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He turned around but didn’t smile when he saw her

"What happened?" she asked Clearly so had, otherwise he would never have spoken to her He’d kept his word to her father "Why are you here?"

"To see you Eddie told one to the mall I took the bus" He looked past her, his eyes hard as flint "I lost hthouse laid you off?" That didn’t , and Seth Gunderson had said Anson was conscientious and diligent in his work habits There was even talk of pro as a prep cook Her father seemed pleased that his faith in Anson had been well placed

"Does this have anything to do with Tony?"

Anson frowned "Who told you about him and me?"

"My dad Mr GundersonIs he involved in…in getting you fired?"

"Probably"

"Did they give you a reason?" she said, her hand on his sleeve Anson was so cold and angry and with his whole Goth regalia, including the heavy pewter cross he wore around his neck, people obviously found hiave them a wide berth as they stood outside the food court

Anson refused to aze "They said it was reduction in force"

"Maybe business slacked off," she said, thinking quickly "That happens, you know"

"It was an excuse" His eyes narrowed as he spoke

"Do you think there was another reason?" she asked softly, her hand still on his arm

For the first time he looked directly at her But this boy wasn’t the Anson she knew He was irate and resentful, and she felt as though every bit of his fury was directed at her Allison nearly dropped her hand and stepped back

"Mr Gunderson thinks I took so to me He thinks I took cash out of his office"

Allison had the sudden urge to sit down She walked over to an empty table and pulled out a chair Anson followed

"You didn’t do that" She refused to believe Anson was guilty of such a thing

Pain flashed from his eyes but was immediately shielded "That’s not what Seth Gunderson believes"

"He talked to you?"

Anson nodded "He talked to everyone"

"Did he have any proof?"

"How could he?" Anson asked hotly "I didn’t do it"

Allison reached for his hand, curling her fingers around his She needed to touch him, to reassure him At first he resisted and tried to pull away Then he entwined their fingers, holding onto her as if she were the only solid thing in a world that was cru Allison didn’t knohat to say that could make this better

"What can I do?" she asked after a while

"Nothing," he said and swore "I wouldn’t go back there if they begged me to I worked my butt off for that restaurant and then they treat me like--"

He didn’t finish He didn’t need to; Allison knehat he intended to say

"I’ll talk toto help Anson before Once she explained the situation, he would again She hoped

"No" His voice was harsh "Not this ti for me I was the obvious suspect, you know Mr Gunderson knoas responsible for setting the park shed on fire If they were going to accuse anyone, it would be me--and why not? I’ve been in trouble I was a convenient scapegoat"

"But it’s not right!"

"Not everything is right, Allison You live in this co turns out perfectly It isn’t like that for everyone You’ve got parents who care about you You’ve got a home and a future Soers tightened around his "We each ested her words "I just don’t have the options you do"

"Do you knoho did it--stole the money, I mean?"

He hesitated "No, but I have my suspicions"

"Who? Tony?"

"Tony said I made everyone look bad because I worked hard and put in extra time He was hired beforeme to be a prep cook Tony didn’t think that was fair"

She’d report this to her father and have him talk to Mr Gunderson "My dad and Mr Gunderson are friends"

Anson shook his head "No I’ll take care of this into do?" she asked, afraid of what he ht do in this state of mind

"I don’t know yet"

He had a wild, disheveled look and she suspected he hadn’t slept in a long tiht hoet along To put it mildly"

Anson didn’t need to spell it out for her; his hoe, overwhelht Like I said, some of us were dealt a lousy hand"

She wanted to take away his burdens She knew that was ilanced at her watch Kaci had to be to work by four and Allison didn’t want to make her late