Kathleen Foss, the school’s voluptuous, platinum-blond head cheerleader, snapped her gum and looked at Blaine with maddening impassivity. “Five minutes late yesterday and ten today,” Blaine continued. “I’m supposed to send you to the office for tardiness, but I don’t like treating you like a child. I thought we could work this out together.” Kathy had always reminded Blaine of a china doll—just as silver-and-white pretty and just as empty-headed. She looked at Blaine with flat eyes turned azure by colored contacts. “Yeah, okay, well, I won’t be late anymore.” Blaine didn’t know what she’d expected—uneasiness in the face of her displeasure, gratitude for her benevolence in not sending Kathy to the office? She got neither. Kathy was totally indifferent, although she did look paler than usual. Blaine peered at her, noting that her makeup had been applied with the usual precision, but the pink blusher lay on waxy skin.
