Myer's chilly summary of the situation makes Adam seek out his unfortunately-endowed target among the other students. She's bright and shiny in a slinky gold dress that leaves very little to the imagination. Her bra isn't a push-up. Adam spends three seconds feeling bad for the way people judge her--they do that with Trixie and Cindy, too--before he sees her be led away to the dance floor. At least she's having fun.
If Myer stares too long at him, then his glare is in direct proportion to Adam's willful ignorance. It's not about playing favorites: some thoughts and worries feel too petty to discuss with anyone, be it Tion or Myer, Kahlyn or Austin. In his adolescent wisdom, Adam figures that the more time he spends pretending an issue isn't there, the higher the chances that he'll turn out to be right.
Jessica's arrival is as timely a way as any to diffuse any stray desires to blurt out his non-issue. He knows her well, from chem lab and English class--where she's as loud and opinionated as Adam is quiet--but not well enough to compliment her dress without insinuating innuendo. After all, if high school is about two things, getting laid or getting A's, then school dances just simplify that equation until it boils down to who is getting some and who most definitely isn't.
Adam knows where he falls in that shuffle.
"Hi, Jess." His smile is full-on pleasure at seeing a friend. "Yeah, I did," he confirms, glad to be included in the conversation and pleased that Jessica never seems to strain to let other people speak. She's an improvement on Katie. "She's off dancing and being pretty in motion." Newton's third law comes to mind: the mutual forces of action and reaction between two bodies are equal, opposite and collinear. In other words, chances are that if he pushes too hard, Maryann will react by dancing with other boys for the rest of the night. It's not a way to brighten up his mood.
But Myer isn't the only one to dispense with tact when caught in a bind. Not for the first time, Adam marvels at the ease with which sarcasm overflows when he's not feeling up to par. Almost enough to make him wonder about what lurks behind Myer's daily stratagems.
"Watch out for your feet out there. It's a bumpy ride." He tries not to make it too personal; Myer doesn't forget trespasses and he's even worse about being teased. Having seen him apply conscious, methodical thought to revenge, Adam can't say he wants to be on the wrong end of that brilliant, terrifying, slightly Machiavellian mind.