第20部分(第3/7 頁)

h；　until　quitting　time。

Mike　put　the　closed　sign　in　the　window　while　I　folded　my　vest　and　shoved　it

under　the　counter。

〃This　was　fun　tonight；〃　Mike　said　happily。

〃Yeah；〃　I　agreed；　though　I'd　much　rather　have　spent　the　afternoon　in　the

garage。

〃It's　too　bad　that　you　had　to　leave　the　movie　early　last　week。〃

I　was　a　little　confused　by　his　train　of　thought。　I　shrugged。　〃I'm　just　a　wimp；

I　guess。〃

〃What　I　mean　is；　you　should　go　to　a　better　movie；　something　you'd　enjoy；〃　he

explained。

〃Oh；〃　I　muttered；　still　confused。

〃Like　maybe　this　Friday。　With　me。　We　could　go　see　something　that　isn't　scary

at　all。〃

I　bit　my　lip。

I　didn't　want　to　screw　things　up　with　Mike；　not　when　he　was　one　of　the　only

people　ready　to　forgive　me

for　being　crazy。　But　this；　again；　felt　far　too　familiar。　Like　the　last　year

had　never　happened。　I　wished　I　had

Jess　as　an　excuse　this　time。

〃Like　a　date？〃　I　asked。　Honesty　was　probably　the　best　policy　at　this　point。

Get　it　over　with。

He　processed　the　tone　of　my　voice　〃If　you　want。　But　it　doesn't　have　to　be　like

that。〃

〃I　don't　date；〃　I　said　slowly；　realizing　how　true　that　was。　That　whole　world

seemed　impossibly　distant。

〃Just　as　friends？〃　he　suggested。　His　clear　blue　eyes　were　not　as　eager　now。　I

hoped　he　really　meant　that

we　could　be　friends　anyway。

〃That　would　be　fun。　But　I　actually　have　plans　already　this　Friday；　so　maybe

next　week？〃

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　asked；　less　casually　than　I　think　he　wanted　to　sound。

〃Homework。　I　have　a　study　session　planned　with　a　friend。〃

〃Oh。　Okay。　Maybe　next　week。〃

He　walked　me　to　my　car；　less　e