"Of course. It’s Wednesday, hump day."

"Ah." I finished with my books, slammed my locker shut, sliding the padlock into place to snap it shut. "So why are you in such a happy person place? Hump day can’t be all that exciting." I turned and started to head down the hall, Haley walking next to me.

"Well, no, but it is when you get a 97 on a physics test." I stopped and turned to look at her, my mouth open.

"You didn’t."

"I did," she squealed, turning in a circle, hands in the air. People walking by stopped to stare at her.

"Go you." I smiled, truly proud of her. She had done that one completely on her own. But then, wait a second. Suddenly I felt kind of sad. "Well, I guess my services have become obsolete." I gave her a smile, which I did not feel. She glanced down at me as we started to walk again.

"Well, I wouldn’t say that."

"No?"

"No. I don’t just use you for your brain, you know."

"Oh, really?" I pushed her away from me. She grinned as she made her way back to walking beside me. "Would it make you feel better if I had a class that I suck at?"

"Oh, definitely. I want all the gory details." She rubbed her hands together as she leaned her head closer to catch my every word.

"Man, you just are not a nice person, you know that?"

"Yeah, yeah. Come on, out with it!" I grinned, shaking my head. What was she on, anyway? Part of me felt guilty as I walked and talked with her, as if I had been a voyeur earlier, and seen something that I shouldn’t have. Granted, everyone in gym class today saw her, but they didn’t stop and stare. I couldn’t even really explain how I felt. I didn’t like that very much.

"Well, in psych,"

"You’re taking psych?" Haley asked, her voice high and excited. I nodded. "Oh, yay! I’ll help." I looked at her like she’d just gained a third head.

"What makes you think that I’d ask for your help? Or, that I even need help?"

"I know you won’t ask, so I’m offering. And, I don’t imagine you’d even bring this up if you didn’t really need help." She looked at me with raised eyebrows. "Right?"

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, it sucks. I have a project to do by Christmas break, and I’m freaking a bit. I hate psychology."

"Girlfriend, psych is my specialty. Aren’t you a lucky girl?"

"Yes?"

"Ye of little faith and analytical ability. Come on, I’ll give you a ride home." We burst through the front doors to the school and headed toward the student parking lot. "You work tonight, right?" I nodded. "Okay, well I can’ t really get together tonight, I have plans. But, later in the week? Maybe even the weekend?" She looked at me to see my response. I nodded my head.

"Yeah, that sounds good. Oh, um, well, speaking of this weekend, you were asking me questions about Tae Kwon Do that one night, and well, Saturday morning is belt trials, so I was wondering if you’d like to see what I actually do?" I looked at the passersby, not daring to look at Haley. I didn’t want to see the rejection on her face, or annoyance in her eyes that I would dare ask her to do something so simple and lame.

"Definitely." Wait, what? I looked at her, surprised by the grin I saw there. "I’d love to. Will you be fighting?"

"Yeah, but only as an opponent. I go for my next belt next year."

"Oh, well, as long as I get to see you in action. Oh, and promise me you’ll use your feet or hands or whatever to block all incoming punches or kicks, okay?" I glared.

"Funny." She dug her keys out of her purse, and unlocked the car. I quickly climbed in, the almost overpowering wind, which brought the general temperature down at least ten degrees, was getting the better of my hot bloodedness.

"You know, Andi, if you would wear a jacket to school that actually did something more than this thin wool thing, you’d be much better off."

"Thanks, mom." With a chuckle she started the car.

The entire drive to my house consisted of me listening to Haley ramble on and on about the test, and how easy it was comparatively, and how grateful she was that I had helped her, and how she owed me big time. I enjoyed her excitement and enthusiasm. It was a nice change.

"So, Ryan asked about you today."

My thoughts came to a screeching halt at the change in topic, and choice of topic.

"What?"

Haley glanced over at me. "Ryan? Ring a bell? Ryan Pritchard?"

"Yes, what about him?"

"Damn, where did you go? I said he asked about you today."

"What did he ask?"

"If you’d died. He’s still interested in talking to you, getting to know you. I totally sang your praises today in weight lifting. He’s more interested than ever." She smiled at me, and I tried to respond in kind, but was having a bit of trouble with the corner of my mouth. "You don’t seem so happy about this. Andi, I’m trying to get you out a bit more, you know? High school is meant to be fun."

"I’m enjoying myself quite nicely now." I almost felt angry, betrayed. What part of ‘I’m not interested’ was she not getting? I didn’t need some angel to come down, tap me on the shoulder, and turn me into the cookie-cutter high school girl who goes gaga because some cute guy notices her. Now, how to put this without sounding like a bitch. "Haley, I’m really not into dating right now, okay? I had my fun over the summer, and I certainly had enough stud stew to last me for a while. Ryan graduates this year, and he’ll be gone, and I certainly don’t care enough to carry on a long-distance thing with him." I glanced over at her to see if I could possibly read what she was thinking. She looked straight ahead, chewing on her bottom lip. "Ryan was nice and very cute, but I didn’t find him very interesting, nor could he hold much of a conversation about anything save for his car and sports." The tiniest bit of a smile curled up the corner of her mouth.

"I guess I should have figured you’d need the book type." She glanced at me for a moment before turning back to the road. "I’m sorry, Andi. I shouldn’t have pushed the issue. I’ll make sure he doesn’t bug you." She smiled again, but it was a small, almost sad smile. Crap. Did I hurt her feelings? I wasn’t sure, and it didn’t matter now as she pulled into the driveway to my house.

Haley pulled the break, and turned to me, but said nothing.

"Thanks for the ride. To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to the walk. It’s pretty cold out there."

"Yeah, it is." She looked out the window at the white wonderland that surrounded us, almost blinding as the sun beat down on it, but never with enough strength to really do any serious melting. "Well, have a good night at work."

"Thanks. See you later." She only smiled as I got myself out of the car. I waved, then hurried to the front door.

As I sat at my desk, trying to work on the quiz, I couldn’t get Haley out of my mind, and my misplaced guilt. I had no reason, whatsoever, to feel bad, but yet I did. I imagine this was bothering me far more than it was bothering her.

I tossed my pen on the desk, rested my cheek against my hand. Why was I obsessing over this? Normally I was not one to dwell, but my thoughts were plagued. I didn’t want to lose the new friendship that was being created between Haley and I. I mean, I was probably kidding myself, and she didn’t think of me at all. Maybe I was just a distraction for her. Something fun to toy with for a while, to get her kicks off of.

Running my hands through my hair, I groaned. Those were horrible thoughts, and I really didn’t think she was capable of such callousness, but I didn’t really trust her kind. Her kind. What was she? A cannibal? Alien? I’m losing my mind.

Deciding to do my best to not linger anymore on a subject that just didn’t matter, and certainly I had done nothing wrong, I picked up my pen again and focused my attention on the quiz. Well, for the most part.

* * *

I tugged my backpack a little higher on my shoulders, the puffy ski jacket making it slide a little further every couple of steps. This weekend was supposed to warm up a bit, and that would be good. I loved the snow, and needed the cold weather, but this was getting to be a little ridiculous. Plus I hated to be all bundled up like Randy from A Christmas Story. The snow crunched under my hiking boots, a satisfying sound, as my breath came out in little warm puffs of white air, turned cold and crystallized before it even fully left my lips.

I glanced over my shoulder when I heard the horn of a car honk. Haley’s black car pulled along side me, her leaning over the passenger seat, glancing at the road every few seconds as she slowly drove at my pace.

"Plan to get very far that way?" I asked, but kept walking. It had been two days since I had talked to or seen her. I had managed to keep my distance, not sure if she was still angry with me, if she ever was. I had realized how much I had missed her; it was nice having someone to talk to, a comrade at arms.

"Well, I’d get farther if you’d get in," she said, her voice just barely making it over the drone of the engine and howl of the mid-November wind. I stopped and looked at her. I had some shy, sheepish remark on the tip of my tongue, but decided to save it, and get in. At least it would be warmer in there. "Why didn’t you wait for me this morning?" Haley asked as she pulled back onto the road, headed toward school. "It snowed last night." I shrugged.

"I guess I figured I’d just walk today." I briefly glanced at her. She was looking at a group of kids who waited to cross the street at the upcoming corner.

"That wasn’t the most brilliant move thus far in your academic career." She smiled at me to take the sting out of her chastise. "Andi, it’s two degrees out there with the wind chill. Why on earth would you go out in this?"