"Why did you make Adalynn run that half-mile for you today?" Benicio's accusatory tone cut through me like an icy wind.
"I've told you before, if you're not planning to run, don't sign up. Dropping the ball at the last minute and leaving Adalynn to deal with it nearly got her in trouble."
He had already decided I was guilty.
I wanted to tell him that I never signed up for the half-mile; someone had pulled a prank and put my name down. I wanted to explain that it wasn’t because I didn’t want to run, but because my mom had fainted earlier, and I spent the entire day with her at the hospital. I needed to clarify that I never asked Adalynn to run for me; I had informed the track captain to find someone else, but somehow Adalynn ended up in my place...
But as I looked into his cold eyes, the will to explain evaporated.
He likes Adalynn. Regardless of whether my excuse was legitimate, the fact was that she got caught up in a mess because of me. Benicio knew it wasn't intentional, yet he still resented me. He blamed me for the trouble that fell upon someone he cares about.
So any explanation I could give wouldn’t calm his anger.
