Kristin Butcher... has novel ideas

Fifteen year-old Liberty Hayes has just moved to Sutter's Crossing, a rural community in British Columbia's interior. Liberty is rich and pretty and -- compared to the other teens at Clarence Cobb Regional Secondary School -- definitely worldly. So it is no surprise when she immediately becomes the centre of attention. Accustomed to this role, Liberty assumes her popularity as a right and is soon dominating the other students.

Except for Ryan Wilson. For some mysterious reason that his longtime friend, Val, doesn't understand, Ryan is staying as far away from Liberty as he can. Not only is the situation alienating him from the rest of the school, it looks like it may even cost him his friendship with Val.

(Excerpt from Chapter 8)

I strapped on my helmet and wheeled my bike out of the shed. Then I inhaled deeply. There was a definite nip of autumn in the air, but the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and it felt like the whole world was smiling. It was just too good a morning to stay indoors. Besides, if I hung around the house, Mom was bound to find work for me, and that was not how I wanted to spend my Saturday.

I hadn't intended to ride over to Ryan's place. I mean he lives a good seven miles away. It just sort of happened. I guess I was feeling energetic - and maybe a little guilty about how little I'd seen of him lately. Even though we were in most of the same classes, we didn't sit near enough to talk, and once the bell rang, Ryan always seemed to disappear.

As I pedaled up the long dirt driveway to his house, I spotted him in the corral, brushing Hercules. He saw me too and waved.

"What brings you out to the boonies?" he asked as I climbed the fence and plunked down on the top rail.

"Do I need a reason?" I grinned. "Can't a friend visit a friend?"

Ryan didn't answer, but the way he looked at me over Hercules' back made me wish I could take back that last sentence.

"We haven't seen much of each other lately," I tried again more honestly.

"You know where to find me," he said, but he sounded so far away it hurt. I hated this! When had Ryan and I started tiptoeing around each other? We used to be able to talk about anything! And now -- well -- and now we couldn't. If we didn't fix things soon, it would be too late.

"Ryan," I blurted, "why aren't we friends anymore?"

"We are friends," he said.

If that was true, why was he being so cold? He wouldn't even look at me. Maybe it was already too late. Misery settled over me like a lead overcoat.

"Not friends like we used to be," I said.

"Things change."

"The only change is Liberty Hayes, and for some reason that I don't understand -- and you won't explain -- you don't like her."

I waited for him to answer, but he just kept brushing Hercules.

"Well, I do like her!" I shouted in an effort to bring Ryan back to life.

"It's a free country," he shrugged.

I tried again, determined to get through to him. "Why are you being so difficult about this? You have no good reason to dislike Liberty. If anything, I would think you'd feel sorry for her after what Mr. Henderson did."

That hit a nerve. Ryan threw the brush to the ground. Then, looking as if he was about to murder someone, he came striding towards me. I didn't know whether to scream or run, but he was in my face so fast, I didn't have time to do either.

"Mr. Henderson didn't do anything!" he yelled. "It's all just a big, fat lie!"

"You don't know that!" I wailed. What was the matter with Ryan? Why couldn't he just give up on this hate he had for Liberty?

"Oh, yes, I do."

"How could you?"

"Easy," he growled, staring at me so hard I started to squirm. "I was there."