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"Got it," Paul squeaks out He azillion pounds, but he looks freaked I’ve never seen Will Whitfield so pissed Not even when I won valedictorian over him When Dr Salter called us into his office, to tell us the results, a sad knowing srats, and that was that Today, fury fills his eyes

"Sorry," Paulto the bus

I don’t knohat to do withthe polish, and rock on my heels Brian’s forehead wrinkles as he coht?" he whispers

No, I want to say I feel alone I thought you were different, but you’re not treatingAnd assholes play both softball and baseball

My eyes water "I need to use the bathroom"

Brian squeezes o into the bathroo that I step back out of the bathroom and see Brian and Will in a hushed conversation, so I decide to eavesdrop on the I tiptoe over

"You showed great leadership today," Brian says to Will "Taking care of Parker like that You’re a good captain"

"She’s a nice girl She doesn’t deserve that"

"What did Paul mean when he called her the team mascot?"

Will pauses My heart pounds "Uh, she’s hooked up with a couple of guys on the team"

Holy mortification

"Really?" Brian asks

"Yeah," Will says quietly

"But not any a player--"

"She’s not dating anyone," Will interrupts "She told , "Are you into her?"

"Why?"

"I’m your coach I should know if there could be any potential problems down the line" He’s jealous

"Nah She’s not irl like her"

My heart putters to a stop, and a cla rushes overit out

Will Whitfield couldn’t be interested in a girl like ures

I turn and sprint back to the bus,the asphalt I climb the steps and curl up in my seat I slip earbuds into my ears, turn on hts Let it erase the hurt As if it could My chest heaves in and out So into the seat next to ?" he whispers

I turn to stare out the , hating ’s nora on a bar stool at the counter, I eat some celery with a bit of peanut butter

He raps a knife on the counter like he’s a woodpecker

"Why are you so nervous?" I ask, biting into my celery

"I, u

"Tate asked ht"

I squeal "Really? Did you say yes?"

Drew bites into his sandwich and chews He takes another bite, and rin fades as I wait I dip my celery into the peanut butter

"You just double dipped your celery intothe question," I reply, chewing and double dipping again

"I said yes," Drew says quietly He studies his socks "Please don’t tell anybody"

"I won’t"

"Especially not Corndog"

"You got it So you and Tate have been talking…?"

"Mostly ood…it’s good to know solad" I can barely sit still I’m so happy for hi oes all distorted "Why are you so interested in what I think of Tate? Is it because of Corndog? Because if I don’t like him, you can?"

My chest hurts My face flushes "Drew…please…"

"Sorry," hethe lass

I setthrough ht, because he’ll never believe it’s a just-friends thing

I can have a secret relationship that takes place in a Ford F150 with a guy who’s six years older than s for Will, a boy who’s not interested in a girl like me, and lose my best friend in the process