Karyn was having a miserable day. She had thought it would be a great one when she first started for school. The warm sun had been wonderful, the birds had been singing, the air smelled fresh. Then she ran into her best friend.
Or at least the boy who had been her best friend. Right then Karyn wasn't so sure if he was anymore. Their conversation had been cut short with him storming off, livid at her. She didn't blame him either. He had been right about everything.
The shame she felt over how she had treated him was overwhelming. She'd carried it with her all the way to school, all the way into her classes, and later, as she watched Jon being flirted with by the school football team in the lunch-room, it swelled to even deeper depths.
The strange thing was, she couldn't bring herself to do anything about it. She knew that the easiest solution would be for him to borrow her clothes until his insurance money came. If he really didn't want to wear her girl clothes (even though they were very tomboyish), she was sure she had enough saved up that she could take him shopping for at least an outfit or two. Whenever she tried to do it, though, something always came up. A big assignment or an emergency babysitting job would stop the shopping trips. Laundry day or a family meeting would keep him from coming over to borrow. It was maddening.
She also had to admit that something deep inside her refused to help him out. That was where the guilt came from. Was she enjoying watching him act as Sarah's personal dress-up doll? Did she take pleasure from the torture of her friend? Her guilt told her that she must, although she didn't know why. As she watched Jon cross his legs in a very lady-like manner and giggle at a joke one of the cheerleaders made, she hoped that her conscience would rise up soon. She missed her best friend.
