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strolled past the stores on the second tier of the Division Street Mall, sipping Cokes and window-shopping.
    â€œHey,” said Dan. “Have you heard anything about your math test yet?”
    Carter nodded. “Dad called early, of course.”
    â€œSo? How’d you do?”
    She tried to smile. “I did great—seven thirty.”
    Dan’s face lit up. “Great? That’s fantastic! Way to go, Carter. I know that really meant a lot to you.
And
to your dad.”
    â€œIt did. Look what Daddy bought me as soon as he found out.” She tucked her hair behind her right ear to show him one diamond earring.
    Dan whistled. “Wow. He really
was
happy, wasn’t he?”
    Carter laughed, just a little.
    â€œYou see,” Dan went on. “You didn’t need me to take the test for you, after all. You did great all by yourself.”
    Carter smiled weakly.
    Dan stopped in front of a jewelry store window. There were gold rings, bracelets, and necklaces laid out on black velvet. He stood for a few minutes with his hands in his pockets, admiring the display.
    Carter was restless. The last thing she felt like doing just then was to stare at jewelry.
    Dan continued to stand there and pointed to a row of necklaces. “If you could have any one of those necklaces, which would you pick?”
    Carter sighed. She wasn’t in the mood to play “which would you pick” just then. But to make him happy, she pointed to a gold locket in the middle of the display.
    â€œThat one,” she said and talked on.
    He followed her. “You know,” he said, “we should celebrate tomorrow night. Let’s do something really special.”
    Carter raised her face to him now with a pained expression. Here it comes, she thought.
    â€œOh, Dan,” she said. “I almost forgot. We had a date for tomorrow night, didn’t we?”
    She hated to lie to him. But just once more, she had to do it. She had to.
    â€œWhat do you mean, you almost forgot? Of course we have a date tomorrow.”
    â€œDan, I’m sorry. I know I promised you we’d go out tomorrow, but Daddy wants to take me and Mother out to dinner to celebrate. And tomorrow’s the only night he can do it. He’s so busy right now with the trial and everything,…”
    She glanced reluctantly at Dan to see how he was taking this. He was frowning.
    â€œDan, please understand. I know I had to break a date with you last weekend, but this is the last time, I promise. We can go out Saturday night if you want—”
    â€œI can’t go out Saturday night. My grandparents are coming over.”
    â€œOh.” Carter focused on the rust-colored tile floor. “What about during the day? We could meet at the club.”
    â€œOkay. We’ll play tennis on Saturday,” he said unhappily.
    Carter felt terrible. “I’m really sorry, Dan,” she said again. She couldn’t stop apologizing.
    â€œDon’t worry, Carter. I understand. It’s okay.”
    But for the rest of the afternoon, he acted distant. Carter was afraid that it
wasn’t
okay.

    She met Adam on the corner of Village and Mission Friday night, dressed, as the last time, in jeans. He came by in his Mustang and drove her to the movies.
    They watched a horror movie, a silly one thatwas more funny than scary, since the gory effects were so obviously fake. After the lights went down, Adam put his arm around Carter’s shoulders. She didn’t make him take his arm away.
    When the movie ended, Adam and Carter found the Mustang in the parking lot and got in. Adam pulled out without saying where he was going.
    Carter had assumed he was taking her home. But she soon knew they weren’t driving in the direction of North Hills.
    â€œWhere are we going?” she asked.
    Adam just said, “No place special.”
    He turned down Fear Street. Carter remembered that Adam lived on Fear Street.
    She stared out