Mirabe let her mind wander for a moment before nodding absently, "Oh, Lisa, that''s right."


    Ben nced at the data on Mirabe''sputer, his fingers ying with a ck ring behind his back. "She''s been a bit offtely. I wonder if she''s dealing with some school stuff she''s not telling anyone about."


    Mirabe thought back to what Lisa''s mom had mentioned earlier, finding it pretty simr.


    After a brief pause, she suggested, "I''m not too sure. Maybe you could ask her roommates, Mr. Ben."


    Ben chuckled, "I just figured you''d know since Lisa talks about you all the time. Thought you''d be in the loop."


    Mirabe shook her head, tapping slowly on her keyboard, choosing not to dive deeper into the subject.


    Ben picked up on her disinterest and decided not to push it. From their interactions, he knew she was a very private person.


    She didn''t say much, kept her guard up, and wasn''t one to unt her skills.


    With someone like her, pressing too much could backfire.


    His sister''s protective nature over Mirabe suggested a strong bond, so he left it at that.


    Ben turned and walked away, leaving Mirabe glued to herputer screen.


    Once she was done with school for the day and had settled back home, Mirabe got a call from Lisa right around dinner.


    Lisa''s voice was thick and a bit shaky, "I''ll be resting a few days and then head back to school, Mira. No need to worry."


    Mirabe was lounging on the couch, a book on herp. She leaned back and asked casually, "You sound kind of out of it. What got you sick all of a sudden?"


    Lisa snuggled deeper into her


    nket, looking worn out, her lips pale and her eyes tired. She sniffled, "Probably from staying upte ying games and leaving my window open. The cold got to me."  swnovel


    This exnation didn''t quite match what Gracie and Ben had said. Pondering this, Mirabe mentioned, "Your brother was asking me today if you were having any trouble at school."


    Lisa''s hand shook, causing her


    phone to slip down into her nket. She quickly retrieved it, putting it back to her ear, her voice anxious, to "Why would he say that to you? Did he ask you to check on me?"


    swnovel


    Hearing the worry in Lisa''s voice, Mirabe raised an eyebrow, "He didn''t say much else, and he didn''t ask me to visit."


    Lisa had warned her a few times to steer clear of her brother Emmitt, though she never borated why.


    So now, was Ben interested in Mirabe?


    What could she possibly have that would catch Ben''s attention?


    Neither the school projects nor the medical stuff seemed connected.


    Mirabe found the whole thing intriguing.


    Meanwhile, Lisa was surprised Ben hadn''t urged Mirabe to visit,ē thinking it wasn''t like him. Clutching her phone, she finally said,


    "Whatever he says, just ignore him. He''s got his own agenda."


    belongs to swnovel


    Just as she was about to continue, a knock on the door stopped her. She turned slightly to see who it was.


    The door opened, and Gracie stepped in, with Ben right behind her.


    Lisa''s eyes widened slightly, and without a word, she ended the call and tucked


    her phone under the pillow.