Сумерки

           "Andyoudon’tthinkIwoulddothesame?"

           "You’dneverhavetomakethechoice."

           Abruptly,hisunpredictablemoodshiftedagain;amischievous,devastatingsmilerearrangedhisfeatures."Ofcourse,keepingyousafeisbeginningtofeellikeafull-timeoccupationthatrequiresmyconstantpresence."

           "Noonehastriedtodoawaywithmetoday,"Iremindedhim,gratefulforthelightersubject.Ididn’twanthimtotalkaboutgoodbyesanymore.IfIhadto,IsupposedIcouldpurposefullyputmyselfindangertokeephimclose...Ibanishedthatthoughtbeforehisquickeyesreaditonmyface.Thatideawoulddefinitelygetmeintrouble.

           "Yet,"headded.

           "Yet,"Iagreed;Iwouldhaveargued,butnowIwantedhimtobeexpectingdisasters.

           "Ihaveanotherquestionforyou."Hisfacewasstillcasual.

           "Shoot."

           "DoyoureallyneedtogotoSeattlethisSaturday,orwasthatjustanexcusetogetoutofsayingnotoallyouradmirers?"

           Imadeafaceatthememory."Youknow,Ihaven’tforgivenyoufortheTylerthingyet,"Iwarnedhim."It’syourfaultthathe’sdeludedhimselfintothinkingI’mgoingtopromwithhim."

           "Oh,hewouldhavefoundachancetoaskyouwithoutme-Ijustreallywantedtowatchyourface,"hechuckled,Iwouldhavebeenangrierifhislaughterwasn’tsofascinating."IfI’daskedyou,wouldyouhaveturnedmedown?"heasked,stilllaughingtohimself.

           "Probablynot,"Iadmitted."ButIwouldhavecanceledlater-fakedanillnessorasprainedankle."

           Hewaspuzzled."Whywouldyoudothat?"

           Ishookmyheadsadly.