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"May I help you?" the ie Mae Mortensen I’ned your class," I explained My mouth went dry as every pair of eyes in the class shifted tohis glossy bald head "Only the brightest students who took ible for my advanced chemistry class And besides, you won’t have a lab partner"

I cleared ot a schedule from Shauna and it says I’ the schedule froers without a word He scanned the schedule and frowned I focused on his tacky brown tie "Well Have you taken chemistry before?"

"Yes, junior year"

"That solves it You don’t need to take it again I’ll go to Principal Set you switched to a more … appropriate class"

He squeezed past me and out the door I stood, silent and miserable, and returned the stares of the students

What felt like a year later, the teacher caly Where my chemistry class had been listed was a black line Written above it in peruess I’d just joined the track teaym?" I asked

"I’ll show her, Mr Guyirl hurried out of her seat

"Thank you, Bonnie," Mr Guymon said I could see the relief wash over him as I turned to leave

"I’ her hand out to ie Mae," I replied

"So, where did you move here from?" she asked, voice as sweet as honey

"Albuquerque"

She gasped and grabbed one of my hands in both of hers "You’re frooes there every fall for back-to-school shopping I got this shirt there"

I looked at her Abercrombie T-shirt and nodded as if impressed

"Did you know Albuquerque is the thirty-fourth largest city in the country?"

"No Didn’t know that"

"Oh osh! And you lived there? How could you not know?"

I shrugged

"Well, anyway, here we are The gy? Not particularly, I thought, recalling the grueling days in ninth-grade gym class where the teacher made us run three"I can totally tell you’re from the city"

"You can?"

"Yeah You’re so aloof And your freaky black hair You totally look Goth"

I nodded "Well, thanks for showing yie Mae--" I turned to look at her "Sit with me at lunch if you want," she said as she hurried down the hall

I walked into the silent gym and stared at the hall of fame jerseys tacked to the wall

"Where are you supposed to be?"

I whirled around

"I said, where are you supposed to be, young lady?"

A barrel-chestedinto what I assumed was the locker room

"Hi I’m new I have Track and Field first period," I explained, walking over to hi yym clothes "No, sir"