Evidence of Things Not Seen Read Free

glanced up. Long enough to notice that he wore rimless glasses and his eyes were hazel. Long enough to feel her cheeks prickle with heat. Then she looked away.
    Marshall hoped the 100 would get her attention. He’d noticed she got perfect scores on every quiz so far. Someone who was smart might be curious about other people with good grades. When McCloud handed him the quiz with 100 circled at the top, it seemed like a sign. Marshall left it faceup on his desk. He felt her look at him but he kept staring ahead as if McCloud were imparting the secrets of the astronomic universe. Really, Marshall was counting how long she looked at him. One one thousand, Two one thousand, Three—
    Almost three seconds. She’d noticed him.
    After that, Marshall still kept to himself, but one time he looked at her as she sat down and she said “Hey.” He nodded at her. Marshall was careful to hold back. He didn’t want to scare her away. She seemed like she could be easily scared.
    One day at the end of class, she said, “See you tomorrow.” After a while, she said “Hey” every morning. Once, she double-checked her homework assignment with what he wrote down.
    In January, Marshall noticed she came into the cafeteria with Mary Louise. That was odd because Mary Louise usually ate in the art room. Painting was her life. She was the only person in the senior class going to an art school. It seemed like another sign. When Robert put his tray down across from Marshall, he said, “You mind if I invite Mary Louise over to eat with us?”
    Robert looked over at the cafeteria line. “She’s sort of a wing nut.”
    “Yeah, and you’re sort of a jock. So what?”
    “Sure. Why not? It’ll be a change from listening to you talk about colleges.”
    Marshall ignored Robert. He did talk a lot about where he might go to college. It seemed important, but at the same time, it didn’t. He was good at math and the counselor said that engineering would be a good fit, so he applied to colleges that had engineering programs. He’d been accepted at three and chose one. But he still wasn’t sure if he wanted to go. It was simpler for Robert. All he wanted to do was play football, so he took the best deal.
    Marshall waved at Mary Louise as she was scanning the lunchroom for a seat. She smiled and tried to wave but nearly dropped her tray.
    “Wing nut,” mumbled Robert.
    Mary Louise leaned toward Leann and sort of pointed at Marshall and Robert. Marshall could see Leann hesitate. Her eyes scanned the room, looking for another possibility. But there weren’t any empty tables. She nodded and followed Mary Louise.
    Marshall made sure to motion to the seat next to him when Mary Louise came up to the table. He didn’t want to spook Leann.
    “Y’all know Leann?” Mary Louise said as she slid her tray next to Marshall’s. “We have gym together.”
    Marshall nodded. “Yeah, we have astronomy together.” He motioned to Robert as Leann sat down. “This is Robert. Mostly a jock. Also a good friend.”
    Leann smiled a little. Marshall wasn’t sure why but he had a feeling that she liked this strange crew. The jock. The artist. The engineer. And whoever Leann was. Marshall also had a feeling that because there were four of them together, it made Leann more comfortable. Like one on one, even with Mary Louise, would be too close.
    Marshall didn’t mind. He liked that Mary Louise and Robert were there. It helped him blend in better. He could pretend to be eating while listening to them talk. Listening to Leann talk. Listening to how she feinted and dodged but never really opened up. She made it seem like she was there, a part of them, but Marshall sensed she was someplace else.
     
     
    Leann takes out her mascara and rolls it on her eyelashes. She still can’t believe she’s going to prom. Eight months ago, she wondered if it were possible to live someplace and not know anyone the entire time you lived there. Maybe she could hold her breath for a whole