then　I　spent

Saturday　afternoon　and

most　of　Sunday　down　at　La　Push。〃

The　eyes　flickered　to　Jessica　and　back　to　me。　Jess　looked　irritated。　I

wondered　if　she　didn't　want　anyone

to　know　she'd　gone　out　with　me；　or　whether　she　just　wanted　to　be　the　one　to

tell　the　story。

〃What　movie　did　you　see？〃　Mike　asked；　starting　to　smile。

〃Dead　End—the　one　with　the　zombies。〃　I　grinned　in　encouragement。　Maybe　some

of　the　damage　I'd

done　in　these　past　zombie　months　was　reparable。

〃I　heard　that　was　scary。　Did　you　think　so？〃　Mike　was　eager　to　continue　the

conversation。

〃Bella　had　to　leave　at　the　end；　she　was　so　freaked；〃　Jessica　inserted　with　a

sly　smile。

I　nodded；　trying　to　look　embarrassed。　〃It　was　pretty　scary。〃

Mike　didn't　stop　asking　me　questions　till　lunch　was　over。　Gradually；　the

others　were　able　to　start　up　their

own　conversations　again；　though　they　still　looked　at　me　a　lot。　Angela　talked

mostly　to　Mike　and　me；　and；

when　I　got　up　to　dump　my　tray；　she　followed。

〃Thanks；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice　when　we　were　away　from　the　table。

〃For　what？〃

〃Speaking　up；　sticking　up　for　me。〃

〃No　problem。〃

She　looked　at　me　with　concern；　but　not　the　offensive；　maybe…she's…lost…it

kind。　〃Are　you　okay？〃

This　is　why　I'd　picked　Jessica　over　Angela—though　I'd　always　liked　Angela

more—for　the　girls'　night

movie。　Angela　was　too　perceptive。

〃Not　pletely；〃　I　admitted。　〃But　I'm　a　little　bit　better。〃

〃I'm　glad；〃　she　said。　〃I've　missed　you。〃

Lauren　and　Jessica　strolled　by　us　then；　and　I　heard　Lauren　whisper　loudly；

〃Oh；　joy　Bella's　back。〃

Angela　rolled　her　eyes　at　them；　and　smiled