I suppose I am being rude to Aaron, but at this particular moment, I can only think about Jared. Horrified I wonder what Jared is thinking. Does he think I like Aaron after all?

After I lock my locker, we walk up the hill towards the gate. I start to offer Aaron a lift home, but then I notice two cars up from where my mom is parked Jared is waiting.

I catch his eye in his rear view mirror glaring at me and I wish I could walk up to his car and ask him what his problem is. I look down and dejected I climb into the car.

My mom’s cheery smile fades when she sees my face. “What’s wrong, Elizabeth?”

I put on my fake smile and reply, “Just tired.”

She is still looking at me worriedly and I do not want her to feel guilty, because she is happy, so I smile convincingly, and say, “Really, just tired.”

My mom starts the car and Esther begins to chatter from the back seat, but I am not listening to either one of them. We drive past Jared and I glance in his direction, seeing him staring at me fixedly.

I watch him in my side mirror until my mom turns the corner into the village, he is arguing with Aaron.

When we get home, I go straight to my room and lying on my bed, I stare out of the window. I want to go out to my little gathering of trees, where I always seem to feel better, where I am able to leave all the hurt and then carry on as always, but the rain is continuous.

My mom calls from the bottom of the stairs, “Elizabeth, do you want some tea?”

I call back, “No thanks, Mom.”

“Okay,” I hear her mumble and then I hear her start a conversation with Esther. Esther, who fit in right from day one. She loves her teacher and all the kids in her class are fighting for her attention.

The new All-American girl.



The light darkens quickly, so I decide to go downstairs to see what there is for dinner - I am starving.