第25部分(第1/7 頁)

go。

The　diminished　numbers　didn't　dampen　Mike's　anticipation；　though。　It　was　all

he　could　talk　about　Friday。

〃Are　you　sure　you　don't　want　to　see　Tomorrow　and　Forever　instead？〃　he　asked　at

lunch；　naming　the

current　romantic　edy　that　was　ruling　the　box　office。　〃Rotten　Tomatoes　gave

it　a　better　review。〃

〃I　want　to　see　Crosshairs〃　I　insisted。　〃I'm　in　the　mood　for　action。　Bring　on

the　blood　and　guts！〃

〃Okay。〃　Mike　turned　away；　but　not　before　I　saw　his　maybe…she's…crazy…after…all

expression。

When　I　got　home　from　school；　a　very　familiar　car　was　parked　in　front　of　my

house。　Jacob　was　leaning

against　the　hood；　a　huge　grin　lighting　up　his　face。

〃No　way！〃　I　shouted　as　I　jumped　out　of　the　truck。　〃You're　done！　I　can't

believe　it！　You　finished　the

Rabbit！〃

He　beamed。　〃Just　last　night。　This　is　the　maiden　voyage。〃

〃Incredible。〃　I　held　my　hand　up　for　a　high　five。

He　smacked　his　hand　against　mine；　but　left　it　there；　twisting　his　fingers

through　mine。　〃So　do　I　get　to　drive

tonight？〃

〃Definitely；〃　I　said；　and　then　I　sighed。

〃What's　wrong？〃

〃I'm　giving　up—I　can't　top　this　one。　So　you　win。　You're　oldest。〃

He　shrugged；　unsurprised　by　my　capitulation。　〃Of　course　I　am。〃

Mike's　Suburban　chugged　around　the　corner。　I　pulled　my　hand　out　of　Jacob's；

and　he　nude　a　face　that　I

wasn't　meant　to　see。

〃I　remember　this　guy；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice　as　Mike　parked　across　the

street。　〃The　one　who　thought

you　were　his　girlfriend。　Is　he　still　confused？〃

I　raised　one　eyebrow。　〃Some　people　are　hard　to　discourage。〃

〃Then　again；〃　Jacob　said　thoughtfully；　〃sometimes　persistence　pays　of