“You're annoying,” Johanna said again. Johanna even closed her book this time.

Avril laughed instead. “It's rare that I see a Johanna Connor angry.”

Johanna stopped in the middle of the corridor. She hugged her math book and held the edge tightly until her knuckles turned white. Not only that, Johanna even looked at Avril sharply from behind her glasses. Okay! Johanna was really angry this time. Arriving home, Avril continued to sleep. Later that evening, Avril checked her cell phone and found 1023 messages from Johanna.

“You're so annoying!” Johanna said again.

“oh, my! Tell me, what should J do to ease your anger” Avril said seriously.

Some people were watching them but Avril and Johanna didn't care about them at all. Well, Avril was back in her world where she didn't mind being the center of attention. As long as Avril doesn't bother others, why not? Avril has principles like that. She didn't want to bother others and she didn't want to be bothered either.

“I'm getting annoyed with you,” Johanna said.

Avril watched Johanna. No! Correction! Johanna was really upset. Someone noticed them and walked over to Johanna. No! That person is bound to run Johanna over like they did Matt, but Avril didn't like that. Seconds later, Avril pulled Johanna with a panicked face.

“Look out!” said Avril.

Johanna gasped. The person who passed Johanna was surprised to see Avril's reaction. The girl smiled a little while bowing as a gesture of apology. Several other people passed by Johanna casually. Avril watched the people passing by. A girl wearing glasses in ordinary clothes even looked down when she saw them. Avril finally remembered what Matt had said. They hoped to be transparent. In fact, it was Avril and Johanna who disturbed the corridor path but they stayed away. How could their treatment be so different?

“What are you doing?” Johanna said in surprise.

Avril refocused herself on Johanna. “It's okay! We're just disturbing passersby. That's all.”

Johanna looked at Avril. “You're looking at me like something bad is going to happen. We're just standing in the corridor, A!”

Avril smiled clumsily. A few more people passed them by and in a way, Avril felt bad about it. They tolerated Johanna and Avril standing in the corridor but not students like Matt. What exactly made them different? Avril still clearly remembered their scathing comments just because they were standing in the corridor. That's right! For Johanna and Avril, they were standing in the corridor. It wasn't a big deal. However, for people like Matt, it was a big deal and could even make them uncomfortable because of how some people treated them.

“I saw a horror movie last night,” said Avril. “I think I'm still thinking about it.”

“You should watch less of that kind of stuff,” said Johanna.

“I'm just curious. You know me, right, J?” Avril replied.

Johanna rolled her eyes. Who could stop Avril if she had made up her mind? Johanna put on her flat face and watched Avril. “Don't think I've forgotten what we talked about before.”

Avril smiled sweetly to woo Johanna then approached the girl and took her hand. “I'll do whatever you want as long as you don't get angry again, J!”

Avril pulled Johanna's hand until they were walking again. Avril and Johanna planned to put down their books before going to the cafeteria. Avril had no idea that what happened to her and Matt yesterday could affect him like this.

“Then tell me what you did yesterday,” Johanna said. “You think I believe you just slept in on Friday?” said Johanna.

“You don't believe me?” asked Avril, looking for an excuse.

“You said you weren't sick! You just don't move when you're sick Avril Marie Miller!” said Johanna irritably.

Okay, that's a sign! Johanna had called her by her full name and even her middle name. Johanna was serious right now and yes, she was mad at Avril. Avril sighed. She had intended to hide this but it seemed she couldn't trick her best friend at all.

“I'll tell you about it. But first, let's put our books down” Avril said.

Johanna sighed. “Don't think I'll forget, A!”

Avril patted Johanna's hand with her left hand. “No, of course! How could the smartest student Johanna Connor forget?”

Johanna didn't answer. She walked to her locker and put down her books. Avril's locker was quite far from Johanna's. The girl walked alone and put her book in her locker. Avril looked at Johanna who was waiting for her from the tail of her eyes. Oh, my! Johanna had even finished putting down her book. Since when is she that fast? Avril quickly put down her book and sighed. This is it! Avril couldn't run anymore.

Avril turned back to Johanna. The girl waited and immediately gave Avril a sharp glare as a form of urgency. As soon as they walked together again, Avril approached and started talking in a low voice. Johanna glanced at Avril in confusion. She didn't usually speak in such a low voice. Since when did Avril have a secret?

“So...” Avril said hesitantly.

“Yeah?”

“I went undercover last Friday,” Avril said as an opening sentence.

“Undercover?” asked Johanna.

“Yes! You don't believe me?” whispered Avril mysteriously.

“I guess I'd rather believe you were in disguise than you were in bed all day,” said Johanna.

“That makes more sense for someone like you, A”

Avril laughed amusedly. “You know me.”

“And?” urged Johanna. “What are you in disguise for?”

Avril was silent. They continued walking towards the cafeteria and for the first time in Avril's life, she was at a loss to tell Johanna something. Why did it feel embarrassing? Avril even felt nervous. Okay! This is another new sensation Avril feels just because she remembers Matthew Connor. Avril only remembered the reason for her disguise.

“Earth to Avril! Is your brain on the fritz?” Johanna asked impatiently.

“A little” admitted Avril.

“So, why? Why are you in disguise? You've been looking strange lately Avril! You didn't even tell me you were absent from school!” protested Johanna.

“Okay. I'll tell you” said Avril as she prepared herself.
“So?”

“I'm in disguise because of Matt” admitted Avril.

Johanna stopped walking. She noticed Avril. “You? What? Did I hear you wrong?”

“You didn't hear wrong,” said Avril. “But, I can't lie to you J!”

Johanna glanced at Avril again. Her eyes were watching Avril. “Why, that's a bit absurd!”

Avril sighed. “Matty keeps avoiding me because I'm the center of attention. He doesn't like being the center of attention.”

Johanna understood that one. “Of course, he would do something stupid like that. But, why would you do such a stupid thing?”

Avril just shrugged her shoulders indifferently. “I was just thinking, what if I disguised myself? Become one of them? Would Matt accept me? He was annoyed when I decided to eat with him.”

Johanna halted her steps. They were one step away from the cafeteria and Avril began to look around. Was she going to meet Matt today? Avril was always excited but the excitement she felt was different.

“Don't tell me you were in the cafeteria last Friday?” asked Johanna.