第12部分(第3/7 頁)

hoved　the　door　open。

Mr。　Varner　gave　me　a　dark　look—he'd　already　started　the　lecture。　I　hurried　to

my　seat。　Jessica　didn't

look　up　as　I　sat　next　to　her。　I　was　glad　that　I　had　fifty　minutes　to　mentally

prepare　myself。

This　class　flew　by　even　faster　than　English。　A　small　part　of　that　speed　was

due　to　my　goody…goody

preparation　this　morning　in　the　truck—but　mostly　it　stemmed　from　the　fact

that　time　always　sped　up　when

I　was　looking　forward　to　something　unpleasant。

I　grimaced　when　Mr。　Varner　dismissed　the　class　five　minutes　early。　He　smiled

like　he　was　being　nice。

〃Jess？〃　My　nose　wrinkled　as　I　cringed；　waiting　for　her　to　turn　on　me。

She　twisted　in　her　seat　to　face　me；　eyeing　me　incredulously。　〃Are　you　talking

to　me；　Bella？〃

〃Of　course。〃　I　widened　my　eyes　to　suggest　innocence。

〃What？　Do　you　need　help　with　Calculus？〃　Her　tone　was　a　tad　sour。

〃No。〃　I　shook　my　head。　〃Actually；　I　wanted　to　know　if　you　would　go　to　the

movies　with　me　tonight？　I

really　need　a　girls'　night　out。〃　The　words　sounded　stiff；　like　badly　delivered

lines；　and　she　looked

suspicious。

〃Why　are　you　asking　me？〃　she　asked；　still　unfriendly。

〃You're　the　first　person　I　think　of　when　I　want　girl　time。〃　I　smiled；　and　I

hoped　the　smile　looked　genuine。

It　was　probably　true。　She　was　at　least　the　first　person　I　thought　of　when　I

wanted　to　avoid　Charlie。　It

amounted　to　the　same　thing。

She　seemed　a　little　mollified。　〃Well；　I　don't　know。〃

〃Do　you　have　plans？〃

〃No　I　guess　I　can　go　with　you。　What　do　you　want　to　see？〃

〃I'm　not　sure　what's　playing；〃　I　hedged。　This　was　the　tricky　part。　I　racked　my

brain　for　a