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Rafe’s voice droned on behind hsturdy wall between an to relax, muscle by muscle I drifted on the sound of his voice

So off, but the solid heat of Rafe’s body did not disappear At so, and the faint thud of a book dropping to the floor

I slept on

Thirteen

Rafe

For the second time, I woke up in Bella’s bed

When I openedon her side, her butt tucked against ainst my calf Carefully, I turned my head to see her more clearly Her back rose and fell slowly as she slept Relaxed in her sleep, she looked sweet and so vulnerable I had a strong urge to roll ontoto happen I’d had that chance once, and I’d handled it very poorly

Quietly, I got out of bed She didn’t wake at all, not even when I fuher to rest

I didn’t speak to her on Monday at all, though I did get a glih the lunch line She wore a long-sleeve T-shirt and jeans, and a tight expression on her face Since she was up and around, I counted it as a win

Monday night her light was out when I got back fro we had Urban Studies together

She didn’t show

I sat through the lecture, worried about her The only thing that keptclass to check on her was the fact that Professor Giulio was lecturing about the affordable housing movement, which Bella and I would need to understand to complete our part of the project So I did ot up and headed back to Beaumont House Thankfully I wasn’t on the lunch schedule today Knocking on Bella’s door got me nowhere "It’s Rafe," I called, as if that would make a difference "Are you in there?"

Silence

After a moment, Lianne’s door opened behind me, and I spun around She beckoned, and I followed her into her roo the door fall closed behind me