Hey, Darah, did you get my message about the Twombly exhibit? Jenny says. Shes sitting in the front row of seats, next to Alice and Kyle.

Yeah, I did, Im sorry I didnt get back to you. When is it again?

It opens next weekend. Do you want to go?

Yeah, totally. I love him.

Okay, cool, she says in her dreamy voice. Well, we can go whichever day you prefer.

Cool.

Are you okay?

I can feel Shanes eyes burning into me, despite her shades, and despite the fact that Im not looking at her. She is there in my peripheral vision, just over Jennys shoulder. I can tell when she turns away and looks out the window.

Yeah, I havent been feeling well. But Id love to see the Twombly show.

Cool, she says.

I turn around and feel like complete *****. Im a ***** for blowing off my friends and a ***** for lying about the reason why. Although it is technically true that Im not feeling well.

Everyone else, however, is in a great mood, singing and laughing. Kyle accepts being the male minority with gracious humor and I quite like him. He seems good for Alice. I hope she can have someone, since the thing with Dana didnt work out.

I feel eyes on me, a barely perceptible sensation at the base of my neck. I can see Shane in the rearview mirror. She is sitting there, quiet as I am, and I know if she stays that way it will be no time at all before they put two and two together. Shes taken off her shades. She lets her eyes linger on mine a second, then looks away.

She is so ***** beautiful, staring out the window, light catching the green in her eyes, dark hair long around her pale face, fingers pressed against her lush lips. Her facial expression is almost a scowl. Darkly, lushly beautiful, and it makes tears rise in my eyes.

I wonder what shes told them, if anything. No one is looking at me with contempt, or anything but friendship for that matter, and Im filled with relief. And dread, because I know how they would regard me, if they knew what I did.