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           "Buthislonghandsformedmanaclesaroundmywristsashespoke.Helaughedhisquiet,musicallaugh.He’dlaughedmoretonightthanI’deverheardinallthetimeI’dspentwithhim.

           "Youseemmore...optimisticthanusual,"Iobserved."Ihaven’tseenyoulikethisbefore."

           "Isn’titsupposedtobelikethis?"Hesmiled."Thegloryoffirstlove,andallthat.It’sincredible,isn’tit,thedifferencebetweenreadingaboutsomething,seeingitinthepictures,andexperiencingit?"

           "Verydifferent,"Iagreed."MoreforcefulthanI’dimagined."

           "Forexample"-hiswordsflowedswiftlynow,Ihadtoconcentratetocatchitall-"theemotionofjealousy.I’vereadaboutitahundredthousandtimes,seenactorsportrayitinathousanddifferentplaysandmovies.IbelievedIunderstoodthatoneprettyclearly.Butitshockedme..."Hegrimaced."DoyourememberthedaythatMikeaskedyoutothedance?"

           Inodded,thoughIrememberedthatdayforadifferentreason."Thedayyoustartedtalkingtomeagain."

           "Iwassurprisedbytheflareofresentment,almostfury,thatIfelt-Ididn’trecognizewhatitwasatfirst.IwasevenmoreaggravatedthanusualthatIcouldn’tknowwhatyouwerethinking,whyyourefusedhim.Wasitsimplyforyourfriend’ssake?Wastheresomeoneelse?IknewIhadnorighttocareeitherway.Itriednottocare.

           "Andthenthelinestartedforming,"hechuckled.Iscowledinthedarkness.

           "Iwaited,unreasonablyanxioustohearwhatyouwouldsaytothem,towatchyourexpressions.