Locked Inside by Nancy Werlin Page A

asleep. I must have been more tired than I realized.” She couldn’t resist adding: “I’ve been working hard, you know. I passed several chemistry quizzes yesterday.”
    Mrs. Fisher’s lips compressed. She studied the two girls. “Jenna is up now,” she said to Marnie. “Go ahead and ask her your question.”
    Marnie turned to Jenna. When you looked carefully, from straight on, you could see the night’s tears. “No,” Marnie said clearly, drawing Mrs. Fisher’s attention back to her. “I’m sorry. I can’t ask Jenna my question in front of you. It’s private.”
    Mrs. Fisher’s whole being radiated disbelief and suspicion. But she said only: “You and I will talk about this later. Go get that shower now.” She turned to Jenna. Marnie ran upstairs and into her room. Perforce, Jenna would have to take care of herself now.
    Marnie’s phone rang five minutes later. It was Jenna. “I don’t know what you think you’re up to,” she said, “but I want to be very clear about something. Keep away from me. I don’t need your help.”
    Marnie listened to Jenna’s breathing. “Okay,” she said finally, but by then she was speaking to no one. Jenna had hung up.
    After a minute, Marnie did too.

CHAPTER
10
    “ R eady for the section test?” said Ms. Slaight the instant Marnie came into the chemistry classroom.
    “I still want to give it a try, but …” Marnie trailed off in the middle of her prepared excuses and frankly stared. Ms. Slaight was dressed with unusual formality, in a red suit with a long jacket. The outfit screamed its newness. And Ms. Slaight had a new expression on her face, too—sort of excited and also, Marnie thought, maybe a little frightened. Marnie had never seen her wearing makeup before. Her thickly applied lipstick actually glittered.
    Marnie had been staring too long; she had to say something. Lots of people dressed up for work, right? So what if Ms. Slaight never had before? And so what if it was only Marnie here today? “Er, you look very nice, Ms. Slaight.”
    “Thank you,” Ms. Slaight said, smiling directly at Marnie.
    Maybe Ms. Slaight had a date later—though somehow Marnie couldn’t quite imagine it—and she’d not only dressed up for it, but it had put her in an excellent mood.
    Marnie couldn’t help herself. “Are you going somewhere special, Ms. Slaight?”
    “Well, Marnie.” The lipsticked lips smiled yet again, looking even more surreal. “You worked so hard yesterday that I thought you deserved a treat. So, after the test, I’d like to take you out for lunch. To the Halsett Grille.” And as Marnie gaped in astonishment, Ms. Slaight finished awkwardly, “I’m aware we got off on the wrong foot. I’d like us to start again.”
    Marnie was reeling. Lunch? Out? With Ms. Slaight? Had she stepped through the looking glass?
    Ms. Slaight added, all in a rush, “I’ve never been to the Halsett Grille—I just haven’t had the opportunity before, but I understand it’s very nice.”
    “Yes, it is,” Marnie managed weakly. “I’ve been there with my guardian.”
    “Well?” said Ms. Slaight. “Will you come with me?”
    Marnie looked at her teacher’s transparently hopeful face and was consumed by curiosity. Here was Ms. Slaight, turning the other cheek with a vengeance. Why? Plus, that new outfit, and her open desire to go to the stupid Halsett Grille, where they put out three forks when you ordered a glorifiedgrilled cheese … In short, Marnie couldn’t help feeling just the tiniest bit sorry for Ms. Slaight. Didn’t she have anyone else in her life to go to lunch with?
    “Yes,” said Marnie. “Thank you. I’d be very pleased.”
    Ms. Slaight positively beamed. “Wonderful. I felt sure we could be friends if we just got past our misunderstandings. We can agree to let bygones be bygones. Right?”
    “Sure,” said Marnie uncertainly. Polite, maybe. But friends?
    “We’ll leave right after you take this test, then. Um … after you