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and I felt resistance.
Determined, I pushed harder, and for just a moment, I picked up few
stray words and fleeting images. Then the volume increased again,
along with the anger, and I actually reeled backwards against the
wall. Through the cacophony, I heard four distinct words.
    Don’t mess with me.
    Michael stood up, handing a brush and dustpan
back to Mrs. Sorrel, who was waving away his apologies. She
disappeared through a doorway that I assumed led to the kitchen.
Michael smiled at me, telegraphing his reassurance and telling me
through careful and well-enunciated thought that it was all
right.
    “See you later, Cathryn,” he said, taking my
hand again. “We’ve got to say hello to Dr. Sorrel.” With that, we
turned and moved across the room. I could feel Cathryn’s annoyance,
but I didn’t look back.
    The rest of the party passed quickly. We made
small talk with Dr. Sorrel, and he introduced us to Mr. Tyler, the
head of the Hamilton award committee. He was an easy man to read,
and so I knew that Michael had made a wonderful first impression.
All I had to do was smile and nod and pretend to know what they
were all talking about. I performed perfectly.
    Outside, we didn’t speak until we were in the
Mustang with the doors closed and windows up. As he pulled away
from the curb, Michael slid a glance at me.
    “So. . .what was that all about?”
    I sighed and shook my head. “Cathryn
Whitmore. There’s something about her. Do you remember when I first
met her at the dance? I couldn’t hear her. I mean, her mind was
just static.”
    Michael’s lips tightened. “I remember. Was it
the same this time?”
    “Yeah, only more so. I tried to push a
little, to read her, and she pushed back. I’ve never really heard
anything like that—except with—with Marica.” I stumbled over the
name, not wanting to bring up that subject tonight.
    “And that’s what broke the candy dish?”
Michael was working to keep his tone neutral, but I knew he was
worried.
    “No. That was me being annoyed that she
thought she could flirt with my boyfriend right in front of
me.”
    Michael grinned. “Ah, a little jealous, were
you?”
    I arched my eyebrows at him. “Do I have
cause?”
    He laughed. “Of course not. Cathryn’s
just—well, she’s Cathryn. I enjoyed some of the work we did last
year, and she really helped me with my papers. Nothing more than
that.” I knew he was being honest, but there was something else
that lingered.
    “Maybe not on your part, but she wants more
than a study partner.”
    Michael didn’t answer right away. “Well. . .”
he stalled. “She did kind of make it clear. . .last spring, I mean.
. .that I didn’t have to be lonely. Without you.”
    I willed myself to ignore the stab of pain.
After all, the blame fell squarely on my shoulders. I couldn’t
fault Michael for hanging out with a beautiful, intelligent girl
when I was spending all my time with Marica and Rafe, doing things
that I never should have done.
    “Did she know?” I asked in a small voice.
“About me. About. . .us.”
    Michael shrugged. Neither of us was enjoying
this conversation. “I just told her we were taking a break. I
didn’t go into any details.”
    We didn’t say anything else as Michael drove
back onto campus. I stared out the window, not seeing the subtly
lit brick buildings and the groups of students walking along paths
and sidewalks.
    “Hey.” Michael touched my arm, and I realized
we had pulled up in front of my dorm. I turned to look into his
eyes.
    He ran a finger lightly over my cheek and
kissed me softly on the lips. “I have an idea.” His words were
tentative, and I heard the gist of his thoughts before he spoke the
words. “What if you just call Sophie and tell her. . .you’re not
going back to your room tonight? You know, so she doesn’t worry.
And then you could come back with me.”
    I was confused at first, and then my heart
pounded so that I could barely hear myself answer. “Do