o
recovered that I could stand to sit through a romance。 〃Does that sound like
fun？〃
〃Sure；〃 he agreed； visibly less eager。
〃Cool。〃
After a second； he perked back up to near his former excitement level。 〃How
about we get Angela and
Ben？ Or Eric and Katie？〃
He was determined to make this some kind of double date； apparently。
〃How about both？〃 I suggested 〃And Jessica； too； of course。 And Tyler and
Conner； and maybe
Lauren；〃 I tacked on grudgingly。 I had promised Quil variety。
〃Okay；〃 Mike muttered； foiled。
〃And；〃 I continued； 〃I've got a couple of friends from La Push I'm inviting。
So it sounds like we'll need
your Suburban if everyone es。〃
Mike's eyes narrowed in suspicion。
〃These are the friends you spend all your time studying with now？〃
〃Yep； the very ones；〃 I answered cheerfully。 〃Though you could look at it as
tutoring—they're only
sophomores。〃
〃Oh；〃 Mike said； surprised。 After a second of thought； he smiled。
In the end； though； the Suburban wasn't necessary。
Jessica and Lauren claimed to be busy as soon as Mike let it slip that I was
involved in the planning。 Eric
and Katie already had plans—it was their three…week anniversary or something。
Lauren got to Tyler and
Conner before Mike could； so those two were also busy。 Even Quil was out—
grounded for fighting at
school。 In the end； only Angela and Ben； and； of course Jacob； were able to
go。
The diminished numbers didn't dampen Mike's anticipation； though。 It was all
he could talk about