Если я останусь

           IplayedbetterthanIeverhaveinmylife.ItwaslikeIwaspossessed."

           Adam’sfirstreactionwastosmilewithpride."IwishIcould’veseenthat."Butthenhiseyescloudedoverandhislipsfellintoafrown."Why’dyoudownplayit?"heasked."Whydidn’tyoucallmeaftertheauditiontobrag?"

           "Idon’tknow,"Isaid.

           "Well,thisisgreatnews,"Adamsaid,tryingtomaskhishurt."Weshouldbecelebrating."

           "Okay,let’scelebrate,"Isaid,withaforcedgaiety."WecangotoPortlandSaturday.GototheJapaneseGardensandgooutfordinneratBeauThai."

           Adamgrimaced."Ican’t.We’replayinginOlympiaandSeattlethisweekend.Minitour.Remember?I’dloveforyoutocome,butIdon’tknowifthat’sreallyacelebrationforyou.ButI’llbebackSundaylateafternoon.IcanmeetyouinPortlandSundaynightifyouwant."

           "Ican’t.I’mplayinginastringquartetatsomeprofessor’shouse.Whataboutnextweekend?"

           Adamlookedpained."We’reinthestudiothenextcoupleweekends,butwecangooutduringtheweeksomewhere.Aroundhere.TotheMexicanplace?"

           "Sure.TheMexicanplace,"Isaid.

           Twominutesbefore,Ihadn’tevenwantedtocelebrate,butnowIwasfeelingdejectedandinsultedatbeingrelegatedtoamidweekdinneratthesameplacewealwayswentto.

           WhenAdamgraduatedfromhighschoollastspringandmovedoutofhisparents’placeandintotheHouseofRock,Ihadn’texpectedmuchtochange.He’dstilllivenearby.