Rumors began to abound right away, rumors that Rachel had been sent home in disgrace, that Marc Robillard had had something to do with the reason. Bonnie was devastated and angrily confronted Marc the next time she saw him.

"Maybe it was me, and maybe it wasn't. Nobody can prove anything," Marc told her glibly. "Besides, that has nothing to do with you and me." He grinned as he attempted to casually slide his arm around Bonnie's waist.

"It has everything to do with you and me!" Bonnie cried, springing away from Marc as if he were a poisonous snake. "If you did it to Rachel, how do I know you wouldn't do it to me as well?"

"My dear Bonnie, you've nothing to fear," Marc told her. "You're not like Rachel. You're a true lady. I would never treat you in any way that was less than honorable." He smiled his most charming smile, the one that always made Bonnie melt inside.

"I don't believe you!" Gathering all the inner strength she could muster, Bonnie ran away from Marc to an alcove in the hallway that held a chair. She flung herself into the chair and cried her heart out. After a few minutes she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Bonnie?"

Bonnie looked up into the gentle blue eyes of Beau Wilkes. "Beau! Where have you been?"

"Didn't Marc tell you?" Beau seemed surprised.

"No." Bonnie remembered asking Marc about Beau and being told that he didn't know what had happened.

"I had to go back home for a week. Father fell ill, and I had to take over his duties at the mill until he was better. I'm surprised Marc didn't tell you about it like I asked him to."

"Is your father all right now?"

"Oh, yes, he's fine." Beau smiled. "How have things been around here?"

"I didn't know what had happened, so I had no idea whether or not you were coming back," Bonnie admitted. "Marc started walking me to class every day like you used to. Then last Friday night my roommate Rachel got sick and went to the clinic and never came back. They say...they say that she was carrying a baby and lost it. Marc Robillard's baby."

"Oh God, Bonnie," Beau whispered, shocked. "Are you all right?"

"I'm all right. Just really upset at Marc. We...had started to become very close." Bonnie felt terribly guilty about having kissed Marc and simply couldn't bring herself to tell Beau about it.

"I see." Beau's eyes held a distinct look of hurt that pierced Bonnie's heart.

"I'll never have anything to do with him again, Beau. I swear it."

"It's all right, Bonnie. I'm not angry. Not at you, anyway."

Bonnie didn't say anything.

"Marc was the reason I saw you crying, wasn't he?" Beau asked softly. Bonnie nodded.

"Oh, Bonnie." She stood, and Beau embraced her. He held her for a long time.

"Come on, let's go to class," he finally said, taking her by the hand.