Casey Barnes Eponymous by E.A. Rigg Page B

Ben asked.  
    “Good
idea,” Casey said, “I’ll mention it.”
    Yull
sighed.   “She better remember to
hide from the cleaning lady.   Today’s her day, you know.”
    She
nodded.   “The stowaway was
informed.   She plans to loiter in
the public library during household cleaning hours.”  
    “I’d come
up with another plan sooner rather than later if I were you,” Yull said.  
    “Don’t you
have refueling to do?” Casey asked, “Surely you didn’t skip lunch out just to
talk with me.”  
    “Of course
not.   I have a test next period and
I want to study.”
    “Oh.”   As a matter of fact she had been
thinking he had skipped lunch out just to talk to her.  
    “Which
reminds me that I have to do the same now,” Ben said.   “See you guys after school?”   Both looked to Yull expectantly.  
    “Yes,” he
sighed, “I can give you guys a ride again.”  
    Ben got up
and left.  
    “One more
thing,” Yull added.  
    “Yes?” Casey
said.
    “Why’s
Alex Deal coming to your band practice today?”
    “Excuse
me?” she asked coyly.
    Yull wasn’t
buying it.   “I just saw him in the
hall.   He said he’s going to stop by.”  
    “He came
into the library and was asking all about my band…” The unimpressed look on
Yull’s face caused her to hesitate.   “Then he asked if he could stop by band practice.”  
    “Casey.”  
    “You don’t
him that well, Yull.   He was being really nice.”  
    “Because
he knows only two bands are being accepted into talent show this year.   He wants to check out the competition so
he can report back to his bandmates.   Maybe they’re even deciding which songs
to audition with based on what you guys are doing.”
    “He
wouldn’t do that,” she sniffed.  
    “Oh yes he
would.”
    “Has
anyone ever told you that you’re evil?”
    “Other
than you?” he said, “No.”

 
    In math
class, Maxine French turned around one hundred and eighty degrees and peered at
Casey.   They were supposed to be
doing problems in workbooks.   Casey
was reading the Rolling Stone hidden inside
hers.   She shook her head.   “Not now, Max.   This math problem’s really busting my
gut and if I break my concentration now I’ll never get it.”  
    Maxine
plucked the Rolling Stone out.   “Newsflash.   Articles about pop culture don’t contain
algorithms.”   Casey took the
magazine back and stuck it inside her workbook.   “I heard Alex is going to your little
practice today,” Maxine added.
    Casey
commanded her eyes not to move from the page in front of her. She used her
index finger to spell FUFUFU out on
it.   “I think he said something
about stopping by.”
    “You
think?” Maxine repeated.   Casey did
not reply.   “I happen to know he
did,” she continued, “He told me he was going to go there first because that’s
why he’s going to be late to my place.”   She turned back around.  
    Casey got
the same sensation that struck her when her iPod ran out of juice and it was
hours before she could access a charger.   “May you die listening to Muzak,” she muttered.  

 
    When Casey
rounded the corner into the main hall with Sukh after English class, the first
thing she saw was Ben.   He was
standing by the front door alone.   Then the following happened:  
    1. Yull
exited the college office, which was only a few feet away, and went over to
Ben.  
    2. Casey
and Sukh reached Ben and Yull and Yull said, “Are we all here?” in a way that
only Casey knew contained a taunt.  
    3. Alex
Deal rounded the corner from the other side of the main hall and walked up to
Casey.   “You guys all going in one
car?   I can take a couple of you
too.”  
    4. There
was a silent and confused pause.   It
was most especially evident on Ben’s face.
    “What are
you talking about?” Ben asked.
    Alex
looked at Casey.   “She said it’d be
okay if I stopped by your band practice today.”
    “Is that
so?” Ben asked.
    “Are