“I think I do,” William responded. He absentmindedly played with his silverware,
keeping his eye on her.
“I will start. What is your favorite color? Mine is green,” she said, pointing at
her shirt with both of her hands.
“Blue. How old are you? I'm seventeen.” William put the silverware down and focused
on the girl seated across from him.
“Seventeen. What is your favorite class in school? Mine is art.” Casey started to
tap the table with her finger. Each tap represented the tick of a clock.
He took a drink from his Coke to buy some time while he thought. He picked up the
straw wrapper and flattened it.
“I don't have one.” Then, absentmindedly, he started folding it. First in half,
then in quarters. Casey kept tapping the table. William leaned back. “How many
times have you skipped school this year? This is the sixteenth time for me.”
Casey’s tapping stopped as she prepared to answer and think of her next question.
“First time. Favorite song? Fade Into You.”
He usually listened to the radio. He had a CD player in his room but never got
around to buying any CDs. Casey’s tapping sped up. Her gaze locked on William as
she waited for his response.
“’Buddy Holly’. Um—” he stretched it out, trying to think of another question.
“—mm. Who was your first best friend? David Bauer for me.”
“A girl who lived next door named Mary. What is your comfort movie? Not necessarily
your favorite or what you feel is the best. But the movie you can watch when you're
feeling down or sick. Mine is The NeverEnding Story.”
“Star Wars,” William said. He folded the straw wrapper until it couldn’t be folded
anymore, then flicked it at his drink. Casey tapped on the table again.