Free Solving Zoe by Barbara Dee Page B

sneaking up on me in the cafeteria and handing me whatever that was. Stupid codes.”
    He shook his head. “It wasn’t a code, Zoe. It was a cipher.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œCodes substitute words. Ciphers substitute symbols. I gave you a cipher just now. That means—”
    â€œI don’t care,” she said loudly. “Do you understand? I’m totally not interested , okay?”
    He opened his mouth to say something. Then he just walked rapidly out of the cafeteria, bumping into a few kids near the exit. They didn’t act annoyed, though; they just shrugged and laughed.
    Zoe sat back down. She felt terrible for yelling at him in public, but really, what choice did she have? She had tobe mean. It was the only way to get through to him. If she even had.
    â€œYou all right?” Ezra was asking her.
    â€œYeah, I guess. That kid Lucas is driving me crazy.”
    â€œMe too. Just try to ignore him. Here,” he said, and handed her his iPod.
    â€œBut it’s yours.”
    â€œWell, yeah. I’m not giving it to you, Zoe. I’ll just read my book.”
    â€œThanks,” Zoe said uncertainly. She met his eyes, which, she suddenly realized, were grayish green and actually kind of interesting. Cute, even. “Really. That’s so nice of you. But I mean, I don’t want to use it if you’re—”
    But Ezra was already lost in his invasion book. So for the rest of lunch Zoe listened to his vaguely menacing hip-hop music, and even though she couldn’t make out all the words, she didn’t care. In fact, considering the morning she’d just had, she almost enjoyed how it pulsated deafeningly, incomprehensibly, in her ears.

12
    Finally the day was ending and it was time for Ancient Civs. As soon as Zoe sat down at her whiteboard desk, she groaned.
    Because apparently she hadn’t gotten through to Lucas at lunch. He was obviously the one who’d been writing her tiny messages:
    4 = Blue.
    What is 5?
    Green.
    What is 6?
    What is 7?
    It had to be Lucas. Who else could it be? He probably thought the number-color theory was some kind of secret code she’d invented with her arguable brain damage. Well, maybe he finally understood not to talk to her in the cafeteria, but she wasn’t going to let him start sneaking messages onto her desk. Or horning in on her fascinating theory.
    So she got out her Signe pen and wrote in slightly larger letters “NOYB!!!” Then she spent the rest of the class doodling on the desk, tuning him out as he interrupted the class with more of his brilliant comments.
    Eventually Signe decided class was over, which meant Hubbard was over for the day. Zoe grabbed her backpack.
    â€œOne moment, Zoe, dear,” Signe said, standing in front of her desk. “May I have a word with you?”
    â€œOh, sure!” Zoe said hurriedly. “But there’s somewhere important I have to be.”
    â€œThis will be brief.” Signe smiled patiently as she waited for the other kids to file out. Then she pulled a grape-colored shawl around her fleshy shoulders. “So, is everything all right with you, my dear?”
    Zoe nodded.
    â€œYou did not seem intrigued by our discussion today. Is that because the ancient Egyptians have nothing to say to you?”
    â€œI’m sorry. I just couldn’t concentrate. I will tomorrow, I promise.”
    â€œHmm,” said Signe. She sat down next to Zoe. “So I hear you’ve been chatting a bit with Lucas Joplin.”
    â€œI did. Not anymore.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œHe’s a little…strange, isn’t he?”
    Signe pursed her lips. “In what way?”
    â€œHe has this crazy idea about me. And yesterday he followed me after school.”
    â€œHe followed you?”
    â€œTo my afterschool job. Pet sitting.” She was about to add lizards , but stopped herself in time.
    â€œI see,” Signe said. She took off her red