mumbled answer of maybe, and I was quick to notice she couldn't quite look Keller in the eye.
"Faith!" I exclaimed. "You didn't. Did you?"
"Well," she drawled out slowly, "I really didn't like working there, and it's not like we need the money. Daddy makes plenty, but my parents wanted me to have the experience of working before college. I heard them talking about it one night after they thought I'd gone to bed. They were under the misguided belief that if I saw how hard it was to work then I'd be committed to having a good college education which is ridiculous because everyone knows I'm already committed about going to college."
She looked around the table and batted her lashes in an exaggerated fashion, and then added in her best Southern drawl, "Let's just say I'm a fast learner of life's lessons and leave it at that."
"Well, I'm shocked," Keller stated, not ready to let it go. "I'm not sure if I'll ever look at you in quite the same way again, Faith."
Granger interjected easily. "This does change things. Now that Keller knows how manipulative you can be, he'll believe he's found a kindred soul. You better watch it; he might try to steal you away from that boyfriend you claim you have but that none of us have met yet.”
Granger nodded his head in Keller's direction. “Keller's nothing if not the master of manipulation. I'm sure he'd love to have a partner in crime as pretty as you." His exaggerated wink at Faith caused her to burst into giggles.
For some reason my own smile felt forced. The idea of Keller and Faith together wasn't something I found particularly amusing.
"You know, there's nothing wrong with being a little manipulative." Keller leaned forward in his seat and stared straight at me. "Especially if it helps get you what you want."
I was ready to inform Keller that only weak men needed to act that way, but I was interrupted before I could speak. It was like déjà vu when the female voice on the intercom interrupted our lunch conversation and announced for yet another group of students to come to the library to complete next year's registration.
Granger stood up at the same time I did. For once I found there was an advantage to having a last name that started near the end of the alphabet. The names Panera and Saunders were both part of the group that was now being called.
"They're playing our song," Granger said as he slid his lunch tray to Keller for him to dispose.
I took one last bite of my cookie, and then added my own smaller pile of trash to the tray. Good manners forced me to say thanks before I walked off.
I was secretly thrilled when Granger laced his fingers through mine, expertly guiding me through the maze of tables and chairs. In my rush to go, I realized I hadn't said goodbye to Faith. I turned my head as we were walking away and was about to give her a quick wave when I caught the look on Keller's face.
His eyes were focused straight on me, and he looked anything but happy. I wondered what his problem was and how he could be so bipolar. One minute he was the first to make a quick joke, and the next minute he seemed ready to pick a fight with anyone, especially me. I turned my head back around before he realized I was looking. I was glad when we rounded the corner and were out of sight of the cafeteria.
There were only a few other students in the hall as we began our walk. Those that were there seemed to be headed in the opposite direction from us. I wondered if somehow we were late or going to the wrong place. Maybe the announcement we'd heard had actually been the last call or something, or maybe there just weren't a lot of people going to register. Either way, I honestly didn't mind. It was nice to have a few minutes alone with Granger.
"So," Granger's voice broke the silence between us. "Why doesn't a pretty girl like you have plans for the weekend?"
My mouth tried to answer but my brain was stuck on the fact that he'd just called me pretty, and he was still holding my hand
"Faith!" I exclaimed. "You didn't. Did you?"
"Well," she drawled out slowly, "I really didn't like working there, and it's not like we need the money. Daddy makes plenty, but my parents wanted me to have the experience of working before college. I heard them talking about it one night after they thought I'd gone to bed. They were under the misguided belief that if I saw how hard it was to work then I'd be committed to having a good college education which is ridiculous because everyone knows I'm already committed about going to college."
She looked around the table and batted her lashes in an exaggerated fashion, and then added in her best Southern drawl, "Let's just say I'm a fast learner of life's lessons and leave it at that."
"Well, I'm shocked," Keller stated, not ready to let it go. "I'm not sure if I'll ever look at you in quite the same way again, Faith."
Granger interjected easily. "This does change things. Now that Keller knows how manipulative you can be, he'll believe he's found a kindred soul. You better watch it; he might try to steal you away from that boyfriend you claim you have but that none of us have met yet.”
Granger nodded his head in Keller's direction. “Keller's nothing if not the master of manipulation. I'm sure he'd love to have a partner in crime as pretty as you." His exaggerated wink at Faith caused her to burst into giggles.
For some reason my own smile felt forced. The idea of Keller and Faith together wasn't something I found particularly amusing.
"You know, there's nothing wrong with being a little manipulative." Keller leaned forward in his seat and stared straight at me. "Especially if it helps get you what you want."
I was ready to inform Keller that only weak men needed to act that way, but I was interrupted before I could speak. It was like déjà vu when the female voice on the intercom interrupted our lunch conversation and announced for yet another group of students to come to the library to complete next year's registration.
Granger stood up at the same time I did. For once I found there was an advantage to having a last name that started near the end of the alphabet. The names Panera and Saunders were both part of the group that was now being called.
"They're playing our song," Granger said as he slid his lunch tray to Keller for him to dispose.
I took one last bite of my cookie, and then added my own smaller pile of trash to the tray. Good manners forced me to say thanks before I walked off.
I was secretly thrilled when Granger laced his fingers through mine, expertly guiding me through the maze of tables and chairs. In my rush to go, I realized I hadn't said goodbye to Faith. I turned my head as we were walking away and was about to give her a quick wave when I caught the look on Keller's face.
His eyes were focused straight on me, and he looked anything but happy. I wondered what his problem was and how he could be so bipolar. One minute he was the first to make a quick joke, and the next minute he seemed ready to pick a fight with anyone, especially me. I turned my head back around before he realized I was looking. I was glad when we rounded the corner and were out of sight of the cafeteria.
There were only a few other students in the hall as we began our walk. Those that were there seemed to be headed in the opposite direction from us. I wondered if somehow we were late or going to the wrong place. Maybe the announcement we'd heard had actually been the last call or something, or maybe there just weren't a lot of people going to register. Either way, I honestly didn't mind. It was nice to have a few minutes alone with Granger.
"So," Granger's voice broke the silence between us. "Why doesn't a pretty girl like you have plans for the weekend?"
My mouth tried to answer but my brain was stuck on the fact that he'd just called me pretty, and he was still holding my hand
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