Page 4 (1/2)

"All right, hoodlums Pull out a book and read TGIF"

Ten minutes hadn’t yet passed when I heard someone whisper my name--possibly nized the voice as Sonny’s She was trying to get my attention I didn’t dare turn around Any hope of coe 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 s 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 so

"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’ what you have to say"

Coach sighed "I think it’sto spread a cruel ruh the classrooain? A karist"

"That’s what I said You’d think a graduate of health science would typically consider my concern valid"

Coach didn’t hesitate "Co"

His perceptive remark savedafter 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 offor me to speak When I didn’t, he offered a s?" I asked

Weston i 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 orried" After a short pause, he leaned into ain "Why don’t you ever talk to ether, 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 beto be busy today?"

"Probably"

"Well, et lucky and you’ll take a break"