Sojourner by Maria Rachel Hooley

exempted from the rules.  I just want you to understand that he is not above that, even if his father is a town selectman.”
    “Thank you.”  Walking toward the cafeteria, I find that whole conversation more bizarre than even Griffin, which is really saying something. Shelly and her friends sit at the same table as  yesterday, and they willingly move over so I can join them.  As I sit, Shelly looks over at Griffin and smiles, shaking her head.
    “Gee, Griffin is still watching you, Lizzie.  Big surprise.”
    And Lev is still absent , I muse, looking around the cafeteria, searching.  Part of me wonders if it will be strange like this the whole year.  Frustrated, I switch tactics and begin looking for Lev’s sister, Celia, but I don’t see her either, only Griffin’s consuming stare.  Oh, and Gail’s antagonistic frown.  More than once she touches his arm, an act of possession that any girl could figure out.  Too bad she can’t get Griffin to pay attention to her.  That would solve a whole lot of problems right now.
    My stomach rumbles, and since I haven’t grabbed a tray, as the memory of the spaghetti is too painful to try the hamburgers being served today, I rise and head to the salad bar, muttering, “Excuse me,” to my friends.  Scanning the offerings, I grab the salad tongs and fill my plate with lettuce, tomatoes and pickles.  I ration a bit of Ranch dressing over part of it, and as I whirl to return to my table, I almost bump into Griffin.
    “Such fabulous lunch plans could get a guy’s feelings hurt,” Griffin mutters, also grabbing a salad bowl even though it doesn’t seem like that would be his ideal meal.  Most guys love burgers.  Okay, maybe not these burgers.
    “They’re my friends,” I say, disinterestedly.
    “I could be your friend,” he mutters, scooting around the salad bar, his tone warm and inviting.  “I could be a very good friend, actually.”  He scoots closer.  He’s clearly piled a bunch of veggies on his plate that he will probably never eat.
    “Sorry, Griffin, I’m not looking for that kind of friend.”  Swallowing hard, I take a couple of steps away. I can feel Shelly, Bree, Matt, and Gail all staring.  I just don’t have a clue what they are expecting.  I’m still trying to figure that one out when someone tugs my arm, forcing me to turn.
    “I thought you might need this, considering how cold it is.”  Celia stands there, my jacket in her hand.  Smiling, she offers it to me.
    “Thanks.”  I take the jacket, hating that Griffin is watching my every move.  “Where did you come from?”
    “I was outside eating.”  She starts to walk away.
    “Hey, Celia, where is Lev today?”
    “Doctor’s appointment.”  She also stares at Griffin, her smile toward him not as pleasant.  “He’ll be back this afternoon.”
    “Thanks.”  She walks away, and I start to when Griffin blocks me.
    “So, let me guess.  He was your real lunch plan. Shelly Roberts was just a contingency, wasn’t she?”  His words are light enough, but their intention is clear.  He’s trying to stake a claim on me.
    “It’s really none of your business, Griffin.  I said I’d join you for lunch tomorrow.”
    His face turns pasty, and I see an anger smoldering beneath the surface.  Probably by tomorrow he’ll be so furious he might not even want lunch with me.  Here’s to hoping anyway.
    As I approach Shelly’s table, the girls burst into laughter.  I’m not the only one who notices.  Griffin scowls at them while returning to his own table.  The moment he sits, he pushes the plate away and shakes his head.  He sets one elbow on the table and leans his chin on his hand.  The fluorescent light gleams off his senior class ring.  Gail tries to take his arm, a comforting gesture, but he quickly pulls away, clearly agitated.  Her face flushes and she gets up to dump her tray.
    “Looks like somebody is unhappy,” Bree comments, staring at Griffin.  “I just