Free Brimstone by Rosemary Clement-Moore Page A

Crackers!” I screeched and mopped at the splashes on my skirt. “What is it with you and sneaking up on people?”
    Bobby Baywatch smiled. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
    “It’s been a rough couple of days. I’m a little jumpy.”
    “I noticed.” His hair had pale highlights from the sun, which might have looked girly on someone else. With his tan and his lifeguard physique, though, it worked.
    “Can I help you carry anything?”
    “Let me get out of the car, first.”
    I loved my Wrangler. My trusty steed was safari brown—mostly—and bore the scars of a long and useful life. But it was impossible to exit with any grace. It figured I would be wearing a skirt.
    Once I’d lost my dignity but gained my feet, I handed him my books then grabbed my backpack and the plastic bag of jeans. He ignored my attempts to reclaim the heavy stack of texts, and started walking toward school. “Hey, SirLancelot.” I trotted after him. “Isn’t there a Jessica looking for you somewhere?”
    He shortened his stride; considerate of him not to make me run to keep up. “There might be, but that’s her business. I’m friends with Brandon and Jeff. I don’t … None of the girls is …”
    “Your girlfriend?” I felt sorry for any girl who was, since he couldn’t even say the word.
    “Right.”
    “My mistake. Three guys, three girls. You always look paired off like tasty packs of snack cakes.”
    “Well, we’re not.”
    We passed the tennis courts and the gym, and curiosity got the better of me. “So are you stalking me, or what?”
    He stopped, and I did, too, since he had my books. “Listen, I’m sorry about what happened in the locker room yesterday.”
    The day had been so jam-packed with wackitude that it took me a moment to realize what he meant. As soon as I did, my heart twisted in dread. I could literally feel the blood drain from my face, like someone had pulled a plug. “The picture? She actually sent it out?”
    “No.” His quick reassurance didn’t make me stop wishing for a bathroom to hide in. “She just showed it to the gang.”
    “Oh, just to the six people who hate me the most. Great. I hope you had a good laugh.” The blood had rushed back to my head, making my ears burn.
    “Well,
I
didn’t laugh.”
    I groaned and covered my face with my hand.
Okay, get agrip, Maggie
. What would D&D Lisa say? So they laughed at me. No novelty there. At least I could honestly say that nobody’s opinion mattered less to me than the Jocks and Jessicas.
    Bobby Baywatch was watching me like I might burst into tears. “I’m really sorry.”
    I glared up at him, not hysterical, just pissed. “Why do you keep apologizing for things that aren’t your fault?”
    His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I guess because they’re my friends, I feel responsible.”
    “Maybe you need to find new friends.” I reached for my books, but he held them out of reach.
    “Let me walk you inside. Maybe it will help.”
    His intention dawned on me, absurd as it was. “Are you offering me the protection of your reputation?” My sense of humor was returning along with my perspective, and I gave a short laugh at his chagrin. “Boy, you
do
feel guilty.”
    “I’m sure not offering because of your charming personality.”
    “Oh, ouch.” I put out my hands. “At least let me carry my own books. This isn’t
Our Town
.”
    He handed them over and we walked the rest of the way into school, mostly in silence. Embarrassment aside, I didn’t have a social standing to preserve, but it was a nice gesture. I didn’t want to like him, but he was making it hard not to, just a little.

    With a half hour before the bell, I found Professor Blackthorne in his chemistry classroom, drawing molecules on the board. He heard my groan and turned.
    “Not a fan of organic compounds, Miss Quinn?”
    “I would say no, but I’m here to ask a favor.”
    “A chemistry favor?” He didn’t
quite
rub his hands together in