“How come you hit me?” Tim asked softly.

I started to answer him, to say, “Because you were insolent and unkind,” but I saw his smile of contempt as he waited for me to say just that.

“I hit you because I was angry. About Dolores and the rock. Because I felt hurt and foolish.”

His dark eyes searched my face. For an instant the veil was gone.

“I guess we’re even then,” he said.

“Yes,” I said, “let’s go to class.”

I walked with Tim down the hall, avoiding the beat of his walk.