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auditorium bulletin board. I'm Mavis, and you got the part of Nigel.”
    Richard flashed his smile. “All right! Ellen and I will be great together.”
    Lynda shook her head. “Ellen's not in the cast. She's going to be Assistant Director. Miss Mendelson cast some-one named Keisha Jones.” At Richard's puzzled look, she added, “I haven't met her yet.”
    Greg walked up behind them. “I have. She's in my creative writing class. You saw her at the auditions, Lynda, a tall black girl with corn-rowed hair.”
    A deep line formed between Richard's eyebrows. “Black? Isn't she supposed to be Nigel's girlfriend?”
    Startled by the outrage in his voice, Lynda said, “I think so. Why?”
    Richard shook his head. “Nothing. See you later.” Without apparently noticing Greg, he left.
    “He thinks he's all that,” Greg muttered under his breath.
    “And a bag of chips,” Lynda agreed. She glanced at the clock. “Gotta hurry, or I'll be late to pre-calc.”
    He followed her into the hall. “Matt and I are dropping by Goodspeed Hall after the rehearsal today. I've got to pick something up for my dad. Want to come? We're get-ting ice cream on the way back.”
    “Sure.”
    Greg broke into one of his brilliant smiles. “Great. See you later.” He waved and turned toward his civics class.
    “Greg?” Lynda called. He stopped and looked back. “Would you do me a favor?”
    His eyes brightened. “For you, anything.”
    Lynda's tummy tingled. She tore her eyes away from his electric gaze and stared at the scuffed linoleum floor. “It's no big deal. Dr. Lopez just wanted me to ask around and see if anyone's spotted a large raccoon or other animal near campus. Would you mind asking the kids in your classes?”
    Greg's smile vanished. “If you want.”
    Lynda watched him disappear down the corridor. Hurrying to math, she wondered what was bugging him. Greg had looked so happy before she asked for his help and so grim afterward.
    She tore into the classroom, slid into her seat, and opened the book seconds before the second bell rang. The lecture started, but Lynda didn't hear it—she was too busy puzzling over Greg.
* * * *
    BY THE END of rehearsal, Lynda had something else to worry about.
    A sleepy afternoon heat had settled over the campus. Students strolled under thick canopies of leaves, or lounged on the carpet-like lawn. Sandwiched between Greg and Matt, Lynda fretted as she strode across the Quadrangle toward Goodspeed Hall. “Poor Richard. This will be the first play he's missed in three years.”
    “I was backstage when he talked to Miss Mendelson,” Greg said. “What did he say?”
    “That he wouldn't be able to take the part of Nigel. He says he needs to concentrate on his school work this quarter.” Lynda shook her head. “Richard seemed so excited about the play.”
    Greg snorted. “Maybe he didn't want to play opposite Keisha.”
    She kicked a pebble off the path and watched it roll in-to the lawn. “No, he said his father threatened to take away his sports car if he didn't pass Chemistry. He thinks drop-ping drama club will improve his chances.” Lynda looked up at Greg and grinned. “Richard really loves his Beemer.”
    They stepped off the path and headed for Goodspeed's main entrance. Lynda's grin broadened as a thought came to her. “At least the rehearsals should go smoother. Richard can be a real prima donna.”
    “And we bit players get another shot at the lead,” Matt added. Lynda saw his timid smile before he turned and walked into the building.
    Greg opened the door and waited.
    Lynda walked past him and paused in front of the second set of doors. “You don't have to hold the door. I can get it myself.”
    Greg smiled. “Dad would disown me if he caught me being rude to a beautiful woman.”
    Lynda had never been called beautiful before. Hoping her face didn't look as red as it felt, she watched him release the outer door and step toward the inner one.
    A girl holding a small spotted