Locked Inside by Nancy Werlin Page B

change, of course.”
    Marnie clenched her teeth for just a second. She knew perfectly well that, despite the restaurant’s haughtiness, the people having lunch at the Halsett Grille would be wearing casual, preppy clothes. Ms. Slaight’s suit would fit in no better than Marnie’s own loud attire. Oh, well, why not make the teacher happy? Marnie knew there was a short black dress stashed somewhere in her closet. “Okay,” she said grimly. “I’ll change.”
    Ms. Slaight nodded as if there’d been no other possible outcome. Utterly bemused, Marnie sat down to take—to
try
to take—the chemistry test.
    The world is a strange place, full of strange people, including us.
Another of Skye’s aphorisms, and Marnie supposed it, too, was true.
    “Order anything you like,” said Ms. Slaight expansively. Her good mood, Marnie figured, would dissolve after lunch when she corrected Marnie’stest. Marnie had worked hard on Monday, but she didn’t fool herself. If she passed, it would be a near thing. Jenna’s fault. The test material had been in Marnie’s head yesterday, before she slept in the corridor.
    No. Not Jenna’s fault. Her own.
    And what would the Elf be thinking about Marnie’s no-show last night? She
had
to find another way to get her e-mail….
    Ms. Slaight ordered filet mignon.
    “And you, miss?” said the waiter, turning too quickly to Marnie. Ms. Slaight had to clear her throat to get his attention back so she could order a salad. Marnie winced. She had seen the waiter’s eyes flick disparagingly over Ms. Slaight’s cheap, too-dressy suit. It made her angry, perhaps most of all because she was harboring the same thoughts.
    Her imp seized her. She could control which of them he gossiped about in the kitchen!
    “I’d just like a plate of mashed potatoes, please,” said Marnie, with grand disregard for the contents of the menu. “With a lot of butter. Oh, and I won’t need these.” Retaining only her fork, she handed the rest of the cutlery over.
    “Yes, miss,” said the waiter, and left. Marnie looked up at Ms. Slaight and realized, too late, that she was shocked. Had misunderstood, and thought Marnie was insulting
her.
    There was no way to explain without making the situation worse.
    The silence lasted a full two minutes. Then Ms. Slaight appeared to gather herself. She swallowedonce or twice; Marnie saw the movement of her throat. And then she said, “Marnie. I wanted to ask you some things about … about Skye.”
    Something inside Marnie snapped.
    Afterward she couldn’t remember exactly what she had said. That she had made some kind of a scene, she knew. That she had yelled, she knew. Some of the words floated through her head. And by the time Marnie finished, she was trembling, not unlike the way Jenna had the night before.
    How dare you think you can buy my confidence with a lunch! Do you think I’m stupid? Or were you imagining you could buy stories about Skye with a passing grade? So you could sell them to some tabloid? Was that what you were thinking? Well, you’re not fit to even say her name! You’re nobody! Do you hear me? You’re nobody!
    Ms. Slaight sat across the table, her eyes glistening, her body rigid.
    Finally Marnie stopped yelling. The fog around her began to clear. Vaguely she became aware of other people in the restaurant, listening.
    Ms. Slaight got up. She was not without dignity. She walked out, only tripping once, slightly, on her unaccustomed heels.
    Suddenly, fully conscious of all the stares, Marnie held her head high. She summoned the waiter and paid the check for the meal that hadn’t been delivered. When she’d figured in the tip, she had exactly ninety cents left to her name.
    It was ten miles back to campus. Well, Marnie would have a lot to think about while walking. Likeher newly inevitable expulsion. And … and other things.
    When had her life become such a mess? How?
    She had a terrible headache and a dark, dark feeling of impending doom. She