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But neither one of theood as Rachel Rachel stands beside Dr Jessup, her eyes sparkling as brightly as chalass she holds She looks resplendent in forown contrasts startlingly with her porcelain skin, which in turn seeainst the darkness of her hair, piled on top of her head with jeweled pins

For so to wear" to the ball, Rachel had done really well for herself

So well, in fact, that I can’t help feeling sort of self-conscious about the way I’ood way, either

It takes e’s illustrious leader, but I finally spot him over by one of the library check-out kiosks President Allington has ditched the tank top for once, whichto find hily distinguished in it

Too bad I can’t say the saton, in her black velour, bell-bottomed pantsuit Its wide sleeves fall back every ti with alareny, the suave Chris/Todd/Mark? I don’t see hi a cute guy in his twenties, and all What cute guy in his twenties can resist an event like this one? Iabout lipstick caentleman who called me "miss" and said he liked my dress (in so sincere a tone that I looked down to ) when suddenly a very slender, very attractive woman dressed all in black walks up and says Cooper’s naes to look glamorous and professorial at the same time, takes his arm in an unmistakably territorial manner--as if in the past, she’s touched hirab his ar here? It seems like it’s been months since I last heard fro yourself?"

I can’t say Cooper looks panic-stricken, exactly

But he does look a little like a guy who is wishing very hard that he were so a hand on her back and leaning down to kiss her On the cheek "Nice to see you" Then he uy, then to me "Heather, this is Professor Marian Braithwaite Marian teaches art history Marian, this is Heather Wells She works here at New York College as well"

Marian reaches out and shakes ers flutter like a tiny bird trapped betweento bet she works out regularly at the college gym Also that she’s a showerer, and not a bather She just has the look

"Really?" Marian says, brightly, s her perfect Isabella Rossellini s soeraniu to reply Sadly, no one does "Nothing, actually I’raduate dormitories I mean, residence halls"

"Oh" Marian’s perfect s at Cooper that all she wants to do is drag him away and rip all his clothes off, preferably with her teeth, and not stand around chatting with the assistant director of an undergraduate residence hall I can’t say I really blame her, either "How nice So, Cooper, have you been out of town? You haven’t returned a single one of et to hear the rest of what Marian is saying because suddenlythe seizing, instead of an ex--which would, of course, have been i in the hospital--I find Rachel

"Hello, Heather," she cries Twin spots of unnaturally bright color light her cheeks, and I realize that Rachel has been hitting the chaht How are you? And Jordan? I’ve been so worried about hiuilty start, that I hadn’t thought of Jordan all night Not since I’d opened my door and laid eyes on Cooper, as a ht Good condition, in fact Expected to make a full recovery"

"What a semester we’ve had, huh?" Rachel elbows me chummily "You and I definitely need a feeeks’ vacation after all we’ve been through I can’t believe it Two deaths in teeks!" She glances around, worried soht have heard her, and lowers her voice "I can’t believe it"

I grin at her Rachel is definitely drunk Most likely, she hadn’t had anything to eat, and the chaht to her head Most of the hors d’oeuvres they’re passing around, stuffed mushroom caps and shrimp in puffed pastries, don’t look as if they’re all that low carb, so Rachel’s probably been eschewing thee--although it’s surprising that so to irl in her But then, I didn’t go to Yale, so ree with her "You look really nice, by the way That dress suits you"

"Thanks so much!" Rachel sparkles "I had to pay full price, but I think it orth it" Then her gaze falls on Cooper, and her eyes light up even more "Heather," she whispers, excitedly "You’re here with Cooper? Are you and he--"

I glance overto explain to the professor where he’s been for the past few ht on Waverly Place I kind of wonder if ive Marian the old heave-ho Why else hadn’t he called her? Although why any guy would duine She’s successful, intelligent, gorgeous, thin, a showerer…geez, I’d date her)

"Uht of Cooper and ether "No He just had a spare ticket, so I tagged along We’re just friends"