Free Tell by Carrie Secor Page B

strongest subject, and now she had to learn it at an advanced rate.  She grasped most things more quickly than other people, but her mind just never seemed to wrap around math.  This did not seem to be the case for Shane, who had practically finished the assigned problem set at the end of class that day before Cadie could figure out the first one.  She was very grateful when someone knocked on her bedroom door, and she had an excuse to not look at her calculus book anymore.  “Come in,” she called.
    Melody opened the door and poked her head in.  “Hey,” she said.  “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
    “Sure,” Cadie answered, setting her pencil down.  “What’s up?”
    “I kind of have a favor to ask you.”
    “Okay,” Cadie said slowly.
    “Well, there’s this party that Andy and I want to go to, and I was wondering if you would take us.”
    “Why doesn’t Andy drive?” Cadie asked.
    “Well, he can’t drive past eleven,” Melody responded.
    Cadie raised an eyebrow.  “Isn’t your curfew eleven anyway?”
    “It’s on Friday night,” her sister replied defensively.  “My curfew is midnight on weekends.”
    “What kind of party are you going to, anyway?” Cadie wanted to know, folding her arms across her chest.  “Your friends are usually in bed by eight o’clock.”
    “We’re going to that party at Stacy’s.”
    Cadie blinked.  “You’re going to the post-game party?”
    “Yeah, Susan said something about it, so I just thought—”
    “Melody, why?   All that ever happens at the post-game parties is a lot of drinking.  Why would you want to get yourself involved with that?”
    Melody sighed in exasperation.  “Listen, I didn’t ask your opinion on my plans.  Will you drive us or not?”
    Cadie shrugged.  “Yeah, I guess.”
    “Thank you.  And please don’t embarrass me.”  Melody turned and walked out of the room.
    “You’re going to be seen in public with Andy and you’re worried about me embarrassing you?” Cadie called down the hallway.  Her sister did not respond.
    Cadie settled in to do some more calculus problems when something occurred to her.
    There’s this party that Andy and I want to go to.
    It’s on Friday night.
    Please don’t embarrass me.
    Melody and Andy were going on a date, Cadie realized.  Her fifteen-year-old sister was going to be out at a party with a guy on Friday night; meanwhile, Cadie would probably be here, solving limits.
     
    At lunch the next day, Cadie prepared herself to do another meal with Felicia and Elliot.  Ever since Shane had started sleeping with Felicia’s acquaintances, Felicia had developed a complete distrust of anyone attempting to get close to her.  Cadie had grown accustomed to being Felicia’s only confidante.  Frankly, she was a little jealous of the way Elliot had swept right in and befriended her.  But she liked Elliot well enough; she seemed nice, funny, and appropriately incredulous of Felicia’s personality.
    Cadie parted ways with Stacy at the door again and headed over to what was now their usual table.  “Hey,” she greeted Felicia as deposited her books in a chair.  “Do you want to go to the mall on Saturday or something?”
    “Why?” asked Felicia.
    She shrugged.  “I could just use some new clothes, that’s all.  Penney’s is having a sale and I bet I could get my mom to let me borrow her card.”
    “I guess,” answered Felicia.
    Cadie gave her a big thumbs-up.  “That’s the spirit.”  Felicia laughed, and Cadie felt the mood lighten a little.  “Is Elliot sitting with us again today?”
    Felicia nodded.
    “That’s cool.  She seems nice,” Cadie offered.
    Another nod, but nothing else.  Cadie gave up and headed toward the lunch line.
    When she returned, Elliot was already there with her tray.   She did not know what they were talking about, but Felicia had actually put down her sandwich to listen more intently to Elliot.  As Cadie approached, she realized she