'Impress her?' I thought. 'What does that even mean?' My mind went completely blank.
Nina looked at me, her expression a mix of confusion and worry. This wasn't a negotiation I was prepared for.
My eyes scanned the table, looking for something, anything. I saw the book she'd been writing in, and next to it, the novel she was reading. It was a thick paperback with a worn cover. The Count of Monte Cristo.
'Oh, a revenge story.'
Then I remembered the light novel I'd seen on the bottom shelf. My gut feeling about this place, about her, solidified. She wasn't just a classic literature snob.
I knew what to do.
"You like stories about revenge," I said.
It wasn't a question.
She raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.
I kept my voice even. "Dantès gets his revenge. He destroys his enemies, gets the treasure, and in the end, it's supposed to feel like justice. But it just feels empty."
I saw Nina looking at me, confused. She probably thought I was about to give a book report.
