Free Anywhere But Here by JL Paul Page B

microscope.  “What do you want to talk about today?  Any new friends?  How about your new job?”
    “My job is okay – a little boring.”  A slight grin appeared on my face.  “I made a new friend.  He’s a hockey player and we sort of bonded over maple syrup.”
    Confusion flushed Roberta’s face and I quickly explained everything to her – surprising even myself as I hadn’t told Aunt Franki.  But then, Roberta was sworn to secrecy.
    “Wow,” she said when I finished.  “What are you going to do?”
    “Keep hanging out with Fin,” I said simply.
    Her eyes narrowed in on my face, analyzing my intentions.  “Are you only friends with Fin because you know it will anger Gina more?”
    I pieced my answer together carefully in my head before sharing it with her.  “In a way, I guess.  But in a way, not.”  I sighed, dropping my hands to my lap.  “He’s okay.  I was a little rude to him at first but he’ s been nothing but nice so I decided to apologize.  He gets on my nerves a bit but he’s not a bad person.”
    Roberta speculated my answer.  “I’m not sure if I approve of this…friendship…but we’ll monitor it.  Maybe it will blossom into something real.”
    “It’s not a flower,” I said with an eye roll.
    She laughed and patted my hand.  “So, tell me what else is going on.”
    I described my classes, went over my job again, and told her about Fin, Grant, Damon, and the others.  The hour zoomed by and when our session ended, I was relieved that she hadn’t even mentioned Camille.
    “I’ll see you next week, Rena,” R oberta said as she walked me to the lobby.  I nodded, my heart a bit lighter.
    Despite the Gina situation, things weren’t as bad as they’d first seemed when I’d decided to move to Dunewood.  Maybe, just maybe, I’d get my act together and actually figure out some kind of life.
    For the first time in about six months, a little optimism touched my heart.  I smiled as I drove home.

Chapter Seven
     
    A good night’s sleep had pretty much swept away my positive feelings and I had second thoughts about hanging out with Fin and his friends that night.  As I parked my car and headed inside the school, I wondered how I could get out of it.
    I trudged through the halls to my locker, noticing more looks thrown my way than usual, and hurried my pace, thinking maybe the horrid syrup incident had been repeated only ten times worse. But when I reached my locker, all was well, except for the lingering scent of maple syrup and industrial cleaning spray.  I sighed in relief and exchanged books for my first class.
    “No surprises today?” Damon asked as he fell against the neighboring locker.  He adjusted the beanie on his head and grinned.
    I couldn’t resist smiling back.  “Nothing – no pancakes either.”
    “Bummer.  I’m hungry.”
    I laughed and glanced around us, a tiny frown pulling at my lips.  Although I’d only been attending the small school for two weeks, I’d thought I was past the ‘staring at the new kid’ p hase.  Apparently not.  Each group that passed by gawked at me like it was my first day all over again.
    “Hey,” I said as I closed my locker.  “What’s the deal with everyone staring at me?”
    Damon’s brows pulled together as he studied the other students who were no longer walking past my locker but lingering.  “I don’t know.  Maybe they were expecting another prank.”
    “Move along,” I growled at a horde of freshmen whispering together as they eyed me suspiciously.  One of the more courageous ones glared and flipped me the bird before grabbing her friend’s arm and hustling toward a classroom.
    “Underclassmen,” Damon grumbled as we ambled toward our respective classes.  “So, they’re all staring at you now.  Hm.  Maybe because you are sort of a hottie.”
    “Yeah, sure,” I said to cover my embarrassment.  “No, sorry to shoot your theory down but I think it’s something