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Text File  |  1993-04-09  |  28KB  |  446 lines
  1. 072010303050000144002006007011000
  2. 1###0
  3. 2###0
  4. F0110000001
  5. 9[◆....◆..............◆...................◆............................]0110
  6. Ç
  7. üTheSchoolofLife!(v2)Ç
  8. éByKaiHolst!Ç
  9. éRiddles:ScottRoachÇ
  10.  
  11.  Neishasighed.Alreadyaminuteaftersheenteredtheschoolbuslife
  12. hadgivenitsfirstsignofthedayofbeingagainsther,asitalways
  13. did.Thepredictabilityofherlifeneverfailed.
  14.  Thebusridetookonlysevenminutes,buttheminutesfeltlikehours
  15. becauseofShannon,whowaspesteringherlifebypinchingheror
  16. callinghernames.Shecouldnotbelievethatshehadoncebeeninlove
  17. withhim.Maybesheshouldhavesaidyeswhenhehadaskedherfora
  18. datetwomonthsago?He'dbeenapaineversinceshehadturnedhim
  19. down.
  20.  Shesighedagain,andalmostchokedasshefeltthepainintheback
  21. ofherheadasShannonpulledherhair.Alonelytearrolleddownher
  22. frailcheek."Howchildish",shethoughtwhilefightingherdesireto
  23. hithim.Onedayhewouldregretbeingsounkindtoher.Oneday...
  24.  Herthoughtstrailedtothelettershehadspentallyesterday
  25. writing.Jeremy'sletter.Shekeptitnexttoherheart,keepingit
  26. warm.She'dwrittentheaddressgracefullyontheenvelopeandsealed
  27. itwithasoftkiss,andhadselectedbeautifulstampsforit,with
  28. flowersandbirdsonthem.Sheknewhewouldwriteherareplytheday
  29. hegotit,ashealwaysdid.Dozensofletters,andevenmorebrief
  30. phonecallshadbeenexchangedbetweenthemsinceJeremyhadmovedto
  31. Europethreemonthsearlier.Theyhadbeengoingsteadyforalmosta
  32. year,andbothintendedtomakeitmuchlonger.NeishaknewthatJeremy
  33. washeronlyfriend.
  34.  Allherlife,Neishahadbeenlonely.Inherworld,nobodybutJeremy
  35. hadevercaredabouther,andthatcarewasthekeytoherlove.
  36.  Jeremywasspecialinhimself.AslongasNeishacouldremember,the
  37. girlsofherclasshadbeendreamingabouthim.Butinspiteofhis
  38. merryappearance,hehadnofriendsbeforehegottoknowNeisha.He
  39. knewhowtohidehisloneliness.ButNeishaknew.Shehadfoundoutthe
  40. firsttimehehadaskedherout.Hetoldherithadtakenhimall
  41. summertobuildupthecouragetodothat.
  42.  HetookherwalkingintheparkonthatbeautifulAugustday.Itwas
  43. warmandcloudless,andthefrailringhegavehercarriedthewarmth
  44. ofthatdayinit.Neishastillworeit.
  45.  ThedaydreamfadedawayasJanie,oneofthegirlsofherclass,shook
  46. hershoulder.HerkindfacelookeddownatNeisha."Areyougoingto
  47. sithereallday?"Ignoringthefriendlysarcasmofthequestion,
  48. NeishaslowlygrabbedherbagandfollowedJanieoutofthebus.
  49.  Thiswashergreatestfear.Shehadatendencytodumpintosomesort
  50. oftroubleeveryday.Somepunkshadatendencytobullyheraround
  51. whenevertheymether,butwhatshereallyhatedwasbeingasked
  52. questionsinclass.Nomatterwhathappened,shemanagedtomakeafool
  53. ofherselfinonewayoranother,andtherewasno-onetocomforther
  54. anylonger.
  55.  Therainofthenighthadlefttheasphaltwetandslippery,andas
  56. Neishaleftthebussheslippedonthewetground.Fightingtokeepon
  57. herfeet,shefeltJanie'sfirmhandonherarm.Herfacealmostcerise
  58. sheutteredaquickwordingratitude,andlookedaroundtoseeif
  59. anybodyelsehadseenherslip.Theschoolyardwasvoidofpeoplesave
  60. themselves.Aswiftglanceonherwatchconfirmedhersuspicion:They
  61. werelateagain.
  62.  Thefirstperiodwentunusuallysmooth.ThesubjectwasHistory,one
  63. ofherfavourites.Eversinceherearlychildhoodit'dbeenherspecial
  64. interest,andthiscameinveryhandyastheteacherbombardedherwith
  65. tonsofquestions.Asparkleofconfidencewaslitinherasshe
  66. Çunerringlybroughtforthreplyafterreply,andshefeltgreatwhenthe
  67. teachermovedontoquestionThomas.
  68.  Speakingoutloudinclasswasusuallyanexerciseinstutteringand
  69. embarrassmenttoNeisha,butwhenshegotsomethingright,thetriumph
  70. wassomuchbigger.Shesmiledinwardatherselfasthestoryof
  71. religioustroubleandwitcheswascastupontherestoftheclass.She
  72. dutifullymadesomenotesastheteacherspokeonattheblackboard,
  73. buttheonlylegiblethingsheproducedwasasingleword,writtenat
  74. leastadozentimes.Jeremy.Theletterwasstillnexttoherheart,
  75. butnowitprovidedwarmth.Theonlywarmthinherentireexistence.
  76.  ThecorridorsofherHighSchoolweretoolong.Neishaneverhad
  77. enoughtimetogetfromroomtoroomduringthefiveminutebreak
  78. betweenclasses.ShehadtorundownthestairstogettoEnglishclass
  79. ataquartertonine,andalreadyknewshewasgoingtobelate.
  80.  Withasizeablebunchofbooksinherlefthand,sheenteredthelast
  81. corridorandcollidedwithamedium-sizedyoungboywearingaleather
  82. jacket,worn-outjeansandapairofgloomyshades.Shecursedherbad
  83. lucklongbeforetheirbookshitthefloor.Thoseshadeswerethe
  84. trademarkofoneofthehallgangsthathauntedthecorridors.Sheonly
  85. caughtoneshortglimpseofhisfacebeforeshebentdowntopickup
  86. allherbooks,andcursedherselfforbeinginsuchahurry.
  87.  ShehadcollidedwithaboysheknewasMark.Hewasofherage,and
  88. hadbeeninherparallelclassforsevenyears,butsheonlyknewhim
  89. astheleaderofTheShades.Hewasalone.
  90.  "Well,whathavewehere?"Thepenetratingvoicewascolderthanice,
  91. andheregardedherwithanexpressionlessfacefrombehindtheshades.
  92. "Apeachinahurry?"Neishafroze,herfaceturnedawayfromhim.
  93. Peach?
  94.  "Listen,I,I,I'msorryIhityoulikethat."Herthoughtswereas
  95. scatteredasherbooksasshedesperatelysoughtawayoutofthe
  96. delicatesituation.
  97.  "Nowyoulisten!"Assheheardhisvoice,Neishaturnedtowardshim,
  98. feelingfeltlikeshewasfacingherowndoom.Butshehadnot
  99. anticipatedthereactionshecaused.
  100.  ItwasMark'sturntofreeze.Heloweredthehandhehadpointed
  101. accusinglyather,andpalednoticeably.
  102.  "Neish?"Hegaveherahandandhelpedherup.Thisunexpectedgesture
  103. bewilderedher.Whenhebentdownandquicklypickedupherbooks,the
  104. confusiononlygrew.
  105.  "Tellme,howisJeremydoinginhisnewhome?"Thetoneofhisvoice
  106. hadchanged,andwasnowsilentandcomfortable.Hehandedoverher
  107. books,andsmiledapologeticallyather.
  108.  Neishacouldn'tseehiseyes,andcouldn'tmakeuphermindonwhether
  109. itwasafakesmileornot.ShehadneverknownthatMarkandJeremy
  110. hadknowneachother,andJeremyhadloathedalltheproblemyoungsters
  111. whogatheredintogangs.
  112.  Theschoolbellinterruptedhertrainofthoughtsasshewasjust
  113. abouttotellMarkthatJeremywasdoingfine.
  114.  "Youhadbettergettoclassintime,"Marksaid,andhesitatedbefore
  115. hecontinued."Canwemeetinthecanteenatnoon?"Itwasaproposal
  116. shewouldusuallyhaveturneddown.
  117.  "Huh?Imean,yes,whynot?"Shecouldseeapoorlyhiddengrinon
  118. Mark'sfaceasheturnedawaywithaquicknodandrantogettohis
  119. class.
  120.  Behindhim,Neishastoodbewildered.Shedidn'tknowwhatiswasthat
  121. hadmadeheraccepttheunusualinvitation.Noon.Thatwouldbeduring
  122. lunchbreak.AssheslowlywalkedthetenyardstoherEnglishclassit
  123. struckher.Markhadusedhernickname.OnlyherfatherandJeremyhad
  124. evercalledher"Neish".
  125.  NeishasufferedherselfthroughEnglishclasswithJeremyonhermind
  126. Çallthetime.TherewerenoconnectionsbetweenhimandMarkthatshe
  127. knewof,andthemysterytormentedher.Sherejectedthethoughtof
  128. addingafewlinesinherlettertoJeremybecauseshehadalready
  129. sealeditshut,andcouldn'tdoanythingbutwait.Herpreoccupation
  130. irritatedtheteacherabit,butnotasmuchasthefeelingofnot
  131. knowingsomethingirritatedher.Shewantedtoknowwhattheconnection
  132. was.AndshewouldmakeMarktellher!
  133.  Onlyfourroomsaway,Markregrettedtheimpetuousinvitationhehad
  134. offeredNeisha.Ithadbeenabrashthingtodo,buthecouldnotback
  135. outnow.AquickglanceatsomeofhisfellowmembersofTheShades
  136. revealedthattheyknewaboutit.Markalreadyhadtoomanyproblems,
  137. butthisonefeltlikeayokearoundhisneck.
  138.  TotallyignoringtheSpanish-teacher,hesatdownwithpaperanda
  139. pen,andstartedwritingthewordshehadbeenthinkingoffortoolong
  140. now.HehadalwaysbeeninlovewithNeisha,andnowwasthetimeto
  141. showit.Buthow?
  142.  "MissMorrison,willyoupleasepayattention?"
  143.  ThecuttingvoiceofherteachertoreNeishaoutofherthoughtsin
  144. timetoseetheotherstudentsleavingtheroom.Flushing,shepicked
  145. upherthingsandwalkedembarrassedoutoftheroom.
  146.  Neishaagainfoundherselfrunningthroughthecorridorstowardsher
  147. locker.Thistime,though,shewascarefultoavoidincidentslikethe
  148. oneofthepreviousrecess.Sheneededtofindoutwhereshewastobe
  149. thefollowinghour,andasshewassearchingforascheduleinthemess
  150. ofherlockershemissedJeremymorethanever.Healwaysknewwhere
  151. shewastobe,andfollowedhertherebeforehehadtogettohisown
  152. class.WouldMarkdothat?Neishaomittedthequestionasshefoundher
  153. schedulebeneathabook.
  154.  TheLiteratureclasseswerenottoobad.Neishawasabletogether
  155. mindofftheappointmentwithMarkandconcentratedondoingthe
  156. assignments.WhatshedidnotknowwasthatMark,sittinginthe
  157. adjacentroom,couldnotgethismindoffher.Hewastryingtowrite
  158. hisfeelings,butthewordsdidnotcomeoutright.Thiswholedealwas
  159. gettingonhisnervesastheideahithim.Thingssuddenlyseemedto
  160. fit,andMarkquicklyproducedthekeywordsheneeded.Thenthesix
  161. lineswereinhismind,andhesmiled.
  162.  AfterwhatfeltlikedaysoftormenttoNeisha,theLiteratureclass
  163. wasfinallyoveratfivetotwelve,andtherecessshehadbeenwaiting
  164. forwasthere.Walkingsteadilydownthenowalmostemptycorridors
  165. towardsthecanteen,Neishasawthatthe"CornerofShadows",asthe
  166. studentshadnicknamedthejunctionwhereTheShadeswereusually
  167. found,wasvoidofpeople.Butthecorridorbetweenthejunctionand
  168. thecanteenwasnot.
  169.  Shannonwasintrouble.Threeguyswerestandingaroundhiminasemi-
  170. circle.Neishaknewverywellwhatthatmeant.
  171.  "Where'sourfivebucks?"ThethreeguysstandingaroundShannon
  172. lookedathimwithathreateningglare.Neishawalkedpastasifshe
  173. sawnothing.SheheardShannonswallowhard.
  174.  "WhyshouldIgiveyoufivebucks?"Foramoment,Neishaadmiredhis
  175. courage.
  176.  "Doessurvivalringabell?"Shannongaveintothebrutalityofthe
  177. answerandpickedupafiverfromhispocket.Hisfacelookedweary,
  178. andNeisharegisteredthathewasverypale.Pityreplacedherhatefor
  179. himasshesawhishookedbackmoveawayfromher.
  180.  Thesetofstairsontherightsideofthehallandtheentrancearea
  181. ontheleftsidegavethecanteenashapecloselyresemblingtheletter
  182. "H".Twolinesofsupportingpillarsrandownthemid-aisleofthe
  183. room,andalargenumberoftableswerespreadaboutonbothsides,
  184. mostofthemoccupied.
  185.  Attheirusualtablenearthestairs,Markwastryingtogetridof
  186. Çhisgang.Eveninthedarknessofthecorner,allofthemworethe
  187. characteristicshades.Forthefirsttime,theguysrefusedtodowhat
  188. hetoldthemto.Hegaveitanothershot.
  189.  "Guys,Idon'tcarewhereyougoorwhatyoudo,justgetoffmy
  190. back!"Nobodymoved.
  191.  "Thebossishavingadate,andwon'tletuswitnessit."Itwasone
  192. oftheyoungestkidswhospoke.
  193.  "That'sright,"Markrepliedsmoothly."Anyofyouwanttoarguewith
  194. meaboutit?"Thecalmnessofhisvoicecarriedathreatinit.Thought
  195. hecouldn'tseetheireyesintheshadows,Markknewthattheywould
  196. haverespectinthem.Nobodyreplied.
  197.  "No?"Stillnothing.
  198.  "Thengetlost."WithaninwardsighofreliefMarkwatchedthegang
  199. dissolvearoundhim,andaminutelaterhewassittingaloneatthe
  200. table.Surprised,henoticedthathewassweating.
  201.  InthecorridorabovethestairsNeishawasstandingnexttothe
  202. mailboxwithJeremy'sletterinherhand.Shehesitatedamomentbefore
  203. shedecisivelyputtheletterinthemailboxandstrolledwithself-
  204. confidentstepsdownthestairs.
  205.  Markroseashesawhercomingnearthetable.Withaslightbowanda
  206. warmsmileheinvitedhertositdown,andthenremovedhisshades
  207. beforesheacceptedhisinvitation.
  208.  "Andtheysaidchivalrywasdead?"Neishadeliberatelychosethechair
  209. facingMarkandsatdown.Shefelteyesstaringather,andignored
  210. them.ButshecouldnotignoreMark'seyes.
  211.  Theywereawarmgreen,andshoneatherlikebeautifulemeraldsfrom
  212. heaven.ItwasthefirsttimeshehadeverseenMark'seyes,andthey
  213. madehimhandsome!
  214.  "Gladyoucouldmakeit,"hesaid,stillsmilingfriendly.
  215.  "I'mgladyouaskedme,"Neisharepliedtruthfully.Shehadbeen
  216. spendingmostlunchbreaksalonesinceJeremymoved.Althoughshewas
  217. oftenbored,shegotalong.Butthiswasexciting.AndMark'seyeswere
  218. beyondbelief.
  219.  "Ilikeyournewhairdo,"hecommentedashewasregardingher
  220. carefully.Wasthatanadmiringlookhehad?Neishacastaglanceat
  221. hishairandsuppressedasmile.Itwascutwaytooshortandstoodto
  222. allsides.Sheofferedashortandcold"thanks".Quiteunaffected,
  223. MarkpickedupacupofcoffeeNeishahadnotnoticedbeforeandsipped
  224. slowlyatit.
  225.  "Tellme,"hesaidafterashortwhile,"How'sJeremydoingover
  226. there?"Pickingupabrownlunch-bagheadded"Aren'tyougoingtohave
  227. lunch?"Hisfacespokeofhonestinterestandcuriosity,andNeisha
  228. elaboratelypickedupherown.
  229.  "Well,"shesaidasshechewedlazily,"Heisdoingfine."Thatwas
  230. whathetoldheronthephoneandinalltheletters.Hisnewschool
  231. sucked,buthe'dmademanyfriendsalready."Hehatesthelanguagethey
  232. speak,though."
  233.  "That'sunderstandable."Markmadearecognizingnod.
  234.  "Whydidyouask?"Neishadecidedtostartaskingquestions.Onthe
  235. othersideofthetable,Markgrimacedlightly.
  236.  "JeremyandIgowayback,"hestarted.Neishaurgedhimtotellmore,
  237. butMarkshookhishead."It'salongtimeago,anddoesn'tmatter
  238. anymore."AsNeisharemainedsilent,Markdecideditwastimetochange
  239. subject.
  240.  "Areyougoodatsolvingriddles?"Neishaagainfoundherselfbeing
  241. tornoutofherdaydreaming.Markrepeatedthequestion.
  242.  "Notmuch."Neishaponderedonthequestionawhile.Sheusedtolove
  243. allsortsofriddleswhenshewasachild.Yearsago.Therewasoneshe
  244. rememberedatonce.Inthedarknessofroomitseemedappropriate,and
  245. shewantedtotestMark.
  246. Ç
  247. àInthewindowshesatweeping
  248. Çàandwitheachtearherlifewentseeping
  249. Ç
  250.  Markimmediatelyknewthecorrectanswer."It'saburningcandleona
  251. sill.Itwasabeautifulrhyme."Neishafeltastrangesurgerun
  252. throughherastheireyesmetagain.Hisstarewasinvitingand
  253. seductive.Andchallenging.Hecameupwithanotherriddle.
  254.  
  255. àI'moftenheld,yetrarelytouchedÇ
  256. àI'malwayswet,yetneverrustÇ
  257. àI'msometimeswaggedandsometimesbitÇ
  258. àTousemewell,youmusthavewitÇ
  259.  
  260.  "Whatisthis?"Neishademanded,"Somesortofcompetition?"Shefelt
  261. sillysittingtheredoingword-puzzleslikethat.
  262.  "Youmightsaythat,"Markrepliedsmilingly."Wanttoknowwhatyou
  263. mightwin?"Itwasn'tmeanttobeinsulting,butMarkalmostbithis
  264. tongueoffthesecondhesaidit.Neishaignoredhim.
  265.  "Tongue,"shesaidsharply."Theansweristongue.Nowyouthinkof
  266. thisone!"Shebegantorememberthehardones.
  267.  
  268. àThere'ssomeonethatI'malwaysnear
  269. ÇàYetinthedarkIdisappear
  270. ÇàTothisoneonlyamIloyal
  271. ÇàThoughinhiswakeI'mdoomedtotoil
  272. ÇàHefeelsmenot(wealwaystouch)
  273. ÇàIfIwerelost,he'dnotlosemuch
  274. ÇàAndnowIcometomysurprise
  275. ÇàForyouarehe-butwhoamI?
  276. Ç
  277.  "Ouch,thatoneistougher."Theadmissioncameeasierthanhe'd
  278. thoughtitwould,inspiteofastinginhissidefromhispride.
  279.  "...he'dnotlosemuch,"hesaidthoughtfullyandhadsomemore
  280. coffee.Somefascinatingreflectionsinthedarkfluidcaughthiseyes
  281. asheputthecupdown.Heglimpsedup,andnoticedthebluesky
  282. outside.Thesmallwindowshighuponthewallspreadfragilebeamsof
  283. lightthroughouttheroom,butstillthecornerinwhichtheywere
  284. sittinglayindarkness.Therainshowershadobviouslyendedwhilehe
  285. hadn'tbeenpayingattention.Markthoughthatthecanteenlookedmuch
  286. betterindecentlight.Itwasovercrowdedbynow,buthebarely
  287. noticedthepeople.Theyignoredhim,andthusheignoredthem.Afew
  288. secondswentby,andasherealizedhewasnotgettinganycloserto
  289. thesolutionoftheriddle,quietpanicstruckhim.
  290.  TheFreshmenattheneighboringtablerosetoleave,andsomeofthe
  291. olderstudentsstandingimpatientlyatonepillarimmediatelymovedto
  292. occupyit.Theirfacesstoodoutfromtheshadowsinthebackground,
  293. luminouslyfloodedinsunshine.Thedancingmovementstheirshadows
  294. madealongthefloorcaughtMark'sattention.
  295.  "Myshadow,"hewhisperedthoughtfully."That'stheanswer."The
  296. reliefinhisvoicewaseasytohearandmadeNeishasmile.She'dbeen
  297. veryclose.Theuneasinessshehadfeltdisappeared.
  298.  "Ihaveonlygotonemore,"Marksaid."Itisnotatrueriddle,
  299. though.It'saconfession."Hetriedtoputforthasmile,butitended
  300. upastrangelydistortedgrin.Neishanarrowedhereyesandtiltedher
  301. headabit,suspiciononceagaingrowinginher.
  302.  "Wellthengetonwithit."Aconfession?ShecaughtMark'seyesfora
  303. moment,andwishedshehadn't.Theywereintenseandpouredimpression
  304. intoherown.
  305.  Marktookhiseyesoffherandinhaleddeeply.Asheclosedhiseyes
  306. Çhepleadedhimselfnottolosecourage.Andbegun.
  307.  
  308. àFivewordsofpassion,withhonestytoblame
  309. ÇàDirectedbymyvalorIswallowallmyshame
  310. ÇàDeterminedtosolemnity,afeelingverytrue
  311. ÇàMywordsarealsosober:Itrulydoloveyou
  312. Ç
  313.  Shesatmuteforalongwhilewithhermouthhalfopen.Shocked,she
  314. staredunbelievinglyathim.Ofallpossiblewordshecouldhave
  315. uttered,theseweretheonesshehadexpectedtheleast.Theair
  316. suddenlyseemedhardtobreathforbothofthem.Markfocusedonthe
  317. table,andfeltthathewasblushingwithembarrassment.
  318.  ToNeisha,theshockwascomplete.Wordsfailedherasshetriedto
  319. regainself-control.Shethoughtoftheletter,andclosedhereyes.
  320.  "IloveJeremy."Thesentencehungintheairawhile.Ontheirleft
  321. theyheardlaughterinthedistance.
  322.  "Iamawareofthat."Theireyesdidnotmeet.Thechancetoendyears
  323. ofunreciprocatedfeelingsmeantalottoMark,butnowheregretted
  324. thathehadeveninvitedher.Hedecidedtogiveithisbestshot.
  325.  "Butheisfaraway."HissympathetictonemadeNeishalookintohis
  326. eyesagain.Forabriefmomenttheyjustsatthere,looking
  327. indecisivelyateachother.Neishastudiedhimcarefully,andwasnot
  328. surprisedtofindherselfattractedtohim.OnlyJeremyhadever
  329. appearedhandsometoher,butMarkwasperhapsevenmoresowhenhe
  330. wasn'thidinghiseyesbehindapairofshades.
  331.  Theireyesmet,andshefelthisthoughts.Animageofaspringpicnic
  332. herclasshadmadealongtimeagoflashedinfrontofherasifthey
  333. wereinsideMark'seyes,andsherecalledhimsittingclosetoher.
  334. Thenthesixthgradeschoolballwasthere,andshewasdancingwitha
  335. boyfromseventhgrade.AndMarkwasstandingattheentrance,looking
  336. shylyather.Thebasketballgameshe'dwatchedwithherfriendsthe
  337. samemonthbackthen,withMarkjustafewfeetaway.Aseriesofimage
  338. flashedby,andsherecognizedthemall.Theyweretheonlytimesshe'd
  339. everlookeddirectlyatMark,andshesawtheminhiseyes.
  340.  "Thatlong?"sheaskedwithsinceredisbeliefinhervoice."Youhave
  341. beeninlovewithmethatlong?"Marknoddedhisheadabit,analmost
  342. bitterexpressiononhisface.
  343.  "Idon'twanttorushyou,though,"headdedquickly."Yourgood
  344. relationshiptoJeremyisthelastthingintheworldI'dliketosee
  345. ruined."Hisupperlipstrembledashecontinued."Butpleasedon't
  346. turnmedownuntilyouhavethoughtaboutit."Neishacouldseethathe
  347. wasonthevergeofburstingintotears.
  348.  Theangrynoiseoftheschoolbellsignalledthattherecesswas
  349. alreadyover.Neishaglimpsedatherwristwatchandthenputherhands
  350. intoherlap.
  351.  "Ineedsometime,"shefinallysaid,andMarksmiled.
  352.  "Weshouldgetgoing,"hesaid,"thistimewithoutburstingintoeach
  353. other."Underthetablehetookgentlyholdofherhandsandheldthem
  354. inhisown."Neisha,"hebegan,butwasinterrupted.
  355.  "Wehavenotimeforthis,"Neishasaidandpulledfreefromhimwith
  356. ease."AtleastIhavetogettoclass."Shemovedherchairawayfrom
  357. thetable,andbegantoriseinthesameinstantasherchairwasbeing
  358. snatchedawayfromunderher.
  359.  OnlyMark'squickreactionskeptherfromfallingasherbalance
  360. disappearedalongwiththechair.Hethrusthimselfupandseized
  361. Neisha'sarmasshetumbledtowardsthetable,andcastavicious
  362. glanceoverhershoulder.
  363.  ItwasonlybysheercoincidencethatShannonhadseenNeishaatthe
  364. cornertableashewasleavingforclass.He'dnotevencaredtosee
  365. whoshewassittingwithbeforehehaddecidedtopullherchairaway.
  366. ÇItwasanimpulsiveact,provokedbythefeelingsshehadhurtwhenshe
  367. turnedhimdowneightweeksearlier.Shesimplyrejectedhimwithout
  368. evenlookingtwiceathim,andthathadmadehimfeellonely.Hewanted
  369. revenge,andcamejustintimetoyankherchairaway.He'dsmiled
  370. then,asshestruggledtostayonherfeet,butthemomentoftriumph
  371. endedashesawMarkjumpuptogiveNeishaahand.Hissmilevanished.
  372.  Neishawhirledaroundandfacedhim,onlytobeignored.Shannon
  373. staredpasthershouldersasheslowlybackeddowntheaislewith
  374. uneasysteps.Markbeheldthedespicablesightwithacoldstare,and
  375. putonhisshadesashewalkedslowlyaroundthetable.
  376.  "Mark!"Neishagrabbedhisrightarmwhenhemovedpasther,andhe
  377. turnedtowardsher,hiseyeshidbehindapairofpitchblackglasses.
  378.  "LeaveShannonalone,"shecommanded."Ourenmityhasnothingtodo
  379. withyou,andhedoesn'tdeserveyourrancor."Shecastonelastlook
  380. atShannon,whowasstillbackingawayfromher,turnedaround,andran
  381. intothenearestcorridor.
  382.  Markwasdetainedbyherwords,assheknewhe'dbe.Helookedin
  383. surpriseatherdiminishingbackinthecorridor,andknewshemeant
  384. whatshehadsaid,buthehadneverheardtheauthorityinhervoice
  385. before.Grinningathimself,heturnedbacktowardsthespotwhere
  386. Shannonhadbeenstandingandfacedavoidarea.Withthesole
  387. exceptionofhimselfthecanteenwasempty.Withathinshrugheleft
  388. thecanteen,stillsmilingatNeisha'soutburstofauthority.Yes,they
  389. didhavesomethingincommon.
  390.  Tokeephermindofftheupheavalofheremotions,Neishaspentthe
  391. restofthedayconcentratingonherschoolwork.Eventhoughshehated
  392. SpanishandPsychology,shecouldn'tcareless.Riddlesandpoemsurged
  393. throughhermind,butwerekeptatadistancebytheuncanny
  394. preoccupation.EvenJeremywasnotonhermind.
  395.  Thissuddeninterestshetookofthesubjectscameasapositive
  396. surprisetoherteachers.Aftermonthsofavoidingquestions,shenow
  397. volunteeredtoansweranything,andneverfailedtoconcoctacorrect
  398. answer.BecauseitkepthermindoffMark,sheenjoyeditherself,too.
  399.  Itwasnotuntilshewasontheschoolbusheadingforhomethatshe
  400. thoughtofJeremyagain.Theyellowscrap-metalbustrieditsverybest
  401. toshakeherbrainsoutofplace,andfailed.
  402.  Neishafeltshehadlearnedalot.Lifeeducatedherbetterthat
  403. schooleverwould,andtheschooloflifehadalsogivenhersome
  404. homework.ShewouldhavetophoneJeremywhenthetimedifference
  405. didn'tmatter,andwasalreadythinkingofwhattotellhim.
  406.  Thesethoughtsconsumedherasthebuswentturbulentlydownthe
  407. unevenroadsofthesuburbantown,andwhenShannontouchedher
  408. shouldersoftlyshejumpedinherseat.Helookedembarrassedather
  409. fromtheseatbehindher.Everytimeshehadtoconfronthiminthebus
  410. shewishedshe'dhadacar,butshefeltrelaxedabouthimnow.
  411.  "I...",hebegan,andstopped.Shegavehimafriendlysmileand
  412. lookedathim.
  413.  "IjustwantedtosaythatIamsorryaboutbuggingyousomuch
  414. lately."Helookeddownguiltily."IthoughtIhadareasontodoso,
  415. butIwaswrong."Hestilldidn'twanttofaceherstare,andhiseyes
  416. fixedatthewindow.Theywerealmostalone.
  417.  "AndI'dalsoliketothankyouforstoppingMarkfromgivingmea
  418. hardtimeatschooltoday."Hecouldseehersmilereflectedathimin
  419. thewindow,andturnedtowardsher.
  420.  "That'sthemostadultthingI'veeverheardyousay,"shesaidwitha
  421. radiantwarmthinhervoice."OfcourseIforgiveyou."
  422.  Witharelievedsighhesmiledbackather.Catchinganimpulse,she
  423. wenton.
  424.  "Wouldyouliketocomeovertomyplacelaterontodayandtalkabout
  425. it?"Thequestioncaughthimbysurprise,buthecheeredupandsmiled
  426. Çeverwider.
  427.  "OfcourseIwould."Heglancedathiswatchandthoughaboutitfora
  428. second."Atfive?"heasked.
  429.  "Fivewillbefine."TheysharedasmilebeforeShannonleftthebus,
  430. andonlytwominuteslater,Neishawalkedupthegardenpathfromthe
  431. roadtohermother'shousewithherheartinherthroatandthethought
  432. ofJeremyracingthroughherhead.Shelingeredasecondaftershe'd
  433. unlockedandopenedthedoor,andtookadeepbreathwithherback
  434. towardsthedoor,thinkingthingsover.
  435.  ShewalkedintothekitchentolookupMark'snumber.Aninstant
  436. later,herfingerswerealreadydialingthenumberwhileshewasonher
  437. waytothetelephone.Thehallmirrorreflectedherdelicatefaceand
  438. thinbodyasshepassedit,andshebeheldherownreflectionwithnew
  439. eyesforamoment.Shehadneverbeenpopularwiththeboys,andhad
  440. usedtobelievethatitwasheroutlooktheydidn'tlike.Maybeit
  441. wasn'tso,afterall.
  442.  Withrenewedconfidenceshewalkedontowardsthephone.Shehadtwo
  443. boystoletdown,andanunexpecteddatetoprepare...
  444.  
  445. üTHEENDÇ
  446.