All the Way Home and All the Night Through by Ted Lewis

I like you, what I know of you, and I really would appreciate it if you’d go out with me. To the Fair.”
    She smiled at me in what I took to be an amused fashion. She didn’t say anything. I stood there like a naked fool.
    â€œWell, there you are,” I said. “There’s no reason why you should.”
    â€œWhat about Karen?” she said.
    Now hold on, I thought, hold on. She hasn’t said no. Don’t move or the balance will tip with a sneeze. She hasn’t said no. She had said:
    â€œWhat about Karen?”
    â€œKaren? Oh, she doesn’t mean anything. I mean, she’s just a girl.”
    â€œBut you’re going out with her.”
    â€œNo, honestly,” I lied, “I’m not. That was all over before it started. Seriously, I’m not seeing her anymore.”
    â€œAnd Hilary?”
    â€œLook, you saw how I felt about her. I mean, you don’t have to accept. But I’d promise to be on my best behaviour. No false pretences. Honestly.”
    I held up a hand and smiled. At least I hoped it was a smile.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œLook, all I’m doing is asking you to go to the fair. Nothing much can happen there.”
    â€œI’m not really sure.”
    â€œHow about Saturday?”
    â€œNot Saturday. I’m meant to be going out.”
    â€œMonday then.”
    â€œI’ve already been asked to go on Monday.”
    â€œWho by? Tony Jensen?” I couldn’t resist the question.
    â€œYes.”
    Oh hell, I’m too late, I thought.
    â€œCan’t I persuade you to go with me?”
    â€œI’ve already told him I’d go. He’s not here today. He’s at home with a bad cold. There would be no way of telling him anyway.”
    â€œTell me something. Do you really want to go with him?”
    â€œI don’t not want to go.”
    â€œThere’s nothing I can say to change your mind?”
    â€œI can’t.”
    â€œBut if you weren’t going with him, I mean, would you think of going with me?”
    â€œI’m not sure. How do I know what you want? I’m not a Karen or a Hilary.”
    â€œThat’s why I want to go out with you.”
    â€œI’ve heard too much to believe you.”
    â€œI wish you would. I mean it.”
    â€œI can’t believe that.”
    â€œListen. I’ll tell you what. If Tony doesn’t come in on Monday, then will you go with me? It can’t do any harm. You’ve nothing to lose. I’ll be on my very best behaviour. I promise. I can’t say fairer than that.”
    â€œYou’re sure about Karen?”
    â€œPositive. Ask her.”
    â€œIf Tony comes in, I’ll be going with him.”
    â€œThen you’ll come?”
    â€œOnly if Tony doesn’t come in.”
    â€œThat’s absolutely great. Thanks, thanks very much. I really thought you wouldn’t, you know?”
    She didn’t answer. We didn’t move. College was as silent as a blind man.
    â€œI’ll have to get back,” she said.
    She moved off the entrance hall steps and began climbing the marble stairway which led to the studios. I remained standing where I was. She paused a few steps up. She turned.
    â€œThank you for asking me,” she said. Detached, unemotional, she turned away again.
    Harry and I went to the fair on Saturday. Hilary and a group of friends were standing at the end of the stall-lined avenue which led to the fair. We stopped and chatted with them. I was in the process of apologizing again to Hilary when Janet got out of a car which had drawn up a few feet away. The car drove off. Janet saw us. She took up a position outside the pub on the corner. I went over to her.
    â€œHello,” I said.
    â€œHello.”
    It was as if I hadn’t asked her to go out with me. She didn’t give me an inch.
    â€œI—you mustn’t think I’m with Hilary. Harry and I just bumped into