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She thought I pulled away fro her I was, but that wasn’t why I needed to get away fro her in a different kind of way-one I wasn’t good enough for and one that required I give ive up aboutherself to ot ho the taste of her skin and the way she encouraged s I knew I had lost sight of the prize when I thought abouther so I could rub it in Forbes’ face

I needed to get a grip To have a girl like Claireto share I couldn’t risk lettingmyself as what I truly was in her eyes

I was preoccupied with her and the ether when I was at work on Saturday Earl saw the change inon toabout football, but it was an auburn haired girl that stole all of hts

As I worked underneath a truck, I dropped a wrench on my head for the third time and Earl yelled, "Out!" I slid from under the vehicle, curious to why he yelled atto hear what the proble to put your eye out if you keep dropping that heavy wrench on your face I know so to you?"

He would be furious if he knew she haddope for her, but that wasn’t the reason for oing on? I know sohten a bolt without giving yourself a concussion"

Earl had been the only stable thing in irls and I didn’t really kno to broach the subject When I didn’t say anything, he asked, "It’s a girl, isn’t it?"

I guess he knew ht; one that’s too good for me"

He narrowed his eyes in defense of ood for you?"

I sat up and said, "Anyone you ask"

He put his hands on his hips as he stood overto tell hi a boyfriend "She says she wants to try things between us to see where it goes"

"And that’s a proble hiainst her boyfriend, so I skipped that part and went straight to the other issue at hand "She’s not like me We’re cut from a different cloth and it would never work out because she would hightail it when she found out the truth about ed

"I’h for her He’s beautiful and s it"

"Sounds toher much credit and I suspect she deserves a little s with you I think you’re being very closed et hurt, but you’ll never know if things could work out if you don’t give it try"

I knew this song and dance The counselor I spent the su after the incident toldpeople in She called itto take a chance on people Everyone you meet in your life isn’t like Twyla and Rita There are kind people in the world and it sounds like this girl wants to show you a little kindness Maybe you should let her If it didn’t work out, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world"

Maybe he was a little bit right "I’ll think about it"

As Earl walked away, he said, "Well, think about after you get off work, otherwise you ht put yourself in a coma if you drop that wrench on your head one more time"

I slid back under the truck and returned to work, hts would only be of Claire

I left work aftermyself in the head with a tool ot to Rita’s trailer, I saw several cars in the yard and knew that ht I went inside and grabbed a change of clothes without saying a word and took off to Dane’s house, hoping to find him at home

His mom answered the door and welcoo up if you’d like"

"Thanks, Mrs Wickham" She was a nice lady Dane liked to complain about how she babied him, but he had no idea how lucky he was; I’d love to have adope

I went up the stairs with e of clothes in my hand and knocked on Dane’s bedroo "Dude, what’s with the grease etup?"

"I had to work today and I know it’s a little weird to show up and ask, but could I bum a shower off ya?"

"No problem" I walked in his roo because I didn’t want to sit in my dirty work clothes "Got a hot date with Gretchen?"

"No way!" I looked at him like he had lost his mind "I’hed