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Springdale , Utah.”
    “Wow, Utah! I’ve n ever met anyone from Utah . What’s it like?” I wondered aloud.
    “Well, i t’s right outside Zion National Park and it ’ s absolutely beautiful . The landscape is breath taking. ”
    “I hate to disappoint you, but the only scenery we have in New Jersey a re strip malls and gas stations, ” I joked .
    “I do miss home, but your little town has some charm of its own . Do not so quickly disregard that which make s Shady Lane unique. ”
    I thought about what could make Shady Lane unique . The fact that the local beauty salon dyed the hair of all the local grandma’s almost the exact same shade of blue, or maybe the local male population ’ s affection towards large pick-up trucks without mufflers . I didn’t see what he could possibly mean, but I was enjoying the company and I didn’t want it to end, so I didn’t argue .
    I smiled at him and finished my milk . “So have you heard the rumors swirling around school about you? You are the very mysterious new boy, and everyone seems to think you have a troubled past. ” I had meant it as a joke, but he suddenly looke d serious.
    “That is a story for another day , because t he bell is about to ring . Would you like me t o walk you to our next class?” h e asked.
    I hoped I hadn’t offended him . I never in a million years thought that any of the silly rumors were true, but his sudden turn to the serious seemed to suggest otherwise . Oh well, if he was truly angry I doubted he would ask to walk me to British Lit . Again I smiled at him, and stood to throw my milk carton away . “I wo uld love the company, ” I replied as the bell ra ng .
    We were jostled and bumped along with the rest of the seniors on our way out of the cafeteria . W e walked side-by-side through the halls in silence . I was ra c king my brain to think of something to talk about, but for the life of me I couldn’t think of anything . I did notice some sideward glances in our direction . I guess the new boy ’ s interest in my company was as shocking to everyone else as it was to me . I ignored them . A s we entered Mr. Brown’s class I was suddenly glad that I had been t o o distracted by my problems with Cami to change my seat . I slid into my front row chair and Gabriel sat down behind me . I smiled at him as a thank-you for walking me to class, but I still couldn’t think of anything to say, so I spun around in my seat and faced the board . I suddenly had that creeping sensation again, goose bumps raised on my arms . It was as if his body gave off energy or a force field that my body could se nse without him touching me . It wasn’t physically uncomfortable, but it was strange .
    I felt him run his fingers through my hair . I had only pulled the top of my hair up today, and the lower half hung down, loose around my shoulders . I immediately stiffened under his touch . He must have felt my tension because he leaned forward and whispered in my ear , “You had something in your hair.”
    “Thanks,” I muttered as I turned around to see what he had pulled from my hair . To my horror it was potting clay . It must have been there the whole time . I felt my cheeks redden as I thought about him sitting through our conversation at lunch staring at a hunk of potting clay in my hair . Why hadn’t I thought to check my hair before I left class ? I was mortified .
    I spun back around in my chair, attempting to focus on Mr. Brown’s lesson on the Canterbury Tales . My own sense of humiliation helped me focus on taking notes, rather than the boy beh ind me . When the bell rang, I grabbed my bag and hurried out the door . I couldn’t look Gabriel in the face because I was still too embarrassed .
    Gym class today con sisted of a mile run around the school track . I had pulled my hair up into a bun as soon as I left English class , and n ow I was thankful I had . Even if I hadn’t been mortified that I had a hunk of potting clay in my hair, my hair