"I don't know," I answered truthfully. "He never really got to the point."
"You looked kind of mad," she said with concern.
"Did I?" I kept my expression blank, trying to keep her out of it. Maybe I just look like that, Jessica, I thought, verbally assaulting her in my head. Did you ever stop thinking about yourself, and Mike, and hot dogs, to think that maybe I just want to look that way?
"You know, I've never seen him sit with anyone but his family before. That was weird."
"Weird," I agreed. She seemed frustrated and sipped her mind-morning-snack juice box while looking down at her sandwich quietly—it was none of her business and I wanted to keep it that way. Let her slobber on someone else for a change. Fredward was mine.
The worst part about Friday was that, even though I knew he wasn't going to be there, I still hoped he would. When I walked into the cafeteria with Jessica and Mike, I couldn't keep from looking at his table, where Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper sat talking, heads close together like little rascals.138 And I couldn't stop the gloom that engulfed me as I realized I didn't know how long I would have to wait to see Fredward's crooked smile beam down on me again.
At my usual table, everyone was full of our plans for the next day. Mike was animated again, putting a great deal of trust in the local weatherman who promised sun tomorrow. I began to wonder if Mike liked the feeling of smoke being blown up his ass. But it was warmer today that it had ever been—almost sixty. Maybe the outing wouldn't be completely up Mike's ass...
I intercepted a few unfriendly glances from Lauren during lunch, which I didn't understand until we were all walking out of the cafeteria together. I was right behind her, just a foot from her slick, greasy blond hair, and she was evidently unaware of that.
"... don't know why Bella"—she sneered my name, twisting the sound so that it smelled like eggs—"doesn't just sit with the Cullens from now on. I bet she's already put her mouth on... "
138. A 1900's short film series following the exploits of a group of children as they explored and conquered the Missouri River. Generally thought to be based on the exploits of Lewis and Clark.