Chapter 5

           ImademywaytoEnglishinadaze.Ididn’tevenrealizewhenIfirstwalkedinthatclasshadalreadystarted.

           "Thankyouforjoiningus,MissSwan,"Mr.Masonsaidinadisparagingtone.

           Iflushedandhurriedtomyseat.

           Itwasn’ttillclassendedthatIrealizedMikewasn’tsittinginhisusualseatnexttome.Ifeltatwingeofguilt.ButheandEricbothmetmeatthedoorasusual,soIfiguredIwasn’ttotallyunforgiven.Mikeseemedtobecomemorehimselfaswewalked,gainingenthusiasmashetalkedabouttheweatherreportforthisweekend.Therainwassupposedtotakeaminorbreak,andsomaybehisbeachtripwouldbepossible.Itriedtosoundeager,tomakeupfordisappointinghimyesterday.Itwashard;rainornorain,itwouldstillonlybeinthehighforties,ifwewerelucky.

           Therestofthemorningpassedinablur.ItwasdifficulttobelievethatIhadn’tjustimaginedwhatEdwardhadsaid,andthewayhiseyeshadlooked.MaybeitwasjustaveryconvincingdreamthatI’dconfusedwithreality.ThatseemedmoreprobablethanthatIreallyappealedtohimonanylevel.

           SoIwasimpatientandfrightenedasJessicaandIenteredthecafeteria.Iwantedtoseehisface,toseeifhe’dgonebacktothecold,indifferentpersonI’dknownforthelastseveralweeks.Orif,bysomemiracle,I’dreallyheardwhatIthoughtI’dheardthismorning.Jessicababbledonandonaboutherdanceplans-LaurenandAngelahadaskedtheotherboysandtheywereallgoingtogether-completelyunawareofmyinattention.