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accidentally landed in. “That’s what’s strange. And he wouldn’t give me a chance to apologize.”
    Jennifer looked at the clock on the wall of the classroom.
    I took the hint and started walking her toward the door.
    â€œAnyway,” I said, “I’m hoping you can help me find him.”
    â€œMe? I didn’t even get a good look at his face,” she said. She crinkled her forehead. “How can I help you find him?”
    â€œActually,” I answered, “I need your dad’s help. You see, I know the kid’s first name is Carlos, and he went into room 225 at eleven o’clock. Maybe, with that information, your dad could get me his class schedule. It’d be even better if I could get his full name and address. That way I can track him down and give his money back. I know the teachers here are all hooked up on computers and—”
    â€œAncient computers,” Jennifer said, “donated by a company that was going to throw them out. And Dad’s not too good with computers. He relies on Jason to help him.”
    â€œWell,” I said, “maybe your dad can figure out how to get into the system.”
    She kept frowning as we walked into the busy hallway.
    â€œWhy not just wait for him after class?” she asked.
    â€œHis class is way across the school. I’ll never get there in time to catch him coming out. Watching him go in made me late to class today. Besides,” I added, “he’s got these friends. More like bodyguards. It doesn’t seem like they’re going to let me get close to him at school. And he keeps running away. If I can talk to him at his home...”
    â€œBoy,” she said, “these days people are pretty strict about privacy things. I’m not sure my dad would even give you information about another student.”
    I should have thought of that. After all, the school had a metal detector and security guards.
    Jennifer stopped. She smiled suddenly, erasing the crinkle of her forehead. “I have an idea,” she said. “The perfect reason for Dad to try to find out more about Carlos.”
    I didn’t have an idea, so I just waited for her to tell me hers.
    â€œYou didn’t catch him, right?” she asked. “That means he’s really fast.”
    â€œI was getting close,” I said, unable to stifle my pride. “If the cops hadn’t shown up—”
    â€œSure,” she said. “Sure.” She giggled while I sulked.
    â€œSomeone that fast could help our track team,” she said. “With you and Carlos running with Jason, we’d have a serious shot at winning. Once I tell Dad about Carlos, I’m sure Dad will look up his last name and address.”
    â€œThat’s a great idea,” I said.
    I dug into my back pocket for the slip of paper that had Carlos’s room number on it. Folding the paper, I handed it to Jennifer. She put it into the front pocket of her jeans.
    That’s when someone pushed me so hard from behind that I almost fell into the lockers.
    I turned around.
    Jason glared at me. He held up his fists, ready to take a punch at me.
    â€œLeave my girl alone,” he said.
    â€œHuh?” I said.
    â€œI saw you give her a note.” He stepped toward me. I didn’t back away. Jennifer stepped between us.
    â€œJason,” she said, “don’t. He didn’t give me that kind of note. And I’ve been telling you for a long time that I’m not your girl.”
    Jennifer turned to me. “Leave,” she said. “I’ll handle this.”
    I didn’t want to leave. I wasn’t a chicken. Nobody was going to scare me away.
    â€œJust leave,” she said. “Please? If you guys fight, you’ll both get kicked off the track team. And you guys are the one-two runners. The team needs you. My dad needs you.”
    â€œSure,” I finally said.
    I left them there, arguing.
    Why did life