Jess and Ang walk with me after. "Well?" I ask.
"It's hard to tell," Jess says. She holds her jacket close. The spring air is misleading. Warm. Mild. Then cool. The wind whips our hair behind us. Chills us. "At lunch, I thought something was there."
"You don't believe that anymore?"
"I need to see more interaction."
"You're blowing it out of proportion," Angela reasons. "Just leave it alone, Jess. I bet this makes Bella feel uncomfortable. Let alone Mr. Cullen if he knew what you were thinking."
"Whatever. I'm just trying to help. Now you can set me up with Mike." She works against the cold, springs her feet off the ground in small skips and holds so much hope in her expression.
"I can't make promises," I say. She hugs me and they bid good-bye. I take the equipment bags to their storage for the night. Emmett follows behind with the water. His face is covered with sweat. It curls his dark hair peeking underneath the hat. Makes him shine. I tell him thank you.
"No problem," he says. His voice is husky. I begin to turn away. "Hey." I turn. "You're in Cullen's third right?"
I nod.
"Listen, I heard that you're, like, a genius with this stuff. I need some help with the quiz tomorrow. There are some things I'm not getting."
Emmett wants my help? I want to ask who set him up to do this. We're not in the same social class, if it exists. That's the only logical explanation. But he is genuine with his request. "I...I don't know..."
"Please?"
I don't want him at my house. My parents are embarrassing. I can't go over to his. They would say no.
He sees the apprehension on my face. "I'll even buy you dinner. We can go study at the diner. It's usually quiet on Monday. What do you say?"
"I suppose that would be okay."
"Awesome. I'll be out in five minutes." He disappears through the locker room door.