"In that case, I'll have to excuse myself," said Ted. "I have another class arriving in two minutes." He smiled at us and went back to his papers.

    I could have sworn I saw something mischievous in that smile.

    Cary closed his mouth and I closed mine. Then we marched out of the room without speaking another word.

    Chapter 8.

    I was still in shock when I arrived at Claudia's house for our BSC meeting later that afternoon. But even in that condition, I couldn't help noticing an odd silence when I walked into Claud's room. Mary Anne wasn't there yet, but Stacey was.

    In the old days (before Jeremy, that is), if you put Claudia and Stacey in a room together they'd start gabbing like mad about some sale at the mall or their parents or something. But that day I didn't hear a peep as I entered the room. Stacey was sitting at one end of the bed, leafing through the latest issue of Teenzine, and twirling a lock of her curly blonde hair. Claudia was sitting at her desk, stringing beads onto a leather thong.

    "Kristy!" Claudia cried when I walked in. I thought I could hear relief in her voice. Was it that hard for her to be alone in a room with Stacey?

    Stacey smiled. "What's up?" she asked. Her smile was for me only. I could tell that she was carefully avoiding eye contact with Claudia.

    Ugh. It's no fun having two friends who are fighting with each other. And over what? A boy. Now, Jeremy's pretty cute, but still. He's just a boy. Is any boy worth losing your best friend over?

    Mary Anne arrived just as I was settling in the director's chair by Claudia's desk. She glanced around the room, and I could tell she was taking in the situation. Our eyes met and she gave me the tiniest smile. I knew she felt the way I did about the rift between Stacey and Claudia.