Sorry for the long wait. And (apologizing ahead of time), sorry for the sucky chapter.

Once I finish my workout, I take a much needed shower and put on some warm clothes: a pair of dark-wash skinny jeans, a striped sweater, and my grey boots. I use the mirror in my locker to put on my makeup: a light layer of foundation and powder, a little eye makeup, and peach lip gloss. I grab my corduroy backpack and slip on three rubber bracelets. The first one is Batman, my favorite superhero. The other two are Paramore and The Hunger Games, both of which used to be Jackie's.

I glance at a mirror on my way out to the hallway. I forgot about my hair! I run back to my locker. Laughing at myself, I spin the dial. 19. Left twice. 3. Right. 27. The locker door opens and I pull out my hairbrush to tame my ratty hair.

Satisfied, I leave the gym and walk to McDonalds, ready for breakfast. I buy a sausage burrito and a caramel hot chocolate. Considering the library doesn't open until ten, I take my time.

The door opens and I look up. Tennyson walks in. I look down, not wanting to be seen.

"Hey Simone!" he says. Strategy fail.

I look up. "Hi, Tennyson."

He glances at what I am eating then sits down. "So, what's up?"

"Well, right now, I am being followed by this kid who just moved to town."

"I can leave if you want me to." He starts to stand up.

"I was joking," I say. He sits back down.

"Can I ask you a question?"

I nod. He hesitates before speaking. "I just moved here, but I've heard things about you." I must look confused because he hurries to explain. "I mean, I overheard two people talking about a Simone Bernard. That's you right?"

"Yeah," I say unenthusiastically. "That's me."

He nods looking relieved. "I didn't hear a lot of what they said, but I did hear something about a car wreck last year."

I sigh. "It was nothing—just a little accident on the way home; nothing big." He looks skeptical, but doesn't pursue the topic.

This was something I didn't want to talk about. After the wreck, it seemed as though everyone blamed me. I guess it was because I was the only person awake when it happened. It was apparently my fault that the pick-up in front of us slammed on its brakes. It was my fault Sidney fell asleep. It was my fault that, after we hit the pick-up, the semi behind us couldn't stop in time and hit us. Everything was my fault.

"Do you ever feel like a ping pong ball?" I ask.

He laughs at this. "No. Why do you ask?"

I manage a smile. "Just wondering."

"So," he says, "I hear the swim team is pretty good."

I nod. "They took first at state last season."

"Do you guys have a summer season?"

"Yeah, but the team is a lot smaller. I don't ever swim in the summer. I take that time to condition." I pause before continuing. "You know, I could help you. I mean, we could practice together in the mornings."

"Yeah, that'd be cool," he says. "When do you usually swim?"

"Six forty-five every morning." He looks shocked.

"Six forty-five? Every morning?"

"Well, Mondays thru Fridays," I clarify.

He nods. "You must get tired." I nod.

I stand up. "Well, I've got to go to the library."

"The Library?"

"I do volunteer work on Saturdays. You're welcome to come if you want."

He shrugs. "Why not?"