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ideas (unlike some people I know who just copy Wikipedia), but instead made it clear that he read and thought about what experts had to say and put his own spin on it. I was momentarily distracted from my overall and over-the-top admiration of Jack Ruiz by a movement in my peripheral vision. Veronica was seated just to my left in the next row. She was gripping the edge of her desk really tightly--true white knuckles. I thought that was just an expression, but she had them. She noticed me looking and let go. I watched the blood flow back into her hand as she brought it back to her lap. I couldn't help noticing that her nails were really ragged and chewed. Didn’t I remember them being perfect and fake? I know I shouldn't care--it's not like I'm jealous or anything--but they looked really bad now. She saw me looking and gave me a mean look. I was again reminded that I really, really don't like her. But it was odd, on top of that ridiculous vision I had of her yesterday. I guess the stress of her pregnancy was getting to her. Oh, well. I tuned back into what Jack was saying.
    "So, overall, the theme that was most significant to me throughout the entire novel was the idea of 'the secret sinner'. The Puritan community assumed it was Hester, but in truth it was the other characters like Dimmesdale and Chillingworth that had committed the true sin." He returned to his seat, giving me a rather self-deprecating smile as he passed. "Whew, glad that's over."
    I was again momentarily distracted as Veronica surreptitiously wiped her eyes. I remembered my grandmother referring to her as "that poor girl" when I told her about the pregnancy and felt a little bit sorry for her. I mean, yes, I think girls should not be so stupid to get pregnant in this day and age of easily accessible and economical birth control, but it's still so much easier for the guy involved.
    A few more people presented and I thought I was going to get through a day without any drama or episodes. I was wrong. When the bell rang, I stood up to start packing up my stuff and turned back to talk to Jack to tell him what a great job he had done on his presentation. Veronica got up at the same time and stepped into the same aisle as me (you know how some desks are designed for right-handed kids and some are for left-handed kids? They open in different directions and they are usually just place d in the classroom randomly). She is not one to wait until somebody moves out of the way before pushing her way past and she bumped into me rather rudely. I was about to turn around and let her know that was not ok when it started: my ears began buzzing, my vision clouded up, and I got really warm. I felt myself begin to pass out; it was such an intense sensation. I barely noticed Jack pushing me back into my seat and shoving my head down to my lap.
    Veronica was with someone, a man, but not one that I recognized and I couldn't see his face clearly. I saw Veronica, but the man was fuzzy, out of focus somehow. He had his hands on her upper arms, shaking her roughly. His arms were bulging with muscles; he looked like he could be a bodybuilder. "Who have you told? You better not tell anyone it's mine!! You have told, haven't you , bitch? Tell me!" He shook her again and called her some very foul names. This obviously wasn't her boyfriend, Danny. This was someone older, judging by his deep voice and huge muscles.
    "No, Nick! I swear I haven't told anyone! You're hurting me!"
    He abruptly let her go and stepped away and turned around. Both Veronica and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was short-lived, however, as the man suddenly turned back around and hit her, open-handed, on the side of her head. She fell to the ground, sobbing.
    He looked shocked at what he had done. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, baby. Please forgive me." He was kneeling down by her side, pulling her into his arms.
    I came back to my senses with Jack squatting down next to my desk, rubbing my back lightly. "Hey, Ally," he