TWENTY-NINE: HARLAN

 

“I know what’s really going on,” Aria said. “With Zooey.”

“No offense, but I’m pretty sure you don’t.” We were standing between the vending machines outside the cafeteria, far enough away from the doors so that she didn’t have to lower her voice, but I still wanted to shush her. Every PA speaker in the school was two-way, and if there was one thing I’d learned, it was that there were ears everywhere.

“Just listen, okay?” Aria asked. “Zooey’s sick.” She dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “I think maybe she’s on something.”

“On something?”

Aria nodded. “I haven’t actually seen her doing anything, but—”

“Trust me: Zooey’s not on drugs.”

“You don’t know her like I do.” Aria bit her lip. “I’m really worried about her, you know?”

“Yeah, well, you didn’t seem too concerned a second ago,” I said. “Back when she was falling apart back in the lunchroom.”

Aria stared at me, looking seriously offended by the accusation. “When I tried to talk to her in the locker room, she went nuclear. Just totally blew up on me in a very messy way. Kind of like she did with you back there, but about a hundred times worse. I learned my lesson.”

“I’m sure there’s an explanation for it.”

“No,” Aria said, “it’s just Zooey. She thinks she can fix everything herself, like she doesn’t need anybody else.” She gave a little shrug. “If you didn’t know that about her, you don’t know much.”

“Is there some way we can help her?”

“First things first. We’ve got a show in less than three hours. At this point I think we have to assume that Zooey’s not functioning the way that she’s supposed to. We’re on our own. Do you understand what I’m saying? The show must go on.”

She just stared at me, waiting for a response. There was something that I didn’t trust in her eyes. How well did she really know Zooey?

There was only one way to find out for sure.

I turned and started heading for the doors.

“Wait,” she said. “Where are you going?”

I didn’t look back.

“I’m going to find Zooey,” I said.