Chapter 11

           Everyonewatchedusaswewalkedtogethertoourlabtable.Inoticedthathenolongerangledthechairtositasfarfrommeasthedeskwouldallow.Instead,hesatquiteclosebesideme,ourarmsalmosttouching.

           Mr.Bannerbackedintotheroomthen-whatsuperbtimingthemanhad-pullingatallmetalframeonwheelsthatheldaheavy-looking,outdatedTVandVCR.Amovieday-theliftintheclassatmospherewasalmosttangible.

           Mr.BannershovedthetapeintothereluctantVCRandwalkedtothewalltoturnoffthelights.

           Andthen,astheroomwentblack,IwassuddenlyhyperawarethatEdwardwassittinglessthananinchfromme.Iwasstunnedbytheunexpected

           electricitythatflowedthroughme,amazedthatitwaspossibletobemoreawareofhimthanIalreadywas.Acrazyimpulsetoreachoverandtouchhim,tostrokehisperfectfacejustonceinthedarkness,nearlyoverwhelmedme.Icrossedmyarmstightlyacrossmychest,myhandsballingintofists.Iwaslosingmymind.

           Theopeningcreditsbegan,lightingtheroombyatokenamount.Myeyes,oftheirownaccord,flickeredtohim.IsmiledsheepishlyasIrealizedhisposturewasidenticaltomine,fistsclenchedunderhisarms,rightdowntotheeyes,peeringsidewaysatme.Hegrinnedback,hiseyessomehowmanagingtosmolder,eveninthedark.IlookedawaybeforeIcouldstarthyperventilating.ItwasabsolutelyridiculousthatIshouldfeeldizzy.

           Thehourseemedverylong.Icouldn’tconcentrateonthemovie-Ididn’tevenknowwhatsubjectitwason.