The next day, with the help of a long-sleeved sweater, Joan managed to leave for school without her mom spotting the bracelet. Zoe had been downright grumpy. She had never been a morning person, and last night's escapade had left her short on sleep. Fortunately, she had kept her word about not revealing her sister's permanent jewelry.
At school, however, Joan found it difficult to keep the bracelet hidden. Every time she raised her arm, the gleaming metal would poke out of her sleeve. When lunchtime came around, she stopped to drop off some books at her locker before heading to the cafeteria. As she lifted a particularly heavy math textbook into place, the bright glimmer at her wrist caught Sarah McMillan's eye.
"Well, what a surprise! The tomboy's actually wearing jewelry," the blonde commented as she walked over. Then her gaze moved to the rest of Joan's outfit, and she gave a long-suffering sigh. "Your fashion sense could still use a lot of work, though. You know, Joan, if you need my help improving your look, I'm always available to help. I'll see you later, 'kay?"
With that, she continued on down the hall, calling out to a group of her more fashion-conscious friends. Watching her go, Joan wondered what had happened. Sarah had never spoken a civil word to her for years. While the exchange had not been exactly friendly, it certainly lacked the head cheerleader's usual hostility. She seemed truly concerned, even offering her help, and without a hint of sarcasm.
Are we chummy now or something? Joan wondered as she turned back to her locker. Suddenly, she noticed a shadow that was not there before. Spinning around she came face to face with someone else.
