[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

He looked at me, dark brows drawn together as his mouth turned down, not g
iving me much hope for his answer. I think I looked disappointed, even mor
e so when Mrs. Bates shot us a perturbed glare and I had to lean back a sa
fer distance. Milo opened his notebook, and since I hadn t heard our teach
er to tell us to write anything down my gaze drifted towards the way his f
ingers moved over a blue pen and he wrote perfectly arched letters on the
white paper.
Meeting with dad.
I met his eyes, understanding, even though I really didn t. I d have to reme
mber to ask him what these meetings were about. I didn t like the sound of i
t this time even more than I hadn t the last. Mostly, because this time it w
as seriously monopolizing my time with my boyfriend, who I d hardly talked t
o in a week. And maybe because I d never gotten around to mentioning Emily s
second visit to my house... or the way she d stopped by last night, too. Tr
uth be told I didn t really want to tell him, but I d promised.
Holding out my palm I waited until he got the hint, slid his notebook betwe
en us and handed me the pen.
Later?
Milo looked at what I d written as soon as Mrs. Bates wasn t looking and I
heard him release a gentle breath before he met my eyes and slowly shook hi
s head. My lip curled at that and I moved the pen over the notebook again.
Need to talk.
Milo regarded me suspiciously and I found myself pressing my lips together
in amusement. I wrote, Talk, and whatever you were just thinking. I lifted
an eyebrow at him, and he rolled his eyes. Taking back his notebook and pen
he went back to ignoring me for a few minutes. Actually, it seemed like mo
re than just a few minutes because for the first time since the semester st
arted, Mrs. Bates announced that we were dividing into groups of four for a
nother one of her games and we could leave our own tables to do it. Seconds
later, Haily was sliding a chair between Milo and me, tossing her braid ou
t of her way. Milo was the one who got hit by it this time, but he only loo
ked mildly annoyed as he looked across the table and asked Tim to join us.
The rest of the class seemed to drag on from there, probably because I was
biting my tongue, wishing I could get Milo s attention even for a second. B
ut when we weren t paying attention to whatever Mrs. Bates was trying to te
ach us, Haily was talking my ear off about our weekend plans, which I hadn
t been aware we had until I started paying attention to her. Caleb s sister
 had finally talked her husband into letting her baptize the new baby and w
hile I remembered Caleb mentioning it a while ago I hadn t heard anything r
ecently. Obviously, Haily had, and obviously, I was going to be there. Bran
don Sholer was also celebrating his birthday and had asked her to come only
that morning. Haily was telling me that tomorrow night Caleb was going to
pick all of us up at six o clock to go when I noticed Milo eyeing me warily
. I guess after the last Brandon Sholer party I d been to he was allowed to
look at me like that. I smiled at him.  Are you going? I asked.
Haily looked at Milo expectantly, too, which I guess was better than the usu
al suspicious glances she was prone to assaulting him with.
 I don t think so, Milo replied, not very surprisingly.
I bit at my lip, promising with my eyes to try to change his mind later.
Then the bell rang, and I felt helpless when Haily grabbed my arm, ready to g
et the heck out of Hellschool as I looked back at Milo, still wanting to talk
.
 Nelson? Milo called, and I stopped so fast to turn and face him that I near
ly threw Haily, still attached to my arm, to the ground.
 Hey! she objected, taking the time to elbow me.
 Sorry, I said sheepishly, and then looked at Milo.
Unfortunately, he seemed cautious as he regarded Haily, and I doubt what
he wanted was my notes for the last week when he asked for them.
 You don t want his notes, trust me, Haily said, surprising both of us, I
think, and Milo and I exchanged glances when she unzipped her backpack to l
ook for hers.
Not bothering to stop her, because first, her notes probably were a lot bet
ter than mine, and second because she seemed momentarily distracted, I look
ed at Milo and tried to sound as casual as possible when I said,  Emily sto
pped by my house again.
Haily looked up.  Who s Emily? she asked, holding out her purple notebook
for Milo. He took it almost carefully, like it might bite him. I m not sure
if it was because Haily was giving him the offering or because his mind wa
s on my words. At the moment he seemed particularly difficult to read.
 His dad s fiancée, I said carefully.  She s thinking about having her wedd
ing on our property.
Haily s eyes brightened at that.  Thompson Trust is getting married at your
place?
I opened my mouth to object to that, but Milo spoke first.  Yeah. I heard he
r telling my dad this morning.
I looked at Milo, surprised, and hoped I didn t look as ill as I suddenly fe
lt. Not only was he against his father s wedding, he was pretty damn opposed
to having it anywhere near me, too. I was instantly worried, wondering in w
hat ways this might affect us. It was like I was forever wondering where I s
tood with Milo Trust, even though lately, I could admit that he was making m
ore of an effort where I was concerned. Finally telling Jame off was a nice
step in the right direction, but when things came down to his father I wasn
t sure of how tolerant he could be.
Haily laughed happily.  That is too cool. It s probably going to be huge. Do
you get to be there, Nels? I mean, it s your house.
I opened my mouth, liking the opportunity to tell Milo that I absolutely, wo
uldn t be anywhere near that wedding, but again, he beat me to it.
Sliding Haily s notes neatly into his bag he heavily shrugged his shoulders,
more in defeat than in acceptance of the situation.  You can all come. I ca
n invite whoever I want.
Haily grinned, and might have gone as far as thanking him if he wasn t alrea
dy walking past us.
 Do you think there will be a dress code? Haily asked.  Probably. Nels...
 Haily, I cut her off,  can I meet you in the parking lot? I didn t wait fo
r an answer, I was already going after Milo. It didn t take much to catch up
with him because the classroom trailers were far enough from the school that
the crowds were thin.
As soon as I was away from the warmth of the heater inside I was assaulted
by icy wind and found myself frowning when I noticed that other than his ho
odie, Milo hadn t bothered to bring a jacket. I felt like my own mother, wa
nting to lecture him over the fact that he d just been sick and should stay
warm, but instead as I reached him I dropped my hand on his shoulder, caus
ing him to spin around in alarm before he realized it was me.  Are you okay
? I asked.
Milo frowned at me.  I ve really got to get home, he insisted.
I sighed.  What about Emily?
His frown depended, his eyes giving away that he was just as sore about the
woman s decisions as I suspected he was.  I d rather not be around her, ok
ay? So...
If she was going to be around my place, he wouldn t be. I was quickly growi
ng frustrated.  Milo... shit. Over his shoulder I spotted Assface, coming
in our direction, and suddenly I felt the need to rush. A glance over his s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]