"Why, Bobby," Debbie said, drawing close as usual. "I didn't think you liked me anymore. You never come around."

Bobby blushed a fierce red as he cleared his throat.

"Diane," he said. "I was just wondering if you'd go to the dance with me."

"I'm sorry, Bobby," Diane shrugged. "Bill Top has already asked me."

"Maybe you'd like to ask me," Debbie suggested.

Even Diane had to laugh at Bobby's pained expression as he turned on his heels and hurried away. "I don't think he likes me." Debbie pouted.

"I think you make him nervous," Diane said. The next bell rang and Diane cursed softly as she realized she'd left one of her books behind. She waved Debbie on as she hurried back into the math class to get it. There was no math class that period. She reached into the desk to get her book. As she started to straighten up, she heard a voice coming from Mr. Kinkaid's office.

"Mr. Powers was never really fair with my Ronnie," a soft voice said.

"I'm sure he was doing what he felt was right, Mrs. Jones," Mr. Kinkaid said. "Ronnie is not a very good student."

"He's just a little slow," Mrs. Jones said. "I'm sure if someone took a little time with him…"

Diane knew she should be going to her next class, but for some reason she stood still. She already knew the woman who was talking to Mr. Kinkaid.

Ronnie Jones' mother was one of the most talked about people in town. She was a full-breasted redhead, slightly plump, and she had a reputation of being a little freer than she should. Her husband was always out of town and there had been talk of strange men going into her home.

Diane's mother found such talk disgusting, but there was something in Diane that was excited by it.

That same something was telling her to stand still and wait because something was going to happen.

"Couldn't you take a little more time with him, Mr. Kinkaid?" Mrs. Jones asked.