Andrews 10 Heart's Desire Ashley looked frightened when I confronted her at school the next day. Bernie had been afraid that she would go around spreading stories about us, but instead, she was afraid we would spread stories about her. "Did you stay?" she asked me in a whisper when we met at our lockers in the hallway. She checked to be sure no one could overhear our conversation. "Yes," I said. "And did you do it?" she quickly followed. "Of course," I said, slamming my locker shut and starting for homeroom. She trailed along like a puppy tugged on an invisible leash. "What happened?" she gasped. I stopped and spun on her. "If you want to know so much, why didn't you stay?" "I couldn't," she said, her face looking as if she would break into hysterical sobs any moment. "Did you tell anyone? Helga, for example?" She shook her head so vigorously I thought her eyes would rattle. "Good," I said, continuing on to homeroom. She remained beside me, step for step, until she saw Bernie, and then she lowered her head and went to her seat.
