第12部分(第4/7 頁)

　clue—hadn't　I

heard　someone　talk　about　a　movie　recently？　Seen　a　poster？　〃How　about　that　one

with　the　female

president？〃

She　looked　at　me　oddly。　〃Bella；　that　one's　been　out　of　the　theater　forever。〃

〃Oh。〃　I　frowned。　〃Is　there　anything　you'd　like　to　see？〃

Jessica's　natural　bubbliness　started　to　leak　out　in　spite　of　herself　as　she

thought　out　loud。　〃Well；　there's

that　new　romantic　edy　that's　getting　great　reviews。　I　want　to　see　that　one。

And　my　dad　just　saw

Dead　End　and　he　really　liked　it。〃

I　grasped　at　the　promising　title。　〃What's　that　one　about？〃

〃Zombies　or　something。　He　said　it　was　the　scariest　thing　he'd　seen　in　years。〃

〃That　sounds　perfect。〃　I'd　rather　deal　with　real　zombies　than　watch　a　romance。

〃Okay。〃　She　seemed　surprised　by　my　response。　I　tried　to　remember　if　I　liked

scary　movies；　but　I　wasn't

sure。　〃Do　you　want　me　to　pick　you　up　after　school？〃　she　offered。

〃Sure。〃

Jessica　smiled　at　me　with　tentative　friendliness　before　she　left。　My　answering

smile　was　just　a　little　late；

but　I　thought　that　she　saw　it。

The　rest　of　the　day　passed　quickly；　my　thoughts　focused　on　planning　for

tonight。　I　knew　from　experience

that　once　I　got　Jessica　talking；　I　would　be　able　to　get　away　with　a　few

mumbled　responses　at　the

appropriate　moments。　Only　minimal　interaction　would　be　required。

The　thick　haze　that　blurred　my　days　now　was　sometimes　confusing。　I　was

surprised　when　I　found　myself

in　my　room；　not　clearly　remembering　the　drive　home　from　school　or　even　opening

the　front　door。　But　that

didn't　matter。　Losing　track　of　time　was　the　most　I　asked　from　life。

I　didn't　fight　the