f　the　doubt。　Obviously　her　personality　had　not　changed　as　much　as　her

hair。　〃Tyler　tried　to　sell

me　that　one　last　week。〃

〃You're　not　going　to　see　any　bears　that　close　to　the　resort；〃　Jessica　said；

siding　with　Lauren。

〃Really；〃　Angela　protested　in　a　low　voice；　looking　down　at　the　table。　〃We　did

see　it。〃

Lauren　snickered。　Mike　was　still　talking　to　Conner；　not　paying　attention　to

the　girls。

〃No；　she's　right；〃　I　threw　in　impatiently。　〃We　had　a　hiker　in　just　Saturday

who　saw　the　bear；　too；　Angela。

He　said　it　was　huge　and　black　and　just　outside　of　town；　didn't　he；　Mike？〃

There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　Every　pair　of　eyes　at　the　table　turned　to　stare

at　me　in　shock。　The　new

girl；　Katie；　had　her　mouth　hanging　open　like　she'd　just　witnessed　an

explosion。　Nobody　moved。

〃Mike？〃　I　muttered；　mortified。　〃Remember　the　guy　with　the　bear　story？〃

〃S…sure；〃　Mike　stuttered　after　a　second。　I　didn't　know　why　he　was　looking　at

me　so　strangely。　I　talked　to

him　at　work；　didn't　I？　Did　I？　I　thought　so

Mike　recovered。　〃Yeah；　there　was　a　guy　who　said　he　saw　a　huge　black　bear　right

at　the

trailhead—bigger　than　a　grizzly；〃　he　confirmed。

〃Hmph。〃　Lauren　turned　to　Jessica；　her　shoulders　stiff；　and　changed　the

subject。

〃Did　you　hear　back　from　USC？〃　she　asked。

Everyone　else　looked　away；　too；　except　for　Mike　and　Angela。　Angela　smiled　at

me　tentatively；　and　I

hurried　to　return　the　smile。

〃So；　what　did　you　do　this　weekend；　Bella？〃　Mike　asked；　curious；　but　oddly

wary。

Everyone　but　Lauren　looked　back；　waiting　for　my　response。

〃Friday　night；　Jessica　and　I　went　to　a　movie　in　Port　Angeles。　And