Haley said, “That’s a fantasy, Crispin. Give them reality.Please.”
“Then excluding fantasy, there’s no probability of harm. I attempted to arouse them because they—he, actually, not she—was acting out against me verbally.”
I said, “Shirin was okay.”
“Neutral,” said Crispin. “No hostility, no expression of support. I included her because she’s meaningful to him and I wanted to strike at his core.”
Sudden, lopsided smile. “Apparently, I’ve succeeded.”
Haley said, “You have, Crispin, but you need to stop.”
Long silence. She wrung her hands.
Crispin said, “Okay.”
Milo said, “Okay what?”
“I’ll stop.”
“Completely.”
“That’s what stop means, Milo Bernard Sturgis comma Lieutenant. There’s no rheostat, it’s either or.”
“Good.”
“Not good or bad,” said Crispin. “Reality. There’ll be no need for you to return and worry Haley. I won’t be going back there.”
“To Beverly Hills High School?”
“Honey, I thought we agreed you’d try to—”
“Circumstances have changed, Haley. It hasn’t been positive and is unlikely to become positive. I can learn more by myself.”
“But the counselor said Harvard and Yale—”
“The counselor went to Pitzer,” said Crispin, sneering. “I’ll follow my own judgment.”
He looked at Milo. “No need to come back and cause her stress, M.B.S. comma L.”
Milo said, “If you don’t give us reason to come back we won’t.”
The boy held up a hand. “Promise-pledge-swear. If it makes you feel better, bring me a holy book and I’ll place my hand on it.”
“Are you religious?”
“I believe in belief.”
“So no more threats?”
“Nary a one.” The boy smiled at his own phrasing. “Nary.” As if tasting the word. “Nary more scary.”
Milo said, “Fair enough,” and extended his hand.
Crispin said, “We already did that but all right.” This time he was the first to let go.
“Thanks, Crispin.”
“For what?”
