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we should deny the truth. But . . . it just seems wrong to criticize her now, that’s all.”
    There was an uncomfortable silence, and then Gail shrugged. “Okay, if that’s the way you want it. Are you and Colleen going to count the votes next period?”
    â€œI guess so.” Amy looked puzzled. “Why wouldn’t we?”
    â€œNo reason. I just wanted you to know that I can’t be there. Besides, I know how it’s going to turn out, anyway.”
    The rest of the lunch period was filled with small talk about Friday night’s basketball game and their hard-won victory. When the bell rang, Brett brought the box with the votes and the money they’d collected to Amy and Colleen. And then he took Gail’s arm and walked her to the lunchroom door.
    â€œAre you thinking what I’m thinking?” Colleen stood up and grabbed the vote box.
    â€œI think so.” Amy picked up their lunch trays and sighed. Now that Tanya was dead, it certainly looked as though Gail was moving in on Brett. Perhaps she should have taken Colleen’s advice and asked Brett to the dance on Friday night, while she’d still had a chance.
    Â 
    Amy and Colleen had just cleaned off the teachers’ table, when there was a knock at the faculty lounge door. Amy went to open it, and her eyes widened as she saw who was standing outside. “Kevin. What are you doing here?”
    â€œMr. Dorman sent me to take Gail’s place . . . if you girls don’t mind, that is.”
    â€œWhy should we mind?” Amy gestured toward the table. “We’ll be through much faster with three people working. Grab a Coke from the teachers’ refrigerator, Kevin. It’s a bonus we get for clearing the dishes off their lunch table.”
    Kevin opened the door to the teachers’ refrigerator, and smiled as he surveyed the contents. “Hey . . . who said teachers aren’t well paid? They’ve got Snapple in here!”
    â€œHelp yourself.” Colleen grinned at him. “Mr. Dorman said we could. And then come over and join us.”
    Kevin carried his Snapple over to the table and sat down. “Okay. I’m ready. Which ones do we count first?”
    â€œThe green ones.” Colleen pushed the vote box over to Kevin. “You can separate them as we go. Just pull out a heart and read the name inside.”
    Amy reached out to touch Kevin’s arm. “Hold it a second, Kevin. Before we get started, I just want to tell you that I think the team ribbons for Tanya are very nice.”
    â€œYou do?” Kevin looked shocked. “I thought you didn’t like Tanya.”
    Amy struggled for words. It was difficult to explain how she’d felt about Tanya. “I guess that’s true, in a way. I didn’t really like her. But she was in some of my classes, and I feel bad about what happened to her. And since she was the head cheerleader, I think the team ought to do something to show their respect.”
    â€œThat’s what I thought. Thanks, Amy.” Kevin picked a green heart out of the box. “Shall we start? This one’s for Brett.”
    Colleen took the heart from Kevin and nodded. “Right. Chalk up one vote for Brett.”
    â€œAnd this one’s for . . . Brett again.” Kevin handed the heart to Colleen, who verified it.
    Five minutes later, they were preparing to count the last vote for king. There had been a few lone votes for other guys, but Brett had received ninety percent of today’s vote.
    â€œI wonder if we should bother to open this one.” Kevin grinned as he held up the last green heart. “I think I already know how this is going to turn out.”
    Amy nodded. “Me, too. And that’s what Gail said when she told us she wouldn’t be here. She knew Brett would get the most votes for king.”
    â€œWas she talking about king . . . or queen?” Kevin raised his eyebrows.
    â€œKing. At least