Part 6 (2/2)
”Simon-” I began again.
He interrupted. ”Katie, we're not done talking yet.”
”Simon, please,” I said. ”I don't want to go over all that again-”
”Katie, you never answered my question.”
I blinked. ”What question?”
”Will you go ice skating with me this weekend?”
I looked up into Simon's face. Despite everything I had said, he looked really hopeful. A terrible feeling of guilt settled over me once again.
”Simon, I like you. I really do. And we've been friends forever-”
”So, is that a 'yes'?”
I closed my eyes. ”Simon, please just listen.”
He remained silent, and I looked up at him again. ”I want to stay friends with you, and I don't mind doing things with you as a friend, but somehow going ice skating feels more like a date. And as much as I like you, I can't go out on a date with you.”
”Because of him,” Simon said.
”Because of William,” I replied.
Simon nodded, then he looked up at me. ”I'm not going to give up, you know. You think that he's right for you. But I know that I am. I'm in this for the long haul. You take all the time you need to moon over the wrong guy. But when he's gone-moved on to the next town or whatever it is guys like him do-I'll still be standing here. I'm the one you can depend on.”
Simon backed up a few paces. ”I'm not giving up, Katie. I promise you that.”
Then, he turned and was gone, disappearing into the crowd of students.
Chapter 4.
After Simon had disappeared, I stood for a moment, feeling more than a little overwhelmed. Then I turned to go to cla.s.s. As I did so, I found that someone was standing in my way.
I looked up and saw with relief that it was William.
”Was that guy bothering you?” William nodded his head in the direction of the now-vanished Simon. His tone was light, even joking, but I thought I detected an undercurrent of anger.
”Your hearing is pretty good, isn't it?” I said ruefully.
”Yes,” William said, giving me his little half smile.
”How much did you overhear?” I asked.
”All of it,” William replied.
”So you know that Simon is unhappy about you and me.”
Simon and William had met on a few occasions-neither one had seemed to take to the other.
”Yes,” William said, ”and I think your friend has a lot of nerve. But because he's your friend, I decided not to make an issue of it.”
”Thanks,” I said. ”Simon-”
I realized I didn't know quite how to finish the sentence. I wanted to say something soothing.
”Simon means well,” I said at last.
William didn't seem to like the topic very much.
”You have to get to cla.s.s, don't you?” he said. ”Lead the way.”
We walked through the crowded hallway together, and I couldn't help wis.h.i.+ng that William could actually go to school with me-then we could spend time together every day.
”Did you talk to your grandmother?” William asked.
”Yes, I did. She said you can come over for dinner tonight.”
”Tonight?” William said. ”Are you serious?”
”Yes, I'm serious. I wouldn't joke about something like this. Besides, it's not like she knows you're a-”
I stopped abruptly. The hallway was not the place for unguarded talk.
William gave me a wry smile.
”So can you come over tonight?” I asked.
”Of course. It's what I wanted-or don't you remember?”
”GM said that she's going to make pasta or something like that. Do you-you actually eat anything?”
”I can,” William said. ”It won't be a problem.”
I realized that I'd never really asked William about his diet. I did know that he didn't drink human blood-he'd rea.s.sured me on that score-but I didn't know what he actually did consume-if anything.
”So what do you eat-drink-whatever it is you do?”
William glanced around. ”I don't think this is quite the place for that discussion.”
”Sorry,” I said. ”GM is going to ask you questions, too. She'll want to know a lot about you.”
”I'll answer her questions,” William said.
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