Another head shake. Then he sighed.

“You’re going to like our school,” I said, quickly changing the subject. “We don’t just do regular school stuff but also archery and even Israeli folk dancing in gym. It’s really fun.”

He gave me a weird look. Maybe he didn’t like folk dancing.

Or maybe he was worried he wouldn’t make any friends. I still didn’t want any, but I supposed it would be okay to have him in my class.

“I’ll make sure you don’t end up sitting anywhere near Miri or Sasha.”

His eyebrow went up.

“Remember I told about the jerks at school who call me names? Miri and Sasha are the worst of them. Truly horrible human beings.”

He tilted his head. I was getting so good at reading him. That was his “Oh really?” look.

“Totally. The worst.”

I could tell Oren wanted me to elaborate. I fidgeted for a moment. “They’re just so mean. They call me names like Corpse Girl and say I smell like death.” I had to swallow because a big lump had formed in my throat.

His eyes widened as his mouth dropped open. He pulled out his phone, tapped hard at the screen and then turned it to show me.

SO MEAN!

“I know, right?” I cleared my throat and went on. “I mean, I take showers and baths all the time. And I’ve never been close enough to a…I mean…I don’t think I—” The tears came out of nowhere. I dropped my head and let them roll down my face.

Oren put his good hand on my arm. When I just kept on crying, he squeezed until I looked up at him. He shook his head really hard and then started typing again.

You don’t smell like death! You smell like strawberries!

“Thank you.” I sniffed.

Why are they so mean?

“I don’t know. They’re just…” I sighed again. “I don’t know. I thought it was because they didn’t understand what my parents do. But when my dad came for career day, that made it worse.”

Jerks.

“I mean, it’s not like I even want friends, but…” I trailed off.

Oren’s raised eyebrows said Why?

Could I tell him about Sam? I’d never told anyone about what had happened. Not Mom or Dad or… anyone. I’d never even said his name out loud since last summer.

I thought about what I already knew about Oren and how brave he’d been after everything he’d been through. I exhaled. “I did have one friend back at summer camp. He was really good at origami. But he’s…we’re not friends anymore. After that…” I shrugged. I couldn’t look at Oren, couldn’t tell him the rest. How after everything that had happened, I never wanted to have another friend. Ever.

How come?

“Drama,” I squeaked out.

Oren nodded knowingly.

Kids can be such jerks!

I took a deep breath. “Anyway, since then I’ve been sort of a loner.” How could I explain that it just hurt too much to try to make friends? “Doesn’t matter. The other kids probably think I talk too much anyway. Or maybe that I’m not nice. Who knows.”