Chapter Seven

School the next morning started very much as Laurie had expected. As soon as she and Keith entered through the front doorway of San Pueblo High, they were surrounded by friends asking all sorts of questions involving Sandy. Luckily, both Keith and Laurie had decided on their way to the school to introduce Sandy as an exchange student who couldn't speak English. They knew this would be a rather flimsy cover considering Sandy understood English very well, but they could only hope no one would notice.

"What country?" Asked Alice, a short brunette whom, besides Bess, was one of Laurie's closest friends.

Laurie looked to Keith. What country? They hadn't discussed that.

"Greece." Keith said without pause.

"Greece? Oh my! How exciting!" Rachel, a girl from Keith's English class, looked to Sandy. "You must be an artist then! Or have a love of sculpture?"

Sandy only smiled. Laurie saw this as a good sign. As long as Sandy was enjoying herself, there shouldn't be any problems. She was unsure about the Greek cover though. Sandy didn't look Greek at all. Maybe German, or French or even Russian, but not Greek.

"How long is she staying with your family?" Another girl asked.

"A couple weeks."

Laurie decided to let Keith answer all the questions. She determined it would be better this way. Then she could keep track of the information Keith gave and correct him if he started mixing his facts.

"Laurie?" Laurie turned to see Bess coming towards her. "We need to talk." She didn't look happy.

"O-okay." Laurie nodded feebly and she and Bess walked off to the side of the hallway, against the lockers.

Bess instantly addressed the problem at hand. "Where were you yesterday? Why didn't you call?" She looked annoyed and Laurie didn't blame her, after all, she had planned on calling, but she had forgotten.

"I got hung up on family things. I'm sorry, Bess. You're right. I should have called you. I just forgot."

"Laurie, common courtesy shouldn't be forgotten and for another thing," Bess glanced at Sandy, "You never told me your family was sponsoring an exchange student!"

Laurie shrugged. She couldn't very well say she had forgotten about that. "Well, you know how things are…"

Bess gave her another one of those annoyed looks. "Just don't let it happen again!" Her voice softened, "We really could have used you at the convention yesterday."

"I'm sorry I didn't come. Does it continue today?"

"No. It was just a weekend thing."

Laurie thought for a moment. "You don't have any leftover t-shits do you?"

"A couple."

"Could I have one?" She didn't really feel like she deserved one, but she wanted one just the same. Wearing it could be her act of support.

Bess thought awhile before answering, "I'll think about it." She turned. "Just remember what I said about common courtesy." And then with a swish of her brown hair, she returned to the group.

Laurie watched her go. She couldn't tell if Bess was still angry with her or what. She decided to let it go for the time being. She'd see Bess again at lunch, and right now had bigger things to worry about. She and Keith still hadn't decided who's first period class Sandy was going to. Laurie had English and Keith had Math. She wasn't sure which one Sandy would enjoy most.

"Keith." She followed Bess back over to the group and tugged on her brother's arm, just as the bell rang and their group of friends began to disperse.

"What is it?" He turned to her.

She pointed at the clock. "First period's going to start soon. Do you want to take Sandy with you, or should I take her with me?"

"Where do you go first?"

"English."

Keith didn't look happy. "I'll take her to math with me, then. English class may make her feel uncomfortable."

Laurie hated to admit it, but what he said made sense. If Sandy couldn't write, she would be awfully embarrassed in English class. Especially since they were currently writing poetry. "Okay." She agreed. "Then we can meet in the hall between the next two classes and she can come with me."

"Why don't we meet at lunch? I don't have English until the afternoon anyways."

Laurie agreed. "See you at lunch then?"

"Okay."

"And Keith?"

"Hm?"

"Keep an eye on Sandy."

* * *

Keith and Sandy arrived late to the cafeteria that afternoon. Laurie watched from her table with her friends, as Keith entered and brought Sandy through the lunch line.

"So…" When Laurie turned back to her friends, Bess was speaking. "I thought the convention was such a success last weekend that maybe we could do another one next month?"

"Which weekend?" Asked Danielle.

"The first. If we did a convention the first weekend of every month, we would surly escalate the awareness of the public!"

"Isn't that a little pushy?"

"No. We're not right in anyone's face. We're just passing out flyers."

Danielle looked skeptical and so did Alice.

"Hi, all." Keith arrived then with Sandy. "I thought Sandy might like to sit with some girls at lunch. You three wouldn't mind would you?"

Sandy smiled and so did Bess.

"Not at all," Bess said. "It's understood."

"Thanks." Keith pulled out a chair for Sandy before he left to sit at his own table with his own friends.

Sandy took a seat in the chair, placing her food tray on the table. Laurie made note of her selections. Green salad, water and cherry Jell-O. Laurie was sure the third had been a suggestion from her brother.

"He's so cute." Danielle was saying as Laurie tuned back into the conversation.

"Who?" She asked dumbly.

"Your brother."

Laurie made a face. She hated being related to the local heartthrob. You never heard the end of it.

"Enough about him!" Said Bess, "Focus, girls! The convention!"

But Laurie didn't want to talk about it anymore. It just made her feel worse that she had missed it. "How's your day going, Sandy?" She said softly to the mute girl as Bess continued to rattle on about her plans.

Sandy turned to her and smiled.

Laurie smiled back. Well, she's still smiling. That should be a good sign.

"Hey, Sandy!" A group of girls Laurie didn't recognize waved as they passed by with their own lunch trays.

Sandy waved back.

"Friends of yours?" Laurie asked her and Sandy smiled again. Laurie made note to ask her brother about the events of the first three class periods when they got home that evening. From the looks of things, school was a grand success as far as Sandy was concerned. Laurie only hoped it would last.