Сумерки

           youweren’tplanningtoaskhim?"shepersistedwhenItoldherIdidn’tmindintheleast.

           "No,Jess,I’mnotgoing,"Iassuredher.Dancingwasglaringlyoutsidemyrangeofabilities.

           "Itwillbereallyfun."Herattempttoconvincemewashalfhearted.IsuspectedthatJessicaenjoyedmyinexplicablepopularitymorethanmyactualcompany.

           "YouhavefunwithMike,"Iencouraged.

           Thenextday,IwassurprisedthatJessicawasn’therusualgushingselfinTrigandSpanish.Shewassilentasshewalkedbymysidebetweenclasses,andIwasafraidtoaskherwhy.IfMikehadturnedherdown,Iwasthelastpersonshewouldwanttotell.

           MyfearswerestrengthenedduringlunchwhenJessicasatasfarfromMikeaspossible,chattinganimatedlywithEric.Mikewasunusuallyquiet.

           Mikewasstillquietashewalkedmetoclass,theuncomfortablelookonhisfaceabadsign.Buthedidn’tbroachthesubjectuntilIwasinmyseatandhewasperchedonmydesk.Asalways,IwaselectricallyawareofEdwardsittingcloseenoughtotouch,asdistantasifheweremerelyaninventionofmyimagination.

           "So,"Mikesaid,lookingatthefloor,"Jessicaaskedmetothespringdance."

           "That’sgreat."Imademyvoicebrightandenthusiastic."You’llhavealotoffunwithJessica."

           "Well..."Heflounderedasheexaminedmysmile,clearlynothappywithmyresponse."ItoldherIhadtothinkaboutit."

           "Whywouldyoudothat?"Iletdisapprovalcolormytone,thoughIwasrelievedhehadn’tgivenheranabsoluteno.

           Hisfacewasbrightredashelookeddownagain.