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May 25, 2010

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

“Did you ask him?” Cora whispered beside me

“No, but why me? Why can’t you?” I asked Creed was her brother and it was her idea to walk to town for ice crea him He was busy

Cora rolled her eyes at me “Because he won’t say no to you,” she replied

Frowning I glanced back at her brother, Creed Sullivan, and Jack Tate who had moved five houses down the street from the Sullivans this past fall Jack was Creed’s new best friend Last summer and all the summers before, Creed had always spent his days with s were different Sure, he did sos with us, but he ith Jackbasketball on the Sullivans’ driveway I didn’t want to just go up and interrupt thes with Creed felt different now and our friendship wasn’t the same

“When they’re done playing ested to Cora

Cora sighed drao now If o by ourselves, but she thinks Creed going keeps us safe Like, seriously, what is he gonna do to protect us?”

Creed was dribbling the ball when he noticed us watching the like this with Creed Why had things had to change? It had been so s were too different When I looked at Creed, s and my cheeks felt warm I liked him and not just as a friend I really liked Creed Sullivan In the past, I had always thought he was cute, but this year when he had smiled at me the first day I’d arrived at my Gran’s, I felt a little faint

“Hey, Creed!” Cora called out to hi this way

He shifted his gaze to his sister “Yeah?”

“Sailor wants to go get an ice creao with us” Cora told him, which was not true I wanted to crawl in the bushes and hide from embarrassment

Creed looked back to ht red I could feel it “You want ice cream?” he asked me

I was about to tell him it could wait until he was done or that I didn’t actually need an ice cream when Cora jabbedto leave a bruise Wincing, I ed to nod my head

“We’re in thethe obvious

Creed shot him a look I couldn’t see, then he turned back to o,” he said

“You’re kidding? Jeez, dude, I know she’s hot but bros over…”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Creed warned him

“Told you,” Cora said under her breath in a sing-song voice “My brother likes you, likes you”