Vera Xavier was still debating how to get her backpack back when Nathaniel Nathan walked over, wearing her pink backpack and completely ignoring the stares of those around them. The sight of him only made her more embarrassed.
'I could just slap myself right now,' she thought. 'It's bad enough I ran my mouth, but I also had to be so careless and leave him with something to hold over me.'
He stood at her front door with the backpack on, neither going in nor speaking. He just stood there ramrod straight, watching her with a ghost of a smile.
His stare made her skin crawl. She didn't dare look him in the eye, and she had no idea how she was going to get the backpack from him.
Fortunately, Zachary Preston was just getting home from work. Seeing Nathaniel at the door, he smiled and said, "Nathaniel, you're here! Why aren't you going in?"
Nathaniel Nathan said lightly, "Vera Xavier left her backpack in my car. I'm just dropping it off, then I'll be on my way."
