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           "Youcanalwayscancel,youknow."

           Ilookeddown,afraidofthepersuasivepowerofhiseyes.Irefusedtobeconvincedtofearhim,nomatterhowrealthedangermightbe.Itdoesn’tmatter,Irepeatedinmyhead.

           "No,"Iwhispered,glancingbackathisface."Ican’t."

           "Perhapsyou’reright,"hemurmuredbleakly.HiseyesseemedtodarkenincolorasIwatched.

           Ichangedthesubject."WhattimewillIseeyoutomorrow?"Iasked,alreadydepressedbythethoughtofhimleavingnow.

           "Thatdepends...it’saSaturday,don’tyouwanttosleepin?"heoffered.

           "No,"Iansweredtoofast.Herestrainedasmile.

           "Thesametimeasusual,then,"hedecided."WillCharliebethere?"

           "No,he’sfishingtomorrow."Ibeamedatthememoryofhowconvenientlythingshadworkedout.

           Hisvoiceturnedsharp."Andifyoudon’tcomehome,whatwillhethink?"

           "Ihavenoidea,"Iansweredcoolly."HeknowsI’vebeenmeaningtodo

           thelaundry.Maybehe’llthinkIfellinthewasher."

           HescowledatmeandIscowledback.Hisangerwasmuchmoreimpressivethanmine.

           "Whatareyouhuntingtonight?"IaskedwhenIwassureIhadlostthegloweringcontest.

           "Whateverwefindinthepark.Wearen’tgoingfar."Heseemedbemusedbymycasualreferencetohissecretrealities.

           "WhyareyougoingwithAlice?"Iwondered.

           "Aliceisthemost...supportive."Hefrownedashespoke.

           "Andtheothers?"Iaskedtimidly."Whatarethey?"

           Hisbrowpuckeredforabriefmoment."Incredulous,forthemostpart."

           Ipeekedquicklybehindmeathisfamily.