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9[◆....◆..............◆...................◆............................]0110
Ç
üTheSchoolofLife!(v2)Ç
éByKaiHolst!Ç
éRiddles:ScottRoachÇ
Neishasighed.Alreadyaminuteaftersheenteredtheschoolbuslife
hadgivenitsfirstsignofthedayofbeingagainsther,asitalways
did.Thepredictabilityofherlifeneverfailed.
Thebusridetookonlysevenminutes,buttheminutesfeltlikehours
becauseofShannon,whowaspesteringherlifebypinchingheror
callinghernames.Shecouldnotbelievethatshehadoncebeeninlove
withhim.Maybesheshouldhavesaidyeswhenhehadaskedherfora
datetwomonthsago?He'dbeenapaineversinceshehadturnedhim
down.
Shesighedagain,andalmostchokedasshefeltthepainintheback
ofherheadasShannonpulledherhair.Alonelytearrolleddownher
frailcheek."Howchildish",shethoughtwhilefightingherdesireto
hithim.Onedayhewouldregretbeingsounkindtoher.Oneday...
Herthoughtstrailedtothelettershehadspentallyesterday
writing.Jeremy'sletter.Shekeptitnexttoherheart,keepingit
warm.She'dwrittentheaddressgracefullyontheenvelopeandsealed
itwithasoftkiss,andhadselectedbeautifulstampsforit,with
flowersandbirdsonthem.Sheknewhewouldwriteherareplytheday
hegotit,ashealwaysdid.Dozensofletters,andevenmorebrief
phonecallshadbeenexchangedbetweenthemsinceJeremyhadmovedto
Europethreemonthsearlier.Theyhadbeengoingsteadyforalmosta
year,andbothintendedtomakeitmuchlonger.NeishaknewthatJeremy
washeronlyfriend.
Allherlife,Neishahadbeenlonely.Inherworld,nobodybutJeremy
hadevercaredabouther,andthatcarewasthekeytoherlove.
Jeremywasspecialinhimself.AslongasNeishacouldremember,the
girlsofherclasshadbeendreamingabouthim.Butinspiteofhis
merryappearance,hehadnofriendsbeforehegottoknowNeisha.He
knewhowtohidehisloneliness.ButNeishaknew.Shehadfoundoutthe
firsttimehehadaskedherout.Hetoldherithadtakenhimall
summertobuildupthecouragetodothat.
HetookherwalkingintheparkonthatbeautifulAugustday.Itwas
warmandcloudless,andthefrailringhegavehercarriedthewarmth
ofthatdayinit.Neishastillworeit.
ThedaydreamfadedawayasJanie,oneofthegirlsofherclass,shook
hershoulder.HerkindfacelookeddownatNeisha."Areyougoingto
sithereallday?"Ignoringthefriendlysarcasmofthequestion,
NeishaslowlygrabbedherbagandfollowedJanieoutofthebus.
Thiswashergreatestfear.Shehadatendencytodumpintosomesort
oftroubleeveryday.Somepunkshadatendencytobullyheraround
whenevertheymether,butwhatshereallyhatedwasbeingasked
questionsinclass.Nomatterwhathappened,shemanagedtomakeafool
ofherselfinonewayoranother,andtherewasno-onetocomforther
anylonger.
Therainofthenighthadlefttheasphaltwetandslippery,andas
Neishaleftthebussheslippedonthewetground.Fightingtokeepon
herfeet,shefeltJanie'sfirmhandonherarm.Herfacealmostcerise
sheutteredaquickwordingratitude,andlookedaroundtoseeif
anybodyelsehadseenherslip.Theschoolyardwasvoidofpeoplesave
themselves.Aswiftglanceonherwatchconfirmedhersuspicion:They
werelateagain.
Thefirstperiodwentunusuallysmooth.ThesubjectwasHistory,one
ofherfavourites.Eversinceherearlychildhoodit'dbeenherspecial
interest,andthiscameinveryhandyastheteacherbombardedherwith
tonsofquestions.Asparkleofconfidencewaslitinherasshe
Çunerringlybroughtforthreplyafterreply,andshefeltgreatwhenthe
teachermovedontoquestionThomas.
Speakingoutloudinclasswasusuallyanexerciseinstutteringand
embarrassmenttoNeisha,butwhenshegotsomethingright,thetriumph
wassomuchbigger.Shesmiledinwardatherselfasthestoryof
religioustroubleandwitcheswascastupontherestoftheclass.She
dutifullymadesomenotesastheteacherspokeonattheblackboard,
buttheonlylegiblethingsheproducedwasasingleword,writtenat
leastadozentimes.Jeremy.Theletterwasstillnexttoherheart,
butnowitprovidedwarmth.Theonlywarmthinherentireexistence.
ThecorridorsofherHighSchoolweretoolong.Neishaneverhad
enoughtimetogetfromroomtoroomduringthefiveminutebreak
betweenclasses.ShehadtorundownthestairstogettoEnglishclass
ataquartertonine,andalreadyknewshewasgoingtobelate.
Withasizeablebunchofbooksinherlefthand,sheenteredthelast
corridorandcollidedwithamedium-sizedyoungboywearingaleather
jacket,worn-outjeansandapairofgloomyshades.Shecursedherbad
lucklongbeforetheirbookshitthefloor.Thoseshadeswerethe
trademarkofoneofthehallgangsthathauntedthecorridors.Sheonly
caughtoneshortglimpseofhisfacebeforeshebentdowntopickup
allherbooks,andcursedherselfforbeinginsuchahurry.
ShehadcollidedwithaboysheknewasMark.Hewasofherage,and
hadbeeninherparallelclassforsevenyears,butsheonlyknewhim
astheleaderofTheShades.Hewasalone.
"Well,whathavewehere?"Thepenetratingvoicewascolderthanice,
andheregardedherwithanexpressionlessfacefrombehindtheshades.
"Apeachinahurry?"Neishafroze,herfaceturnedawayfromhim.
Peach?
"Listen,I,I,I'msorryIhityoulikethat."Herthoughtswereas
scatteredasherbooksasshedesperatelysoughtawayoutofthe
delicatesituation.
"Nowyoulisten!"Assheheardhisvoice,Neishaturnedtowardshim,
feelingfeltlikeshewasfacingherowndoom.Butshehadnot
anticipatedthereactionshecaused.
ItwasMark'sturntofreeze.Heloweredthehandhehadpointed
accusinglyather,andpalednoticeably.
"Neish?"Hegaveherahandandhelpedherup.Thisunexpectedgesture
bewilderedher.Whenhebentdownandquicklypickedupherbooks,the
confusiononlygrew.
"Tellme,howisJeremydoinginhisnewhome?"Thetoneofhisvoice
hadchanged,andwasnowsilentandcomfortable.Hehandedoverher
books,andsmiledapologeticallyather.
Neishacouldn'tseehiseyes,andcouldn'tmakeuphermindonwhether
itwasafakesmileornot.ShehadneverknownthatMarkandJeremy
hadknowneachother,andJeremyhadloathedalltheproblemyoungsters
whogatheredintogangs.
Theschoolbellinterruptedhertrainofthoughtsasshewasjust
abouttotellMarkthatJeremywasdoingfine.
"Youhadbettergettoclassintime,"Marksaid,andhesitatedbefore
hecontinued."Canwemeetinthecanteenatnoon?"Itwasaproposal
shewouldusuallyhaveturneddown.
"Huh?Imean,yes,whynot?"Shecouldseeapoorlyhiddengrinon
Mark'sfaceasheturnedawaywithaquicknodandrantogettohis
class.
Behindhim,Neishastoodbewildered.Shedidn'tknowwhatiswasthat
hadmadeheraccepttheunusualinvitation.Noon.Thatwouldbeduring
lunchbreak.AssheslowlywalkedthetenyardstoherEnglishclassit
struckher.Markhadusedhernickname.OnlyherfatherandJeremyhad
evercalledher"Neish".
NeishasufferedherselfthroughEnglishclasswithJeremyonhermind
Çallthetime.TherewerenoconnectionsbetweenhimandMarkthatshe
knewof,andthemysterytormentedher.Sherejectedthethoughtof
addingafewlinesinherlettertoJeremybecauseshehadalready
sealeditshut,andcouldn'tdoanythingbutwait.Herpreoccupation
irritatedtheteacherabit,butnotasmuchasthefeelingofnot
knowingsomethingirritatedher.Shewantedtoknowwhattheconnection
was.AndshewouldmakeMarktellher!
Onlyfourroomsaway,Markregrettedtheimpetuousinvitationhehad
offeredNeisha.Ithadbeenabrashthingtodo,buthecouldnotback
outnow.AquickglanceatsomeofhisfellowmembersofTheShades
revealedthattheyknewaboutit.Markalreadyhadtoomanyproblems,
butthisonefeltlikeayokearoundhisneck.
TotallyignoringtheSpanish-teacher,hesatdownwithpaperanda
pen,andstartedwritingthewordshehadbeenthinkingoffortoolong
now.HehadalwaysbeeninlovewithNeisha,andnowwasthetimeto
showit.Buthow?
"MissMorrison,willyoupleasepayattention?"
ThecuttingvoiceofherteachertoreNeishaoutofherthoughtsin
timetoseetheotherstudentsleavingtheroom.Flushing,shepicked
upherthingsandwalkedembarrassedoutoftheroom.
Neishaagainfoundherselfrunningthroughthecorridorstowardsher
locker.Thistime,though,shewascarefultoavoidincidentslikethe
oneofthepreviousrecess.Sheneededtofindoutwhereshewastobe
thefollowinghour,andasshewassearchingforascheduleinthemess
ofherlockershemissedJeremymorethanever.Healwaysknewwhere
shewastobe,andfollowedhertherebeforehehadtogettohisown
class.WouldMarkdothat?Neishaomittedthequestionasshefoundher
schedulebeneathabook.
TheLiteratureclasseswerenottoobad.Neishawasabletogether
mindofftheappointmentwithMarkandconcentratedondoingthe
assignments.WhatshedidnotknowwasthatMark,sittinginthe
adjacentroom,couldnotgethismindoffher.Hewastryingtowrite
hisfeelings,butthewordsdidnotcomeoutright.Thiswholedealwas
gettingonhisnervesastheideahithim.Thingssuddenlyseemedto
fit,andMarkquicklyproducedthekeywordsheneeded.Thenthesix
lineswereinhismind,andhesmiled.
AfterwhatfeltlikedaysoftormenttoNeisha,theLiteratureclass
wasfinallyoveratfivetotwelve,andtherecessshehadbeenwaiting
forwasthere.Walkingsteadilydownthenowalmostemptycorridors
towardsthecanteen,Neishasawthatthe"CornerofShadows",asthe
studentshadnicknamedthejunctionwhereTheShadeswereusually
found,wasvoidofpeople.Butthecorridorbetweenthejunctionand
thecanteenwasnot.
Shannonwasintrouble.Threeguyswerestandingaroundhiminasemi-
circle.Neishaknewverywellwhatthatmeant.
"Where'sourfivebucks?"ThethreeguysstandingaroundShannon
lookedathimwithathreateningglare.Neishawalkedpastasifshe
sawnothing.SheheardShannonswallowhard.
"WhyshouldIgiveyoufivebucks?"Foramoment,Neishaadmiredhis
courage.
"Doessurvivalringabell?"Shannongaveintothebrutalityofthe
answerandpickedupafiverfromhispocket.Hisfacelookedweary,
andNeisharegisteredthathewasverypale.Pityreplacedherhatefor
himasshesawhishookedbackmoveawayfromher.
Thesetofstairsontherightsideofthehallandtheentrancearea
ontheleftsidegavethecanteenashapecloselyresemblingtheletter
"H".Twolinesofsupportingpillarsrandownthemid-aisleofthe
room,andalargenumberoftableswerespreadaboutonbothsides,
mostofthemoccupied.
Attheirusualtablenearthestairs,Markwastryingtogetridof
Çhisgang.Eveninthedarknessofthecorner,allofthemworethe
characteristicshades.Forthefirsttime,theguysrefusedtodowhat
hetoldthemto.Hegaveitanothershot.
"Guys,Idon'tcarewhereyougoorwhatyoudo,justgetoffmy
back!"Nobodymoved.
"Thebossishavingadate,andwon'tletuswitnessit."Itwasone
oftheyoungestkidswhospoke.
"That'sright,"Markrepliedsmoothly."Anyofyouwanttoarguewith
meaboutit?"Thecalmnessofhisvoicecarriedathreatinit.Thought
hecouldn'tseetheireyesintheshadows,Markknewthattheywould
haverespectinthem.Nobodyreplied.
"No?"Stillnothing.
"Thengetlost."WithaninwardsighofreliefMarkwatchedthegang
dissolvearoundhim,andaminutelaterhewassittingaloneatthe
table.Surprised,henoticedthathewassweating.
InthecorridorabovethestairsNeishawasstandingnexttothe
mailboxwithJeremy'sletterinherhand.Shehesitatedamomentbefore
shedecisivelyputtheletterinthemailboxandstrolledwithself-
confidentstepsdownthestairs.
Markroseashesawhercomingnearthetable.Withaslightbowanda
warmsmileheinvitedhertositdown,andthenremovedhisshades
beforesheacceptedhisinvitation.
"Andtheysaidchivalrywasdead?"Neishadeliberatelychosethechair
facingMarkandsatdown.Shefelteyesstaringather,andignored
them.ButshecouldnotignoreMark'seyes.
Theywereawarmgreen,andshoneatherlikebeautifulemeraldsfrom
heaven.ItwasthefirsttimeshehadeverseenMark'seyes,andthey
madehimhandsome!
"Gladyoucouldmakeit,"hesaid,stillsmilingfriendly.
"I'mgladyouaskedme,"Neisharepliedtruthfully.Shehadbeen
spendingmostlunchbreaksalonesinceJeremymoved.Althoughshewas
oftenbored,shegotalong.Butthiswasexciting.AndMark'seyeswere
beyondbelief.
"Ilikeyournewhairdo,"hecommentedashewasregardingher
carefully.Wasthatanadmiringlookhehad?Neishacastaglanceat
hishairandsuppressedasmile.Itwascutwaytooshortandstoodto
allsides.Sheofferedashortandcold"thanks".Quiteunaffected,
MarkpickedupacupofcoffeeNeishahadnotnoticedbeforeandsipped
slowlyatit.
"Tellme,"hesaidafterashortwhile,"How'sJeremydoingover
there?"Pickingupabrownlunch-bagheadded"Aren'tyougoingtohave
lunch?"Hisfacespokeofhonestinterestandcuriosity,andNeisha
elaboratelypickedupherown.
"Well,"shesaidasshechewedlazily,"Heisdoingfine."Thatwas
whathetoldheronthephoneandinalltheletters.Hisnewschool
sucked,buthe'dmademanyfriendsalready."Hehatesthelanguagethey
speak,though."
"That'sunderstandable."Markmadearecognizingnod.
"Whydidyouask?"Neishadecidedtostartaskingquestions.Onthe
othersideofthetable,Markgrimacedlightly.
"JeremyandIgowayback,"hestarted.Neishaurgedhimtotellmore,
butMarkshookhishead."It'salongtimeago,anddoesn'tmatter
anymore."AsNeisharemainedsilent,Markdecideditwastimetochange
subject.
"Areyougoodatsolvingriddles?"Neishaagainfoundherselfbeing
tornoutofherdaydreaming.Markrepeatedthequestion.
"Notmuch."Neishaponderedonthequestionawhile.Sheusedtolove
allsortsofriddleswhenshewasachild.Yearsago.Therewasoneshe
rememberedatonce.Inthedarknessofroomitseemedappropriate,and
shewantedtotestMark.
Ç
àInthewindowshesatweeping
Çàandwitheachtearherlifewentseeping
Ç
Markimmediatelyknewthecorrectanswer."It'saburningcandleona
sill.Itwasabeautifulrhyme."Neishafeltastrangesurgerun
throughherastheireyesmetagain.Hisstarewasinvitingand
seductive.Andchallenging.Hecameupwithanotherriddle.
àI'moftenheld,yetrarelytouchedÇ
àI'malwayswet,yetneverrustÇ
àI'msometimeswaggedandsometimesbitÇ
àTousemewell,youmusthavewitÇ
"Whatisthis?"Neishademanded,"Somesortofcompetition?"Shefelt
sillysittingtheredoingword-puzzleslikethat.
"Youmightsaythat,"Markrepliedsmilingly."Wanttoknowwhatyou
mightwin?"Itwasn'tmeanttobeinsulting,butMarkalmostbithis
tongueoffthesecondhesaidit.Neishaignoredhim.
"Tongue,"shesaidsharply."Theansweristongue.Nowyouthinkof
thisone!"Shebegantorememberthehardones.
àThere'ssomeonethatI'malwaysnear
ÇàYetinthedarkIdisappear
ÇàTothisoneonlyamIloyal
ÇàThoughinhiswakeI'mdoomedtotoil
ÇàHefeelsmenot(wealwaystouch)
ÇàIfIwerelost,he'dnotlosemuch
ÇàAndnowIcometomysurprise
ÇàForyouarehe-butwhoamI?
Ç
"Ouch,thatoneistougher."Theadmissioncameeasierthanhe'd
thoughtitwould,inspiteofastinginhissidefromhispride.
"...he'dnotlosemuch,"hesaidthoughtfullyandhadsomemore
coffee.Somefascinatingreflectionsinthedarkfluidcaughthiseyes
asheputthecupdown.Heglimpsedup,andnoticedthebluesky
outside.Thesmallwindowshighuponthewallspreadfragilebeamsof
lightthroughouttheroom,butstillthecornerinwhichtheywere
sittinglayindarkness.Therainshowershadobviouslyendedwhilehe
hadn'tbeenpayingattention.Markthoughthatthecanteenlookedmuch
betterindecentlight.Itwasovercrowdedbynow,buthebarely
noticedthepeople.Theyignoredhim,andthusheignoredthem.Afew
secondswentby,andasherealizedhewasnotgettinganycloserto
thesolutionoftheriddle,quietpanicstruckhim.
TheFreshmenattheneighboringtablerosetoleave,andsomeofthe
olderstudentsstandingimpatientlyatonepillarimmediatelymovedto
occupyit.Theirfacesstoodoutfromtheshadowsinthebackground,
luminouslyfloodedinsunshine.Thedancingmovementstheirshadows
madealongthefloorcaughtMark'sattention.
"Myshadow,"hewhisperedthoughtfully."That'stheanswer."The
reliefinhisvoicewaseasytohearandmadeNeishasmile.She'dbeen
veryclose.Theuneasinessshehadfeltdisappeared.
"Ihaveonlygotonemore,"Marksaid."Itisnotatrueriddle,
though.It'saconfession."Hetriedtoputforthasmile,butitended
upastrangelydistortedgrin.Neishanarrowedhereyesandtiltedher
headabit,suspiciononceagaingrowinginher.
"Wellthengetonwithit."Aconfession?ShecaughtMark'seyesfora
moment,andwishedshehadn't.Theywereintenseandpouredimpression
intoherown.
Marktookhiseyesoffherandinhaleddeeply.Asheclosedhiseyes
Çhepleadedhimselfnottolosecourage.Andbegun.
àFivewordsofpassion,withhonestytoblame
ÇàDirectedbymyvalorIswallowallmyshame
ÇàDeterminedtosolemnity,afeelingverytrue
ÇàMywordsarealsosober:Itrulydoloveyou
Ç
Shesatmuteforalongwhilewithhermouthhalfopen.Shocked,she
staredunbelievinglyathim.Ofallpossiblewordshecouldhave
uttered,theseweretheonesshehadexpectedtheleast.Theair
suddenlyseemedhardtobreathforbothofthem.Markfocusedonthe
table,andfeltthathewasblushingwithembarrassment.
ToNeisha,theshockwascomplete.Wordsfailedherasshetriedto
regainself-control.Shethoughtoftheletter,andclosedhereyes.
"IloveJeremy."Thesentencehungintheairawhile.Ontheirleft
theyheardlaughterinthedistance.
"Iamawareofthat."Theireyesdidnotmeet.Thechancetoendyears
ofunreciprocatedfeelingsmeantalottoMark,butnowheregretted
thathehadeveninvitedher.Hedecidedtogiveithisbestshot.
"Butheisfaraway."HissympathetictonemadeNeishalookintohis
eyesagain.Forabriefmomenttheyjustsatthere,looking
indecisivelyateachother.Neishastudiedhimcarefully,andwasnot
surprisedtofindherselfattractedtohim.OnlyJeremyhadever
appearedhandsometoher,butMarkwasperhapsevenmoresowhenhe
wasn'thidinghiseyesbehindapairofshades.
Theireyesmet,andshefelthisthoughts.Animageofaspringpicnic
herclasshadmadealongtimeagoflashedinfrontofherasifthey
wereinsideMark'seyes,andsherecalledhimsittingclosetoher.
Thenthesixthgradeschoolballwasthere,andshewasdancingwitha
boyfromseventhgrade.AndMarkwasstandingattheentrance,looking
shylyather.Thebasketballgameshe'dwatchedwithherfriendsthe
samemonthbackthen,withMarkjustafewfeetaway.Aseriesofimage
flashedby,andsherecognizedthemall.Theyweretheonlytimesshe'd
everlookeddirectlyatMark,andshesawtheminhiseyes.
"Thatlong?"sheaskedwithsinceredisbeliefinhervoice."Youhave
beeninlovewithmethatlong?"Marknoddedhisheadabit,analmost
bitterexpressiononhisface.
"Idon'twanttorushyou,though,"headdedquickly."Yourgood
relationshiptoJeremyisthelastthingintheworldI'dliketosee
ruined."Hisupperlipstrembledashecontinued."Butpleasedon't
turnmedownuntilyouhavethoughtaboutit."Neishacouldseethathe
wasonthevergeofburstingintotears.
Theangrynoiseoftheschoolbellsignalledthattherecesswas
alreadyover.Neishaglimpsedatherwristwatchandthenputherhands
intoherlap.
"Ineedsometime,"shefinallysaid,andMarksmiled.
"Weshouldgetgoing,"hesaid,"thistimewithoutburstingintoeach
other."Underthetablehetookgentlyholdofherhandsandheldthem
inhisown."Neisha,"hebegan,butwasinterrupted.
"Wehavenotimeforthis,"Neishasaidandpulledfreefromhimwith
ease."AtleastIhavetogettoclass."Shemovedherchairawayfrom
thetable,andbegantoriseinthesameinstantasherchairwasbeing
snatchedawayfromunderher.
OnlyMark'squickreactionskeptherfromfallingasherbalance
disappearedalongwiththechair.Hethrusthimselfupandseized
Neisha'sarmasshetumbledtowardsthetable,andcastavicious
glanceoverhershoulder.
ItwasonlybysheercoincidencethatShannonhadseenNeishaatthe
cornertableashewasleavingforclass.He'dnotevencaredtosee
whoshewassittingwithbeforehehaddecidedtopullherchairaway.
ÇItwasanimpulsiveact,provokedbythefeelingsshehadhurtwhenshe
turnedhimdowneightweeksearlier.Shesimplyrejectedhimwithout
evenlookingtwiceathim,andthathadmadehimfeellonely.Hewanted
revenge,andcamejustintimetoyankherchairaway.He'dsmiled
then,asshestruggledtostayonherfeet,butthemomentoftriumph
endedashesawMarkjumpuptogiveNeishaahand.Hissmilevanished.
Neishawhirledaroundandfacedhim,onlytobeignored.Shannon
staredpasthershouldersasheslowlybackeddowntheaislewith
uneasysteps.Markbeheldthedespicablesightwithacoldstare,and
putonhisshadesashewalkedslowlyaroundthetable.
"Mark!"Neishagrabbedhisrightarmwhenhemovedpasther,andhe
turnedtowardsher,hiseyeshidbehindapairofpitchblackglasses.
"LeaveShannonalone,"shecommanded."Ourenmityhasnothingtodo
withyou,andhedoesn'tdeserveyourrancor."Shecastonelastlook
atShannon,whowasstillbackingawayfromher,turnedaround,andran
intothenearestcorridor.
Markwasdetainedbyherwords,assheknewhe'dbe.Helookedin
surpriseatherdiminishingbackinthecorridor,andknewshemeant
whatshehadsaid,buthehadneverheardtheauthorityinhervoice
before.Grinningathimself,heturnedbacktowardsthespotwhere
Shannonhadbeenstandingandfacedavoidarea.Withthesole
exceptionofhimselfthecanteenwasempty.Withathinshrugheleft
thecanteen,stillsmilingatNeisha'soutburstofauthority.Yes,they
didhavesomethingincommon.
Tokeephermindofftheupheavalofheremotions,Neishaspentthe
restofthedayconcentratingonherschoolwork.Eventhoughshehated
SpanishandPsychology,shecouldn'tcareless.Riddlesandpoemsurged
throughhermind,butwerekeptatadistancebytheuncanny
preoccupation.EvenJeremywasnotonhermind.
Thissuddeninterestshetookofthesubjectscameasapositive
surprisetoherteachers.Aftermonthsofavoidingquestions,shenow
volunteeredtoansweranything,andneverfailedtoconcoctacorrect
answer.BecauseitkepthermindoffMark,sheenjoyeditherself,too.
Itwasnotuntilshewasontheschoolbusheadingforhomethatshe
thoughtofJeremyagain.Theyellowscrap-metalbustrieditsverybest
toshakeherbrainsoutofplace,andfailed.
Neishafeltshehadlearnedalot.Lifeeducatedherbetterthat
schooleverwould,andtheschooloflifehadalsogivenhersome
homework.ShewouldhavetophoneJeremywhenthetimedifference
didn'tmatter,andwasalreadythinkingofwhattotellhim.
Thesethoughtsconsumedherasthebuswentturbulentlydownthe
unevenroadsofthesuburbantown,andwhenShannontouchedher
shouldersoftlyshejumpedinherseat.Helookedembarrassedather
fromtheseatbehindher.Everytimeshehadtoconfronthiminthebus
shewishedshe'dhadacar,butshefeltrelaxedabouthimnow.
"I...",hebegan,andstopped.Shegavehimafriendlysmileand
lookedathim.
"IjustwantedtosaythatIamsorryaboutbuggingyousomuch
lately."Helookeddownguiltily."IthoughtIhadareasontodoso,
butIwaswrong."Hestilldidn'twanttofaceherstare,andhiseyes
fixedatthewindow.Theywerealmostalone.
"AndI'dalsoliketothankyouforstoppingMarkfromgivingmea
hardtimeatschooltoday."Hecouldseehersmilereflectedathimin
thewindow,andturnedtowardsher.
"That'sthemostadultthingI'veeverheardyousay,"shesaidwitha
radiantwarmthinhervoice."OfcourseIforgiveyou."
Witharelievedsighhesmiledbackather.Catchinganimpulse,she
wenton.
"Wouldyouliketocomeovertomyplacelaterontodayandtalkabout
it?"Thequestioncaughthimbysurprise,buthecheeredupandsmiled
Çeverwider.
"OfcourseIwould."Heglancedathiswatchandthoughaboutitfora
second."Atfive?"heasked.
"Fivewillbefine."TheysharedasmilebeforeShannonleftthebus,
andonlytwominuteslater,Neishawalkedupthegardenpathfromthe
roadtohermother'shousewithherheartinherthroatandthethought
ofJeremyracingthroughherhead.Shelingeredasecondaftershe'd
unlockedandopenedthedoor,andtookadeepbreathwithherback
towardsthedoor,thinkingthingsover.
ShewalkedintothekitchentolookupMark'snumber.Aninstant
later,herfingerswerealreadydialingthenumberwhileshewasonher
waytothetelephone.Thehallmirrorreflectedherdelicatefaceand
thinbodyasshepassedit,andshebeheldherownreflectionwithnew
eyesforamoment.Shehadneverbeenpopularwiththeboys,andhad
usedtobelievethatitwasheroutlooktheydidn'tlike.Maybeit
wasn'tso,afterall.
Withrenewedconfidenceshewalkedontowardsthephone.Shehadtwo
boystoletdown,andanunexpecteddatetoprepare...
üTHEENDÇ