e a quick observation to distract myself。 〃You don't like them very
much。〃
〃Does it show？〃 he asked sarcastically。
〃Well It doesn't sound like they're doing anything bad。〃 I tried to soothe
him； to make him cheerful
again。 〃Just sort of annoyingly goody…two…shoes for a gang。〃
〃Yeah。 Annoying is a good word。 They're always showing off—like the cliff
thing。 They act like like； I
don't know。 Like tough guys。 I was hanging out at the store with Embry and
Quil once； last semester； and
Sam came by with his followers； Jared and Paul。 Quil said something； you know
how he's got a big
mouth； and it pissed Paul off。 His eyes got all dark； and he sort of smiled—
no； he showed his teeth but
he didn't smile—and it was like he was so mad he was shaking or something。
But Sam put his hand
against Paul's chest and shook his head。 Paul looked at him for a minute and
calmed down。 Honestly； it
was like Sam was holding him back—like Paul was going to tear us up if Sam
didn't stop him。〃 He
groaned。 〃Like a bad western。 You know； Sam's a pretty big guy； he's twenty。
But Paul's just sixteen；
too； shorter than me and not as beefy as Quil。 I think any one of us could
take him。〃
〃Tough guys；〃 I agreed。 I could see it in my head as he described it； and it
reminded me of something a
trio of tall； dark men standing very still and close together in my father's
living room。 The picture was
sideways； because my head was lying against the couch while Dr。 Gerandy and
Charlie leaned over
me Had that been Sam's gang？
I spoke quickly again to divert myself from the bleak memories。 〃Isn't Sam a