Melted

"I don't quite understand why you aren't pleased to be on a date with such a beautiful woman."

I knew better than to follow her up on her comment. "Aren't you new to our class? It's almost April. You should really be studying up; doesn't every school have its own test-writing conventions? Eleventh grade marks count for college apps, you know."

This time, no dramatic pause; just a smile and a much-too-confident "I think I am more than ready in terms of my academics."