The country party was great. Ma won a blue ribbon for best whatever she made. Renee got second place in her art thing. She wasn't too happy that someone else got first, but to me, second is still really good in my book. And as for me, I felt great, mainly because I beat Corina, and won the three legged race, even if my partner was Dren. I was starting to think that maybe he wasn't so bad.
The day after the festival was Saturday, but Monday came pretty fast, much to my dismay. And as usual, same old, same old. Except that Dren decided to come back to school, at least for today. And what's on his neck?
I squinted my eyes to try to get a better look, but as I kept scooting loser and closer off my seat, I hit my chin on the desk across from mine. "Ow!"
Mrs. Wilder turned her attention on me from writing a math problem on the blackboard. "Zoey, what on earth are you doing?"
I rubbed my chin and winced in pain. "Sorry, ma'am. I thought I saw a huge bug on the floor. Guess not."
She started to look stern. "Zoey, you must focus your attention on this problem. It will do you a lot of good since math is a necessity in life."
'When it comes to school, why do "necessities" need to be so boring?' I thought. But out of my mouth, I just replied, "Yes, ma'am."
I looked to where Dren was after Mrs. Wilder turned around, and saw he was trying not to smile. It looked like he was trying really hard too.
Recess came and as I was about to eat my lunch, Dren came up and sat next to me on the fallen tree. "If you just wanted to sit next to me in class, you shouldn't be embarrassed to ask, even though I completely understand why you would be." He smirked.
I bopped him on the head. "You toad. I was just trying to see what was on your neck, that's all." I peered at the back trying to get a good look.
He put a hand to the back of his neck, but I could tell it was some kind of bruise. "What happened? Someone grab you by the neck in a fight or something?"
"It's nothing. Just some guy picking a fight with me, like you said. Nothing to worry your pretty little head about." He lightly yanked on my one braid.
I narrowed my eyes. "When are you gonna stop getting into fights? One day, if it hasn't already happened, someone is gonna pummel you straight into the dirt, you doofus!"
He ruffled my hair and grinned. "Ha! Like that'll ever happen! I dare any one o f these chickens in Walnut Grove to try!"
I pointed my finger in his face. "I bet my Pa, or Mr. Edwards, or could take you on!"
"Let em' try. I'm not a weakling you know."
I sighed. He's stubborn and dumb. My Pa is the greatest. He'd never let someone as old as Dren take him down.
Dren jumped to his feet. "I'd like to stay longer and brwathe in your strawberry smell, but I gotta go home and help with the cows." He ruffled my hair again, and this time I noticed another mark on his arm.
I grabbed his arm before he could pull it away, and looked at it. "How many bruises do you have?"
He pulled his arm out of my grip. "It's none of your business. They'll go away soon enough." He turned and waved his hand before he ran off home. "See ya tomorrow."
