At First Touch by Mattie Dunman Page A

holding cell until the FBI could get here. The sheriff called them as soon as he was identified.”
    I caught my breath. That was the last thing I needed, the Feds in Pound. I was definitely going to have to keep a low profile. Then again, if I could somehow survive their visit, Dad and I might actually be able to make a more permanent home here. If Fitz wouldn’t remember me and the Feds didn’t know I lived here; it could actually become quite safe for us. I clamped down on that terrible hope before it got out of control and made me incautious.
    We rode to school in relative quiet, both of us lost in our own thoughts. When we pulled into the parking lot Carey started to get out and then paused, turning to look at me with a diffident expression.
    “Ok, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I just wondered, um…is there a reason you cover yourself up like that? I mean with the long sleeves and gloves and everything?” I sighed and tried to think of a reasonable explanation. I didn’t want to lie to him.
    “I understand why you ask, but I can’t tell you right now. Maybe later.” I watched him to judge how he took this rebuff; he mulled it over for a moment and then nodded acceptance.
    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have even asked. It’s cool.” He smiled brightly and cocked an eyebrow. “Anyway, it works for you. You could wear a burlap sack and you’d still be the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”
    I nearly choked at his words; I had never received such a sweet, innocently worded compliment. Stupidly, I felt like crying again. Instead I blushed violently and gave him an awkward smile. He grinned even brighter, and heat rose up my neck like the sun hitting my skin after being too cold.
    We walked up to the main office together and got late slips, claiming that his prehistoric car had stalled on the way to school. The secretary accepted his story without question, smiling and batting her eyes like she was sixteen and not sixty. Finally, he promised to see me in gym and we parted ways, heading to our respective lockers and classes.
    I found I was smiling like a fool and humming to myself. I couldn’t remember when I’d been happier and couldn’t wait to tell Dad that we finally had an ally. I wasn’t sure how he would take this new development, but I was sure once he met Carey he would agree with me.
    It was in this tentatively happy state that I found my way to Mr. Tesh’s class and presented my note. He nodded absently and waved me to my seat, which I took in a considerably better mood than the day before. Even having most of the class stare at me didn’t faze me, and I was able to keep my mouth shut when Mr. Tesh begged the class to give him an answer to his inquiry about who Thomas Jefferson was. The class seemed to fly by and before I knew it I was putting my books in my bag and getting ready to head out.
    “Hey, Liz. How’s your head?” I turned around in surprise and then smiled as I looked down at V.J.’s concerned face. I had forgotten she was in this class.
    “Oh hey. It’s actually not that bad. It looks worse than it feels,” I replied, pulling my bag over my shoulder.
    “I couldn’t believe it when I heard you’d been caught up in that fight yesterday. And on your first day! You must think we’re a bunch of bloodthirsty hicks!” she giggled, but I caught the apprehension in her voice.  I hastened to reassure her.
    “Nah, there are fights at every school. I just seem to have bad luck.” We left class together, chatting comfortably. She asked me sit with her at lunch and I accepted, feeling that hope of normality creeping upwards again. She left me at the gym as she headed off to science class and I ducked into the girls’ locker room to change.
    The locker room was one you would see at any high school in America, dank and saturated with the scent of sweat and perfume. I found an empty locker in a corner and started to undress, careful to keep a distance between