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"Of course not," Cooper says "You askedyou asked ht" Fischer Hall is straight ahead I can see the large blue-and-gold New York College flag hanging above the front door, snapping in the fresh breeze Home will always be where Cooper is, but Fischer Hall is a close second I increase , you sound a little far away"

"Only physically, baby," he says "My heart’s alith you I’ll be hoer sandwiches"

I try to su a little dispirited because Ha me

Of course he is He works in Fischer Hall too I’reat See you then"

"Heather," Cooper says "Call Canavan over at the Sixth Precinct Tell hi you just told me He may have his hands tied because of the State Departht," I say I’ve begun to walk so rapidly, anxious to get away froton Square West--at the exact same time, I notice, as Halasses so he can glare at lared at Sarah the other day in the officelike he’d very much like to draw his sideare of the park There’s a line of taxicabs and buses that wepast before we can cross the street to Fischer Hall While ait, Hamad stares at me in a manner I can only describe as extremely hostile, his dark eyes like twin black bullet holes

"So I’ll see you when you get hoaze still on Haht?"

"I sure a my mom Bye now" I turn off my phone before Cooper can say another word I don’t need to be distracted by my boyfriend’s sexy voice as I’uard of the son of a foreign dictator

"Hello," I say pleasantly to Hamad as I slip my phone back into my purse "Have a nice lunch?"

Halare ata pretzel," I say "Those are a New York City specialty We’re quite well known for our soft pretzels Did you have s out the salt in a pleasantly tangy way"

Ha He iven him with his lunch and tosses it without a word into ton Square West, though the traffic there is still flowing steadily A taxicab co him, and the New York cabby--who happens to be Punjabi--leans out histo screaet yourself killed? Wait for the light, you idiot!"

Hahtily the rest of the way across the street, not see to care that he’s beco a nuold-shirted orientation leaders outside of Fischer Hall, atteather their flocks of first-year students in order to take thes

I lean down to lift the crumpled napkin he’s thrown inthe napkin betweenis prohibited in New York City It’s punishable by a fine of up to two hundred and fifty dollars! So please use a trash receptacle next time" I walk a few steps to a nearby metal trash can and toss the napkin inside it "See? It’s not that difficult"

Before entering Fischer Hall, Hamad hurls me a look of such pure and utter conteone behind the clouds

A chill goes down my spine that’s not unlike the one I felt in Ca to the student union after all

"Heather?" one of the orientation leaders asks h for oing on between you and that guy?"