Free Denying the Wrong by Evelyne Stone

I’d almost run back the other way, feeling like I’d been replaced, but Mary spotted me and waved.
    “What took you so long?” Alissa was smiling at me like nothing happened.
    I decided to just go with it. “Sorry, I had to finish up an assignment.” They both nodded and walked into the coffee shop. I was so confused.
    Mary dominated the conversation during lunch. She told us about some kid from another school that got into a car accident over break.
    “Actually it wasn't an accident, more like a hit-and-run.” Mary told the story with so much enthusiasm, I was afraid she’d start knocking things over with her hands. “A witness said he was racing some other car and then halfway down the street the other car jerked, forcing him over and he hit a tree and the car caught on fire.” She said it so fast, I don't think she stopped to take a breath.
    “Hmm, I didn't read about it in the paper,” said Alissa.
    “Yeah, I don't know. I don't read the paper. I heard about it from David because that's the same guy who stole David’s clothes from his gym locker and took pictures of him in a towel and posted it all over the internet.”
    “I guess Karma really is a bitch,” Alissa said under her breath. I don't think Mary heard her, but I glared at her so that she would know I had.
    “So, did Kat tell you about Mr. McHotty in our cooking class?” Mary asked, giving me a wink.
    Alissa looked between us, her eyebrows raising in interest. “I didn’t know you were taking a cooking class together.”
    “You didn’t give me a chance to tell you.” I tried to keep the sarcasm to a minimum but the hurt from seeing Alissa with Mary was still too fresh.
    “Well, let me tell you, he is so beyond hot, even a chemist would look up to watch him walk by,” Mary said.
    I couldn’t hold in my laugh and Alissa smiled.
    “He’s not that hot,” I said, rolling my eyes, still smiling.
    “Uh-huh. Well, I’ve been thinking about asking him out. In fact, you should call him on speaker right now and tell him to ask me out,” Mary said, picking up my phone from the table and handing it to me.
    “We’re not in high school anymore. And how did you get his number, anyway?” I asked.
    “Actually, I am still in high school, remember? And I got his number when he wrote it down and asked me to give it to you.”
    I nearly spit out my coffee. “He what? He knows I have a boyfriend.”
    “Sounds like somebody doesn’t care,” Alissa said, nudging Mary.
    “Well, I don’t want his number, so if you really want me to call him for you, I would be glad to. Maybe then he’ll leave me alone.” I grabbed the paper with Conner’s phone number on it and reached for Mary’s phone.
    She grabbed it first. “Why do you need my phone?”
    “I’m not calling him from my phone because I don’t want him to have my number.”
    “Good call,” Alissa said, prying Mary’s phone out of her hand.
    Mary shrugged her shoulders and scooted her chair closer to me. I dialed the number and we all leaned in closer to the phone.
    “Hello?”
    “Hey, Conner, it’s Kat, from class. Mary gave me your number.”
    “Oh, hey. What took you so long to call?”
    I had to take a deep breath before answering so I wouldn’t get angry at his arrogance. “You know I have a boyfriend. I’m actually calling because Mary seems to have a crush on you.”
    Mary smacked me and mouthed, ‘Why did you say that?’
    I mouthed back, ‘What?’ but smiled.
    “Yeah, I don’t think so,” Conner snorted.
    I saw Mary pout but continued. “Why not? She’s awesome.”
    “She’s awesome but I’m afraid she’ll eat me.”
    Mary’s smile turned into a look of horror. I instantly felt guilty for asking him why.
    “All right, well, this conversation is over.” I hit the END button before he had a chance to reply. “Mary, I’m so sorry.”
    Alissa put her arm around Mary. “He’s obviously an ass.”
    Mary shook her head, holding her eyes shut. One moment