to fight.?
?You mean like judo and stuff??
?Sort of,? Lucas said, smiling reassuringly. ?Don?t look so worried.
With your gifts you?ll be kicking ass in no time.?
?What gifts?? Helen asked doubtfully.
?You really don?t know, do you?? he marveled.
?Hey, Luke, what?s up?? Zach asked, entering the café. He was
smil
ing, but his smile faded as soon as he saw whom Lucas was
with. Behind him stood a few guys from the football team, all of
whom were staring, openmouthed, at the unlikely pairing.
?Hey, Zach. Getting some coffee. You?? Lucas answered, totally
unfazed. Helen gave a watered-down smile and untucked her hair
from behind her ears to hide her face. Lucas reached across the
table and smoothed her hair back behind her shoulder.
?Same, yeah,? Zach mumbled as he nearly tripped over himself to
get away, his eyes darting between Helen and Lucas with disbelief.
?See you in a few,? he called out before joining the other guys in
line.
Helen bit her lip and stared at her coffee cup, rubbing her stomach
under the table as subtly as possible. Please, no cramps, she
thought.
?What?s the matter?? Lucas asked, watching her.
135/395
?Nothing. Can we just go?? she pleaded, desperate to change the
subject, get away, maybe drop dead if at all possible.
?Sure,? Lucas said, standing up. He gave her a worried look. ?I
know it?s not nothing, Helen, and I?d rather you told me the truth,
whatever it is. Ariadne gave all three of us guys a whole lecture
about women?s troubles years ago, you know. And by lecture, I