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           "Haven’tyoueverseensnowfallbefore?"heaskedincredulously.

           "SureIhave."Ipaused."OnTV."

           Mikelaughed.Andthenabig,squishyballofdrippingsnowsmackedintothebackofhishead.Webothturnedtoseewhereitcamefrom.IhadmysuspicionsaboutEric,whowaswalkingaway,hisbacktowardus-inthewrongdirectionforhisnextclass.Mikeappatentlyhadthesamenotion.Hebentoverandbeganscrapingtogetherapileofthewhitemush.

           "I’llseeyouatlunch,okay?"IkeptwalkingasIspoke."Oncepeoplestartthrowingwetstuff,Igoinside."

           Hejustnodded,hiseyesonEric’sretreatingfigure.

           Throughoutthemorning,everyonechatteredexcitedlyaboutthesnow;apparentlyitwasthefirstsnowfallofthenewyear.Ikeptmymouthshut.Sure,itwasdrierthanrain-untilitmeltedinyoursocks.

           IwalkedalertlytothecafeteriawithJessicaafterSpanish.Mushballswereflyingeverywhere.Ikeptabinderinmyhands,readytouseitasashieldifnecessary.JessicathoughtIwashilarious,butsomethinginmyexpressionkeptherfromlobbingasnowballatmeherself.

           Mikecaughtuptousaswewalkedinthedoors,laughing,withicemeltingthespikesinhishair.HeandJessicaweretalkinganimatedlyaboutthesnowfightaswegotinlinetobuyfood.Iglancedtowardthattableinthecorneroutofhabit.AndthenIfrozewhereIstood.Therewerefivepeopleatthetable.

           Jessicapulledonmyarm.

           "Hello?Bella?Whatdoyouwant?"

           Ilookeddown;myearswerehot.Ihadnoreasontofeelself-conscious,

           Iremindedmyself.