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