Allegra by Shelley Hrdlitschka Page A

lie.
    Through the window, I see the students filing out of the room. Julia is walking beside Spencer, chatting up at him. He pauses at the door, turns back to look at me and waves. I wave back. Julia’s eyes flash.
    Mr. Rocchelli glances at Spencer too. “So how’s it going in here?” he asks. “Do you need some help?”
    â€œI’m okay for now,” I say.
    â€œYour friend Spencer”—he nods toward the door— “is in my sound-engineering class and seems to know his way around Logic. He might be able to give you a hand with the technical stuff.”
    â€œThanks. I’ll remember that.”
    Mr. Rocchelli studies my face. I look down at the equipment.
    â€œIs everything all right?” he asks.
    â€œYeah.” I pull the flash drive out of the computer and put it into a pocket in my backpack. I take a step toward the door, assuming Mr. Rocchelli will move, but he doesn’t. He stays firmly planted in the doorway. I glance up at him.
    â€œYou were away yesterday,” he says. “Were you sick?”
    â€œYeah, but I’m fine now,” I lie.
    â€œYou still look a little tired,” he says. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    I squeeze myself around him, being careful not to make contact. “Yes, I’m sure, but I won’t be okay if I’m late for ballet. See you tomorrow.” I turn and immediately collide with a guy who has seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Books go flying. Flustered, I apologize, help him pick up his things, check that he’s okay and, with a last look at Mr. Rocchelli, who’s still watching me from the sound-room doorway, race to class.

    â€œWelcome back,” Talia says when I sit down beside Spencer at lunchtime. It’s become our habit for Talia, Molly and Sophie to sit on one step, and Spencer and me on the step above them. I’m not sure why they always save the space beside Spencer for me, but they do.
    â€œThanks.” I smile as normally as I can and pull a sandwich and a bottle of water out of my bag.
    â€œWere you sick?” she asks.
    â€œYeah, but I’m okay now.” I leave it at that and hope she won’t ask what I was sick with. I feign intense interest in my sandwich, lifting off the bread and rearranging a leaf of lettuce.
    I can feel Spencer watching me, but I ignore him and turn my gaze across the room.
    With a last glance at me, Talia goes back to a conversation she was having with Molly and Sophie when I arrived, and Spencer and I sit in uneasy silence for a few moments.
    â€œYou sounded kind of…funny on the phone yesterday,” he says.
    â€œOh, that. I’m sorry. You caught me at a bad moment.”
    He stabs the last noodle in his Styrofoam bowl. “Has Steve dropped off those autographed headshots yet?”
    â€œNo, I don’t think so. I’ll ask my dad to remind him.” My dad. Just thinking about him brings me down again.
    â€œThanks.”
    I nod.
    â€œWhen’s the next rehearsal?”
    â€œI don’t know.” But I do know that I’m not inviting Spencer over for it. How would I explain why my dad is leaving with the others when the rehearsal is over? I don’t know why this new living arrangement embarrasses me, but it does.
    I glance at Spencer and wonder again if he has befriended me just to get closer to the Loose Ends. Did I imagine those moments when our friendship felt like something more? Right now, I feel too depressed to even care. “Mr. Rocchelli says you know how to use Logic,” I say, changing the subject.
    â€œI’m learning.”
    â€œHe thought you might be willing to help me with it.”
    His face lights up. “No problem.”
    That makes me feel a little better. “Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”
    He glances up at the wall clock. “We’ve got time right now. Want to get started?”
    That takes me by surprise. “Sure.” I swallow