terly。

I　stared　back　and　the　silence　stretched　on。　The　pain　in　his　face　unnerved　me。

I　felt　a　lump　beginning　to

build　in　my　throat。

〃Can　we　walk？〃　I　asked　while　I　could　still　speak。

He　didn't　respond　in　any　way；　his　face　didn't　change。

I　got　out　of　the　car；　feeling　unseen　eyes　behind　the　windows　on　me；　and

started　walking　toward　the　trees

to　the　north。　My　feet　squished　in　the　damp　grass　and　mud　beside　the　road；　and；

as　that　was　the　only

sound；　at　first　I　thought　he　wasn't　following　me。　But　when　I　glanced　around；

he　was　right　beside　me；　his

feet　having　somehow　found　a　less　noisy　path　than　mine。

I　felt　better　in　the　fringe　of　trees；　where　Sam　couldn't　possibly　be　watching。

As　we　walked；　I　struggled　for

the　right　thing　to　say；　but　nothing　came。　I　just　got　more　and　more　angry　that

Jacob　had　gotten　sucked

in　that　Billy　had　allowed　this　that　Sam　was　able　to　stand　there　so　assured

and　calm

Jacob　suddenly　picked　up　the　pace；　striding　ahead　of　me　easily　with　his　long

legs；　and　then　swinging

around　to　face　me；　planting　himself　in　my　path　so　I　would　have　to　stop　too。

I　was　distracted　by　the　overt　grace　of　his　movement。　Jacob　had　been　nearly　as

klutzy　as　me　with　his

never…ending　growth　spurt。　When　did　that　changed？

But　Jacob　didn't　give　me　time　to　think　about　it。

〃Let's　get　this　over　with；〃　he　said　in　a　hard；　husky　voice。

I　waited。　He　knew　what　I　wanted。

〃It's　not　what　you　think。〃　His　voice　was　abruptly　weary。　〃It's　not　what　I

thought—I　was　way　off。〃

〃So　what　is　it；　then？〃

He　studied　my　face　for　a　long　moment；　speculating。　The　anger　never　pletely

left　his　eyes。