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"Poor Piper," I syave her a syot in return was an irritated eye roll, I put my arm around ht as mine Piper laid her head down on me and stuck out her full bottohed with us; and I could tell by the way he looked back and forth between us that he was glad my friendship circle extended beyond Tristan Boys

"Hey," Tristan joined us, flanked by his closest guy friends and rival athletic studs I leaped fro edin ainstthe feel and s back and nodding to Tristan’s ether the three boys dominated all sports and carried thethem, he walked the halls with a confidence and carelessness that only those truly at ease could carry

"Well, speak of the devil," Piperback to her locker "I don’t get greetings like that" I laughed, knowing she would kill ed her like that and potentially ley Merrit," I introduced Seth to the boy on Tristan’s right; he had deep, reddish brown hair that curled wildly at an unke freckles and his boxer’s nose crooked to one side He was an athlete, like Tristan, with high school boy biceps and a thick neck But his freckles and pale green eyes kept a boyish look about hiirls could not say no to He knew it too "And this is Lincoln Chase," I continued, introducing Seth to the other boy who had perfectly clear skin that grew lightly pink with any kind of attention Lincoln was shorter than Tristan and Rigley by a few inches, but still an obvious athlete His pale blonde hair was stick straight and hung across his eyes in a way that aley could be, Lincoln was quiet and careful "Guys, this is Seth, he just moved here," I finished the introductions and waited for thee each other in turn

"Are you headed to Government?" Tristan asked when not much had been oing to help Seth find the office first," I explained

"Oh," Tristan said surprised He rubbed his hand over his shaved head and looked down the hallway a little lost

"Save us a seat?" I pro our daily routine Tristan was still adjusting to Seth’s sudden appearance inhim walk to class on his own It was just one class

"Sure," Tristan replied, not at all wanting to save us both a seat

"Tristan and Stella aren’t walking to class together?" Piper turned fro to be appalled with the situation "What is happening to the world?" she cried out, holding her Govern thee

"Piper, I oaded Piper with heavy tones of sarcasm Deep down they loved each other… or at least that’s what I promised myself when she turned snarky and he turned pretend polite

"Itabout practice a half hour ago and repeating her coaches exact words

"You’ll catch up," Tristan proly but Piper only rolled her eyes and waved at us beforeshe hated more than when Tristan played nice She refused to like him and preferred hiuys later," I waved at everyone too, taking an a him toward the school office

"Your best friends hate each other," Seth co the situation

"They don’t hate each other," I tried to plead a useless case I had been fighting since grade school "They just don’t always see eye to eye"

"It’s just so unexpected," Seth continued, the shock ringing in his voice "The way you worship Tristan… I just thought… I ht everyone loved him"

"Everyone does love him!" I quickly defended Tristan "Except… Piper…" I ad off "Piper just doesn’t like to like anything that everyone else likes and that includes Tristan… and I don’t worship him! We’re just… best friends"

"So I’ve heard, at least a thousand times since I met you," Seth answered a little put off "And I only hed Seth off and opened the glass door to the school office

Three secretaries sat working busily at retro desks behind a light wood partition with a long gray peeling countertop The entire office screamed late 70’s, even the secretaries in their polyester skirts and thick, tan nylons I s in this sa as anyone could remember

"Mrs Sadler, this is Seth Smith, he’s a new student here and needs to check in with you," I explained sweetly, approaching the long counter with a trailing Seth

The three secretaries paused their work, fingers hovering over coawk at the new student as blatantly as my classmates had Mrs Sadler, a wo her thick fra French twist carefully She stood quickly and walked to the counter with an unsure smile plastered to her overly made-up face