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"Hello?" I forced a strong voice into the receiver and hoped he couldn’t tell so

"Where are you?" he de happy "Are you Ok?"

It was coround noise oroutside Lincoln’s house or he had already hopped inside his truck

"I’m fine…" I lied, well, it wasn’t exactly a lie I would be fine There wasn’t anything for hi kind of out of control there, I thought it would help if I got out of the way," I offered, hoping he would leave it at that

"Things did get a little crazy," he relented, the sound of disappointment clear in his tone "So you’re at home?"

"Yeah, in bed actually…"

"Want some company?" his voice turned low and husky and I knew he only meant on the roof outsideacross hed "Hey did you see Piper before you left? Was she Ok?"

"Yeah, she was Ok," Tristan laughed, and I decided I did not like his tone

"That sounds ominous," I pried

"It’s not any of entle every word

"You better spill it, Tristan Davis Shields," I growled, not in thedeal, it’s just that, well soain and I had to stophim over just so I could slap him

"What does that mean?" I screeched

"You better ask Piper," Tristan sobered, sounding sincere

"Is this about Lincoln?" I de with the idea of what she could have been ht by the influence of the Shadows Not that teenagers didn’t come to these kinds of decisions all the time on their own, but Piper would have needed an extra push tonight Maybe not even Piper… Lincoln would have needed an extra push! They barely knew each other and Lincoln ay too shy to suggest soive it to s"

"Definitely PG-13," Tristan answered back i "It orse than a Disney tween musical, but they were still on the stairs… in front of everyone"

"In front of everyone?" I groaned, hating the Darkness even ar coating it and Tristan knew that

"What about you? Did you get into any extra trouble?" I was afraid of the answer

"Who h "You should know hed, and then rubbed my eyes "I do know you, and that’s exactly why I’ht, Stella," his voice dropped to that husky tiain and I couldn’t stop the sht, Tristan," I replied softly, hanging up the phone and laying ht streah my s and rested over ized ain and reminded me that this planet was still surrounded by the Ar to let the Darkness succeed I stretched ht muscles and the still sore scars that painted one and the light inside ofme natural war for the covers and pulling the position in bed, and s forused to He leaned against the door fraht you could use so process"

He walked toward me and a jilt of excitement jumpstarted my heart into an excited frenzy "Are those chocolate chip pancakes?" I squealed

"Yes, but don’t get too excited," his smile wavered and I paused at his rare display of insecurity "They’re not Annabelle’s or anything, but I tried Although I one overboard with the chocolate chips…"