Our Infinite Sadness

Open Book

Monday began auspiciously. Alice strode into English, last to arrive. As typical since the very first day, she passed his desk silently yet also conveyed her awareness of his presence by averting her eyes. He had hoped that after-school Choir might establish some common ground. Apparently not. Still, her return to school gave Ben some optimism that he might see his erstwhile Bio Lab partner that afternoon. Zoey had set him to a task, and she could be a stickler. Tonight or the next day she would assuredly hold him to account. She expected him to unleash his charm on the Cullen girl, and woe to him if he failed to deliver.

Jeremy Stanley intercepted him on the way to Trig.

"So you know that dance coming up next month?"

Ben nodded absently.

"Well it's like an eternity away, but to the girls it's a big deal. It's a semi-formal, sort of a dry run for the prom. Most of them buy gowns, and the guys spring for corsages. It's kind of tradition, to kick off the spring mating ritual."

Ben studied him more intently. He looked more flustered and timid than usual, less self-assured. He made eye contact with Jeremy as they walked, by way of encouragement, curious as to the point of the tutorial.

Jeremy stumbled around his point all the way to the classroom and became somewhat more coherent as they hung up their coats, as always the first to arrive.

"It's just, you're the shiny new toy around here, and you must know Micaela Newton's got a thing for you."

Ben groaned and pleaded, "Listen, we're teammates on the Ski Team, and we're in a couple classes, so she's sort of a friend. I'm not encouraging her for anything more than that."

Jeremy put his hands up, "Whoa, dude, no need to explain. I get all that."

"And I have eyes," Ben added. "I see the chemistry between you two at lunch; I know you like her."

Jeremy warmed to that observation; he'd liked Micaela for a long time, and he'd been craving even a hint of reciprocation on her part. "You really think there's something there? You know, from her end?"

"Definitely," Ben assured him.

They sat down at adjacent desks. Jeremy nodded and pondered for a moment. "And besides, you have that girl back home. The ballerina."

"Zoey is also a friend."

"You know what I mean."

Ben didn't know what he meant, but nor did he want to argue. He just waited patiently.

"What I mean is," Jeremy stammered, "I'm sure the gals around here want to know if you're technically available. Or if, like they should just give up before they start, because that Martine girl will be coming up to Forks for the semi-formal. Or the prom."

Ben clenched his eyes and sucked in air through his teeth. "Dude," he said, eyes closed, "I've been giving this place the hard sell ever since I got here. There's nothing Zoey would like more than to jet up here and hang in Forks for awhile. But we're only friends."

Jeremy was obviously working up toward some pronouncement. His face worked through comically elastic contortions. "Look. It's not that I think you're full of it... I mean, sure... you really believe that"—

"I know it." Ben insisted.

"Okay, okay. It's just... dude. Me and the guys, we've all seen like a zillion pix of this friend of yours online, and sure she looks like she's still in a training bra, but Jesus, how she can turn herself into a pretzel"—