he stepped backward and almost fell over , catching himself just in time by flinging his hand against the wall . he was n't teasing when he said it . silence washed over the room , calming nicolas . it 's not right that you have to suffer because of it . would she drive us home too ? talking head went for a joke price . my heart split in desperate , hopeless confusion , even though i understood that he was drunk . the case sparkled in the fading light . 