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which she placed on Sophie’s forehead. After a few seconds, she said, “Just a little over normal.” Then she checked Sophie’s throat and eyes. She poked here and there and finally proclaimed her to be healthy. “Maybe it was just something you ate,” she told Sophie as she closed the cabinet.
    “So, I’m not contagious?”
    “Not as far as I can see.” Mrs. Bernard peered curiously at Sophie as she folded her arms across her front. “And shall I assume that there’s no chance you’re pregnant, Sophie?”
    Sophie blinked in surprise. “No,” she said quickly, “of course not. I mean, I’ve taken the purity pledge and everything.” As soon as she said that, she realized how stupid it sounded. She felt her cheeks flushing, and she just really wanted to get out of there. She stood. “So, I should go back to class now?”
    “If you feel well.”
    “Yeah.” Sophie nodded. “I feel fine.”
    “The receptionist will give you a hall pass.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Take care. And if you start to feel worse, just come on back.”
    Sophie assured the nurse that she would do that, but as she hurried over to the English department with her hall pass in hand, she knew the nurse’s office was the last place she wanted to go. She’d had enough of Nurse Bernard and her nosy insinuations.

    Carrie Anne caught up with Sophie again after fifth period. “So . . . are you contagious?”
    Sophie forced a laugh. “You should be so lucky. If I was contagious, you might’ve caught some of my intelligence and you wouldn’t have to spend a whole day in school, whereas I am now free to go home. Adios, amiga.”
    “Don’t rub it in.”
    “Sorry.” Sophie patted her on the back. “But it is a relief to get out of here.”
    “Well, you’ve had kind of a rough day.”
    “These senior half days seem like a pretty good idea right now.”
    “Think of me”—Carrie Anne sighed—“while you’re out there enjoying your freedom. So, what are you going to do to celebrate? Go to the mall? Pig out on junk food?”
    “I’m sure I’ll think of something,” Sophie assured her. But the truth was that she planned to simply go home and take a nap—to temporarily escape her life and to hopefully not dream about Dylan.
    It was surprisingly hot out, and she opened both doors to her Nissan to let some fresh air in before she finally got inside. She heard her stomach rumble and briefly considered Carrie Anne’s comment about getting junk food, but the memory of partially digested fries and ketchup floating in the toilet quickly wiped that temptation aside. Instead, she drove straight home. To her pleasant surprise, her mom’s car had just pulled into the driveway too. They both got out at the same time.
    “Mom!” Sophie cried as she ran across the driveway to give her mom a big hug. “Welcome home.”
    “Well, that was certainly unexpected.” Her mom stepped back, then studied Sophie with a perplexed expression. “What happened to you, sweetie?”
    It took Sophie a moment to remember, but then she explained about falling at the lake. She almost told her about barfing at school as well but decided not to overwhelm the poor woman.
    Her mother frowned at her watch. “But what’re you doing home from school early?”
    “Remember senior half days?”
    Her mom slapped her forehead. “Oh, I totally forgot.”
    “If I didn’t already have all my AP classes, I’d probably go all day anyway. But as it is, I don’t really see the point.”
    Mom put her arm around Sophie’s shoulders. “That’s what comes from being such a good student, Sophie. You and your brother make me so proud.”
    Sophie grinned. “So was Bart glad to get back to campus?”
    “I think so. He had to get right to practice, though. You know they have that big game this coming weekend.”
    Sophie helped her mom with her bags, and they chatted as they went into the house. For a while, Sophie thought this was how it was supposed to be—mom and daughter just