After class they walked together, trying to get away from the crowd of kids surging through the hall.
Nothing could be heard over the talk and banging locker doors unless it was shouted. Ivy linked arms with her friend and opened the palm of her hand. Immediately Beth slipped the key into it.
When they finally reached an empty room at the end of the corridor, Beth said, "Ivy, we have to talk. I had a dream last night. I don't know what it means, but I think-" The school bell rang.
"Oh, no, I've got a test next period."
"Lunchtime," Ivy said. "Try for the table back in the corner," she added as they parted.
Two hours later Ivy got lucky. Ms. Bryce, the school counselor, let her out early for lunch, saying how pleased she was by Ivy's progress, her fresh hope and positive attitude toward life. I guess drama club pays off, Ivy thought as she staked out the small table in the corner of the cafeteria. Beth joined her a few minutes later.
"Will's in line. Should I wave him over here?" Beth asked.
Ivy chewed her sandwich quickly and swallowed hard. Will was the last person in the world she wanted to see. But Beth still trusted him. She was already signaling to him.
"Did you mention anything to Will about the key or our search?" Ivy asked.
"No."
"Good," Ivy said. "Don't. I don't want him to know about it-not yet," she added, softening her tone when she saw the surprised look on Beth's face.
"But Will might have some good ideas," Beth said, opening her lunch bag, pulling out her usual first course-dessert "I'm sure he'd want to help you search."
No doubt, thought Ivy. Who knows what he'd find that might be worth some money.
"You know how he feels about you," Beth added.
Ivy couldn't squelch her sarcasm. "Oh, yeah, I know, all right."
Beth blinked at her. "Ivy, he'd do anything for you.' And make some bucks while doing it, Ivy thought, but this time she spoke more carefully. "Maybe you're right, Beth, but still, don't tell him, okay?"
Beth's eyebrows drew together. She wouldn't argue further, but she clearly thought Ivy was making a mistake.
"Tell me what you dreamed last night," Ivy said.
Her friend shook her head slowly. "It was weird, Ivy, so simple but so weird. I dreamed the same thing over and over. I don't know if it had anything to do with the key, but it was about you."
"Tell me," Ivy said, leaning close to her while keeping one eye on Will's progress in the cafeteria line.
"There were these big wheels," Beth recalled, J "two, three, I don't know how many. Big wheels with rough edges, notches in them, like tractor wheels or snow tires or something. They were all turning one way. Then you came. There was nothing else in the dream but you and the wheels. You put out your hand and stopped them. Then you pushed, and the wheels all started spinning the opposite way."
She fell silent. Her eyes had a faraway look, as if she were seeing the dream again.
"And?"
"That's it," Beth said. "That's all I dreamed, over and over."
Ivy sat back in her chair, puzzled. "Do you have any idea what it means?" she asked.
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Beth replied. "Ivy, here comes Will. Why don't we tell him and-" "No," she said quickly.
Beth bit her lip. Ivy looked down at the soggy layers of her sandwich.
"Hi!" said Will, scraping back a chair and setting down his tray. "What's up?"
"Nothing much," Ivy said, avoiding his eyes.
"Beth?"
"Nothing much," she echoed lamely.
Will was silent for a moment. "How come you were late this morning?" he asked Ivy.
She glanced up sharply. "How do you know I was late?"
"Because I was, too." Will tilted his head a little, as if he was trying to read her.
Ivy looked away.
"I came in just after you," he said, then reached for her hand, touching her lightly, trying to get her to look at him again. She would not.
"What's wrong?"
She hated the innocent and concerned tone of his voice.
"Beth? Tell me what it is."
Ivy peeked up at her friend. Beth shrugged, and Will glanced back and forth between them. His face was calm and thoughtful, like that of a teacher patiently searching for an answer, but his hands gave him away, gripping the edge of his tray.
Now he's worried, Ivy thought, really worried, but not about me. He thinks we both know the truth about him.
Will sucked in his breath, then said quietly, "Surprise. Here comes Gregory."
Ivy looked up, hoping to see Suzanne with him. If Suzanne put in her usual effort at snubbing her, Ivy would have an excuse to walk out. But Gregory came alone, striding confidently toward them, smiling, as if they were all good buddies.
"Will greeted him.
"I didn't know you were off this period," Ivy said.
"My history class is in the library," he told her. "I'm doing research, can't you tell?"
Ivy laughed lightly, determined to seem as much at ease as he. "What's your topic?"
"Famous murders of the nineteenth century," Gregory replied, pulling out a chair.
"Learning anything?"