Any Good?

"What are you reading?" Hal asked, plopping down beside David. Hal was one of the few people that David would count as a friend in this school. One of the only people who would make the first move to initiate conversation.

David held up the slim novel, "Persuasion, by Jane Austen," he said.

Hal tried, but didn't succeed in suppressing a bubble of laughter. "Why on earth are you reading that?" he asked, merriment dancing in his eyes at the thought of his friend reading such a girly book.

"Just because you would never broaden your horizons doesn't mean the rest of us don't," David sniffed in mock disdain, "besides," he added and smiled a little, "it's one of Ariana's favorites."

"What's it about?" Hal asked, still clearly amused.

"It's about a military man who fell in love with a young girl. The young girl gave up the relationship when pressured by her family. They split up and he went to sea. He came back years later and this is the story of how they both cope with it. It's a story about waiting," David said.

"Is it any good?" Hal asked, his tone low, as if embarrassed to be caught asking.

"It's really good," David said, "I'll let you read it when I'm finished if you want," he continued, casting a sidelong glance at his friend.

Hal looked around quickly, "alright," he said, "if it's as good as you say then I'll check it out."

David smirked a little and returned to the story.