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           Iwentthroughdifferentargumentswithherinmyheadwhiletheteacherdronedon.

           Whenthebellrang,anasalbuzzingsound,aganglyboywithskinproblemsandhairblackasanoilslickleanedacrosstheaisletotalktome.

           "You’reIsabellaSwan,aren’tyou?"Helookedliketheoverlyhelpful,chessclubtype.

           "Bella,"Icorrected.Everyonewithinathree-seatradiusturnedtolookatme.

           "Where’syournextclass?"heasked.

           Ihadtocheckinmybag."Um,Government,withJefferson,inbuildingsix."

           Therewasnowheretolookwithoutmeetingcuriouseyes.

           "I’mheadedtowardbuildingfour,Icouldshowyoutheway..."Definitelyover-helpful."I’mEric,"headded.

           Ismiledtentatively."Thanks."

           Wegotourjacketsandheadedoutintotherain,whichhadpickedup.Icouldhaveswornseveralpeoplebehinduswerewalkingcloseenoughtoeavesdrop.IhopedIwasn’tgettingparanoid.

           "So,thisisalotdifferentthanPhoenix,huh?"heasked.

           "Very."

           "Itdoesn’trainmuchthere,doesit?"

           "Threeorfourtimesayear."

           "Wow,whatmustthatbelike?"hewondered.

           "Sunny,"Itoldhim.

           "Youdon’tlookverytan."

           "Mymotherispartalbino."

           Hestudiedmyfaceapprehensively,andIsighed.Itlookedlikecloudsandasenseofhumordidn’tmix.AfewmonthsofthisandI’dforgethowtousesarcasm.

           Wewalkedbackaroundthecafeteria,tothesouthbuildingsbythegym.Ericwalkedmerighttothedoor,thoughitwasclearlymarked.

           "Well,goodluck,"hesaidasItouchedthehandle."Maybewe’llhavesomeotherclassestogether."Hesoundedhopeful.