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Aisha, climbing the bleachers nimbly with her long legs, almost making a dance of it.
    â€œHi, Aisha. What are you doing here?”
    Aisha flopped down beside her. “Same as you—acting like a dumb female throwback who wastes her time watching guys strut around and act macho.”
    Claire smiled despite herself. She searched the field, then, in a far corner, spotted Christopher, who helped coach the ragtag intramural soccer team. “You can barely see him from here.”
    Aisha nodded. “I don’t want him to think I’m here just to watch him.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œHe has plenty of ego already.”
    â€œThen why be here at all?” Claire asked reasonably.
    â€œBecause he works about twenty different jobs, so if I don’t see him while he’s working, I don’t see him at all,” Aisha said, suddenly vehement.
    â€œThat’s what happens when you go out with guys who are out of school, I guess,” Claire said, not really very interested. Jake had just glanced over at her, hesitated, then looked away.
    â€œAre you two together again, or still, or whatever the right word is?” Aisha asked, looking at Jake as he put on his helmet and formed up with the rest of the team.
    â€œMe and Jake?”
    â€œNo, you and Zac Efron. Of course, you and Jake.”
    Claire shrugged. She disliked being asked about her private life. Especially the parts of her private life she didn’t entirely understand herself. “I’m not exactly sure.”
    â€œI just assumed since you’re here watching him practice. . .”
    Claire shifted uncomfortably. “I’m getting my legs tan.”
    For a while Aisha didn’t say anything, and at last Claire turned around to see what she was doing. It turned out she was staring at Claire with a speculative, thoughtful expression. “What?” Claire demanded.
    â€œNothing,” Aisha said defensively. “I was just thinking this is kind of an unusual situation for you.”
    Claire was determined not to ask Aisha to explain what shemeant, but her resolve gave way to annoyance. “All right, spit it out, Aisha.”
    â€œI’m just saying that as long as I’ve known you, it’s been guys chasing after you, looking at you all lovesick. Not the other way around.”
    â€œDon’t ever use a term like lovesick to refer to me,” Claire said frostily.
    â€œHow about unrequited, as in unrequited love?” Aisha asked.
    â€œAre you trying to annoy me? Because you’re doing it pretty well.” She settled a hard glare on Aisha.
    â€œYou shouldn’t worry about what I have to say,” Aisha said, unabashed. “You have bigger things to worry about.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œLike here comes Jake.” Aisha batted her eyelashes dramatically.
    Claire snapped her gaze back and saw Jake trotting across the field toward her. Her hand went instinctively to her hair, swooping it back over her shoulders.
    â€œI will back off to a discreet distance,” Aisha said. “But not too discreet.” She moved up several rows and a dozen feet to the left.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Jake demanded as he came within shouting range. He took off his helmet and gave her a cold look.
    â€œIt’s a sunny afternoon,” Claire said. “I’m getting some sun.”
    Jake pointed his index finger at her. “I don’t want you here. The guys on the team are getting the wrong idea.”
    â€œWhat wrong idea is that, Jake?”
    â€œLook, Claire, it’s over. You and me? Over. You think I can just go on with you now that I know the truth?”
    Claire considered the question seriously. “I think you can do whatever you want to, Jake.”
    â€œWhy don’t you go pick on some other guy?” He waved his arm back toward the team. “There are two dozen guys who would gladly go out with you. Lars over there would sell his