Aimee got to make the lettering for the big board in the cafeteria when the sixth grade artwork was displayed for back-to-school-night. Aimee got to read the announcements with another sixth grader--which the teachers decided on way back in the fifth grade by reading essays people wrote on why they should be chosen. The small group of students in the gifted and talented program voted her in as group leader, so it was Aimee that told Mrs. Hopkins about anything they had to go to, and Aimee that ushered them to and from GT activities outside of class, which provided her with another opportunity to come nonchalantly into class at odd times, nodding and smiling at students concentrating on work for ordinary children.

When Melissa first joined the class, all was well for a time. While Mrs. Hopkins was introducing Melissa in the front of the class, Aimee sized her up. She took in the small stature, at 59 pounds Melissa was the smallest in the class, the long braid that hung down her back, waiting to be pulled, the slight voice that told the class how to spell her long last name, and the unconscious nervous habit Melissa had of pushing her glasses up with her index finger. Then she raised her hand and told Mrs. Hopkins very sweetly that there was desk right next to hers, with a smile for the grateful Melissa.

From then on, Melissa was everywhere Aimee was. Which made sense, because Aimee was in charge of showing new students around. She showed Melissa to the cafeteria and the music room; she included Melissa in games at recess; and she even corrected the PE teacher that called Melissa Marissa, seeing that Melissa was too shy do to it herself.

As for Melissa, she thought Aimee was the nicest person in the class. She could see how Aimee tried to steer clear of being "teacher's pet" by hiding just how important the grades and reading the announcements were and acted just like other kids, playing kickball and passing notes. The only people that didn’t seem to like Aimee were a girl named Bobbie Morris and her best friend, Sarah Coombly. Aimee explained that Bobbie Morris used to be in the GT program, but her parents took her out, hence she was jealous of Aimee.

"I can’t help that," explained Aimee, innocently raising her arms. And of course, she couldn’t.

A lot of people were nice to Melissa because of Aimee, except for one girl named Erika Biswan, who was Aimee’s best friend.

"Nice glasses, Four Eyes," was Erika’s only greeting Melissa’s first day.

Melissa found she had an instant friend in one Eric Lysander, who was rumored to "like" Aimee and was on the verge of asking her to "go" with him. He told them jokes and made Melissa a paper football, which was very popular contraband in Mrs. Hopkins’ room at the time. But Eric was one area where Aimee's charm ran short.

"I think all that going with people stuff is so stupid," Aimee told Melissa. They had a rare moment alone, Aimee had asked if Melissa could accompany her to the office for the reading of the announcements. Melissa knew Erika Biswan was seething at the request, but cared not. Erika always said, "What’s she doing here?" with a huff, when Aimee included Melissa in anything. Melissa maintained a serious expression as Aimee poured out her feelings on the Eric situation.

"I mean, Eric used to be really funny and nice, then all this going with people stuff started this year and now he just acts dumb. You know what I mean?"

Melissa started, realizing Aimee had turned to her, waiting for an answer. "Well..." she faltered.

"I don't know, maybe not," Aimee said, turning away.

"Actually," Melissa said, regaining her senses, "when he’s just playing dodgeball or something when a lot of people are around, he's just normal. But...when he's around Joey and Shane he makes those dumb jokes, then tries to be nice when they leave."

Aimee turned. "Exactly! Erika says I'm just being a spaz and that I should go with Eric. But not if he's going to act like that."

Melissa nodded gravely, pleased that she and Erika didn't agree. "You shouldn't do something you don't want to just cause Erika things you're a spaz."

Aimee seemed to consider this. Then she said something that caught Melissa's breath. "You see, that's what I like about you, Melissa. You think different."

Melissa smiled modestly, turning away.

"What do you think of Mike Richards?" Aimee asked suddenly. Melissa turned to look at a boy coming from the opposite end of the hall. He began waving when he saw them. Aimee waved back. "He's the other announcements reader," Aimee explained.

Melissa nodded, sizing up said Mike Richards as Aimee told her he was also in the GT program, but he went with a group from his own sixth grade class, so she never got to talk to him except when they read the announcements. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Aimee that she too was in the GT program, but Mike came up to talk to them.

"Hi Aimee," Mike said, leaning on the wall next to the office. He was the exact opposite of Eric Lysander, who was a hyperactive blond with bright green eyes, a ever-present smirk and a nervous habit of blowing upwards at his bangs. Mike was dark, with dark eyes and hair and bangs that hung neatly, unruffled by any little nervous twitches.

"This is Melissa, she's new," Aimee blurted as if she could think of nothing else to say. Mike's nod reminded Melissa a lot of Brian. She wondered what it was that seemed familiar about Aimee's change in behavior as she watched them read the announcements together. The answer didn't come until they were almost through with their last item, the day's menu. Aimee was acting like Eric did when he was around her! And Eric liked Aimee....

"Do you like Mike?" Melissa hissed as they left the office ahead of him.

"Melissa, shush! I'll tell you later!" She lead Melissa around the corner. In a minute Mike came around to join them. "Ready?" Aimee asked.

Mike smiled. "I'm going to beat you this time."

"Melissa, count to three," Aimee instructed.

"Huh?"

"Just count to three."

Melissa counted, and at three Aimee and Mike took off running down the hall, pausing to jump up and touch the safety posters lining the walls. NO RUNNING IN THE HALLS appeared in even intervals.

"You guys, you're going to get in trouble!" Melissa gasped. She went after them, alternating between a fast walk and a skip. Then she sped up into a cautious run. After only a week at Edwards Elementary she knew the dire consequences of running in the hall. Still, there was something exhilarating about darting down the empty halls while everyone else was stuck in their classrooms, saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

Aimee and Mike reached the end of the hall and paused for breath. He asked her something that Melissa couldn't hear and Aimee answered. Mike then turned towards his own classroom and Aimee turned to Melissa, her face red. "I told him you wouldn't tell about our race. You won't, right?"

Melissa looked at this magnificent being, who could be good at everything and still have friends in the classroom yet break the school's biggest rule everyday with a boy that she liked. And this person liked her, and trusted her with things no one else knew. "Uh-uh," she said emphatically.

Melissa wasn't sure when Aimee first started acting differently towards her. She first noticed when, for the third time in a row, a paper of Melissa's with a big red 100 joined Aimee's up on the bulletin board and she didn't get her expected smile. Aimee talked only to Erika Biswan the recess after the spelling bee Melissa won with the word euphoria and didn't wait for Melissa after lunch when Mrs. Hopkins had to change Melissa's book for the book report twice because Melissa was such an avid reader.

Then one day Aimee got up to usher the GT students to an activity. When Melissa stood to follow them, Aimee said in her usual sweet voice, "Oh Melissa, you don't come with me here."

Before Melissa could answer, Mrs. Hopkins said, "Actually Aimee, I need you to show Melissa the GT room. She's in the program with you."

Aimee's hand fell limply from Melissa's shoulder. "She is?" Then she suddenly turned and took her workbook off of her desk. "Well, c'mon then," she said shortly.

On the way to the GT room Rod Zophy asked Melissa where she went to school before she came to Edwards. When Melissa replied that she lived right across the street from Concord, Rod wondered aloud why she would change schools.

"For the magnet program, dummy," Aimee said.

Rod frowned at her as Melissa, who was beginning to get annoyed with Aimee herself, said, "Yeah, for that and maybe because I was in the fifth grade."

Aimee rolled her eyes at Eric Lysander. "No duh, we all were last year."

"Oh," Melissa said lightly, "I meant that I started this year in the fifth grade."

Rod stared. "You skipped?"

"No way, nobody skips that high, you're supposed to skip first or second grade," Aimee said.

Melissa looked around at the dubious GT group. Aimee's frown the largest. Rod looked curious, Eric and Christina Wong were staring and even Blake Felder, who seemed to know less people than Melissa, looked doubtful. She said the only thing she could think of. "You can ask Mrs. Hopkins."

Aimee did just that when they got back to the classroom. As the buses were being called Aimee approached Melissa in the coat closet. "Mrs. Hopkins says you're only ten."

"I know," Melissa said, straightening up. Aimee turned on her heel and left without another word.

The whole incident may have blown over if not for a special morning announcement the following day. Mrs. Hopkins stopped Aimee on her way out to read the announcements, explaining that the principal, Mr. Logan, said he was going to do them himself. Aimee returned her desk, replying in her usual blithe tone, but Melissa could see that she was puzzled.

Mr. Logan's voice came over the loudspeaker and even Joey Yates and Shane Shaw were quiet; they didn't make their usual remarks like they did when Aimee and Mike came on. Mr. Logan gravely read the usual announcements, including the menu, then the class heard him put aside the papers with a small shuffle and clear his throat.

"Once again, it has come to my attention that people have been running through our halls, "he said. Aimee sat straight up and looked ahead. "We make our rules here at school to keep everyone safe..." Melissa took an inward breath. As she was wondering who could've told the principal about Mike and Aimee's racing her eyes fell on Erika Biswan. She started, when she discovered Erika was looking right back at her.

"I would like to see these students this afternoon," continued Mr. Logan. He named several sixth graders but the only names the class heard were Amanda Bidarka and Michael Richards. Aimee kept looking straight ahead as the class buzzed with excitement. When the announcement stopped she acted as if nothing happened, nodding lightly when Mrs. Hopkins told her that Mr. Logan wanted to see the students after lunch. Aimee did not look at Melissa for the rest of the morning.