention.
He was everything that was wrong with our little town.
    I sat at my desk and waited. It was Friday, so Coach Morris
didn’t make us do much. He usually had us do a word find or let us read to
ourselves. When we didn’t have much work to do though, the Erins made
themselves busy with me. It would be easy to ignore them if Weston didn’t sit
right behind me. But for whatever reason, when he was around, their jabs felt
more humiliating.
    “All right, hoodlums. Pull out a book and read. TGIF.”
    Ten minutes hadn’t yet passed when I heard someone whisper my
name—possibly my name. A few seconds later, it was louder, and I recognized the
voice as Sonny’s. She was trying to get my attention. I didn’t dare turn
around. Any hope of comprehending the words on the page in front of me was
lost. I just stared at one word and hoped Sonny wouldn’t catch the coach’s
attention.
    Coach Morris perked up and nodded to the back of the class. “Yes?”
    Sonny lowered her hand and sat tall in her seat with a smug
expression. “I was just wondering what the school policy is on the AIDS virus.”
    “What do you mean?” Coach asked.
    “If one of the students has tested positive for AIDS, what does
the school do to protect the rest of the students?”
    “Why do you ask?” The curious light in the coach’s eyes had
extinguished, and it was obvious that he knew Erin was up to something.
    “I just heard today that one of our students has it, and everyone
is nervous.”
    “Why?”
    “Because it’s contagious, and no one wants to die just because
some skank wants to punish everyone else for her loose ways.”
    “Loose ways,” Coach Morris deadpanned. “I can explain the school
policy with you in detail after seventh period if you’d like.”
    “I have cheer,” Erin said, annoyed that her plan didn’t work. “I’m
sure the entire class would feel better hearing what you have to say.”
    Coach sighed. “I think it’s more likely that you’re helping to spread
a cruel rumor.”
    A collective tittering made its way through the classroom.
    “That’s offensive,” Sonny said. “What are you again? A
karmologist?”
    Coach chuckled. “Kinesiologist.”
    “That’s what I said. You’d think a graduate of health science would
typically consider my concern valid.”
    Coach didn’t hesitate. “Common sense disagrees. Read your book.
No more talking.”
    His perceptive remark saved me from further ridicule for now, but
the senior meeting after school was going to be considerably less fun.
    “What are you reading?” A deep voice asked.
    I barely acknowledged Weston’s question, holding up the cover of
my book high enough for him to see.
    He nodded, waiting for me to speak. When I didn’t, he offered a
small smile, and sat back.
    “What are you reading?” I asked.
    Weston immediately leaned toward me, holding up his cover the way
I had.
    “Piers Anthony?”
    Weston cleared his throat to stifle a cough then smiled. “I like
his stuff.”
    I nodded. “I approve.”
    “Good,” Weston whispered. “I was worried.” After a short pause,
he leaned into my ear again. “Why don’t you ever talk to me in Art class?”
    We had seventh period Art together, the class I looked forward to
all day. Weston was in it, but more important, people like the Erins and Brady
weren’t. We were serious about our work, and it was the one place during the
school day that I could be myself.
    “I guess I was just busy.”
    “Are you going to be busy today?”
    “Probably.”
    “Well, maybe I’ll get lucky and you’ll take a break.”
    I turned around to hide my grin, but not before glancing back and
seeing the familiar look of hatred in Alder’s eyes.
    Whore, she mouthed, glaring at me.
    ~*~
    After seventh period, I put