Echo Bridge

Chapter 4

Our moment of mutual recognition was a little overwhelming. We both opened our mouths to speak at the same time and were both cut off by the sound of the bells signaling the end of fifth period. Belknap Country Day had an actual bell tower, and instead of the usual institutional buzzer, a series of large bells chimed out one set of notes to signal the end of a period and another set exactly seven minutes later to indicate the start of the next class. I had calculus, but I'd left my bag in Thistleton. Lexi and I stared at each other.

"After school," she said. "Meet me in the junior parking lot?"

"Okay," I said. I looked down at her bleeding hand. "Are you going to be all right?"

"Yeah, I'll go to the nurse instead of physics." Lexi looked at me intently. "Are you?"

I hesitated for a moment. "I'll see you at three," I said finally. I squeezed her hand and left. I wanted to go straight to calculus and avoid Thistleton, but I needed my books. I cursed under my breath and hoped I'd miss Hugh and everyone else in the traffic between classes.

I was almost successful. My friends were in the process of scattering for their next classes as I walked in, but when I bent over to grab my bag, a hand clamped down on my elbow. Instinctively, I yanked my arm away before I turned to see who had grabbed me.

"Oh, Ted. Sorry, you scared me."

"You got a minute?"

"I have calc," I said.

"Mr. Alden won't care if you're late," he said. "And I want to talk to you."

"About what?"

"In private." Ted latched onto my elbow again and rather forcefully guided me down the stairs to the deserted music hall. He didn't release me until we were inside one of the practice rooms.

"Ted, is everything okay?"

"You tell me, Courtney." Ted folded his arms over his chest. "You've been jumpy as hell lately. What was that scene with Hugh upstairs? And you stink." He made a face. "I hate smoking. How can you do that to yourself?"

Panic began to flutter its wings in my chest. "It's not a big deal, Ted. It helps my nerves. I have a lot on my mind, with college applications and the play—"

"Babe, we're all stressed about college stuff, and you've never acted like this because of a play before. What happened to your nerves of steel?" A smile played over his lips. That was a joke of mine about being immune to stage fright.

I swallowed. This was my opportunity. To tell Ted why Hugh wasn't my friend, why he never would be again, why he shouldn't be Ted's friend either. He'd believe me. He'd take my side. He'd go with me to Farnsworth's office; between Lexi and me, Farnsworth would have to punish Hugh somehow. He couldn't overlook both of us. Ted would hold my hand—

Ted and Hugh, their shoulders pressed together, laughing, as they had been a little while before, upstairs in Thistleton, flashed in front of my eyes. They'd been friends longer than I'd been Ted's girlfriend.

I looked down. "I guess my nerves aren't as steely as I thought."

"What about me, Courtney? What about us? Maybe you don't love me as much as you thought, either."

I was stunned. "Ted! I know I've been moody the past few days, but of course I love you." I reached out and wrapped my fingers in the front of his sweater.

He put his hands lightly on my shoulders and looked down into my face. "I wish I could really believe that. But I know what a good actress you are."

"Ted, please. You're the only good thing I have right now."

"I just feel like you're pulling away from me."