movie　Friday。　I've　been　promising　my　cafeteria　crowd　that　I

would　go　out　forever。〃　Mike

would　be　pleased。

But　Jacob's　face　fell。　I　caught　the　expression　in　his　dark　eyes　before　he

dropped　them　to　look　at　the

ground。

〃You'll　e　too；　right？〃　I　added　quickly。　〃Or　will　it　be　too　much　of　a　drag

with　a　bunch　of　boring

seniors？〃　So　much　for　my　chance　to　put　some　distance　between　us。　I　couldn't

stand　hurting　Jacob；　we

seemed　to　be　connected　in　an　odd　way；　and　his　pain　set　off　little　stabs　of　my

own。　Also；　the　idea　of

having　his　pany　for　the　ordeal—I　had　promised　Mike；　but　really　didn't　feel

any　enthusiasm　at　the

thought　of　following　through—was　just　too　tempting。

〃You'd　like　me　to　e；　with　your　friends　there？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　admitted　honestly；　knowing　as　I　continued　that　I　was　probably

shooting　myself　in　the　foot　with

my　words。　〃I'll　have　a　lot　more　fun　if　you're　there。　Bring　Quil；　and　we'll

make　it　a　party。〃

〃Quil's　gonna　freak。　Senior　girls。〃　He　chortled　and　rolled　his　eyes。　I　didn't

mention　Embry；　and　neither　did

he。　I　laughed；　too。　〃I'll　try　to　get　hin　a　good　selection。〃

I　broached　the　subject　with　Mike　in　English。

〃Hey；　Mike；〃　I　said　when　class　was　over。　〃Are　you　free　Friday　night？〃

He　looked　up；　his　blue　eyes　instantly　hopeful。　〃Yeah；　I　am。　You　want　to　go

out？〃

I　worded　my　reply　carefully。　〃I　was　thinking　about　getting　a　group〃—I

emphasized　the　word—〃together

to　go　see　Crosshairs。〃　I'd　done　my　homework　this　time—even　reading　the　movie

spoilers　to　be　sure　I

wouldn't　be　caught　off　guard。　This　movie　was　supposed　to　be　a　bloodbath　from

start　to　finish。　I　wasn't　s