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"Whoopee"

Susan glared at Billy briefly before focusing her attention back on Devon "Anyway, if you would like, I’ll take you around and show you everything"

Billy and David shook their heads in disgust; they turned their attention away fro about football "Thank you, but I think I’m all set"

Susan’s pretty face fell in disappointave her a brisk nod before focusing on Cassie oncehiaze His heart see fiercely in his chest, and then it was dead once irl was, he didn’t think he would ever get used to it, or understand it

He couldn’t take his eyes away fro on the table as she dropped her half eaten apple on the tray The loud ringing of the bell caused everyone to lurch to their feet like Pavlov’s dogs Devon raised an eyebrow at the sign of auto suit

Her eyes hter upon her tray There was a sad acceptance in her gaze that he didn’t understand, a look of resignation that touched soed to reach out and touch her, longed to ease the aching loneliness he sensed radiating froain, her dark eyes twinkled brightly, alanced briefly at Cassie, her knowing smile widened "What’s your next class?" He tore his attention away fro the well used schedule froood, Cassie and I have American history now too"

Cassie inhaled sharply, a look of utter panic descended over her face onceaccusto to it For a ain as her eyes darted frantically around Then, her focus came back to him; a steely resolve descended over her as she nodded briskly, turned sharply on her heel, and hurried to the nearest trash can

She dumped her mostly untouched lunch

CHAPTER 5

Cassie shifted uncomfortably, her whole body hurt She had taken quite the pounding in training today, pushing herself extra hard in the hopes that the exertion would help to bury the e man that had walked into her life It had not worked

Cassie rolled her shoulders, trying to work the tension out of them The hot water of her shower had helped to ease sohtness in them, but it had not relaxed the to the TV as she ran the brush through her tangled hair She winced as it got caught on a snarl but pulled it swiftly through

Li Indian style on her bed, his hands folded before as he leaned toward the TV The Red Sox were in the race for the playoffs and he was riveted Cassie shook her head as he groaned loudly, pounding his fist onto the bed "Dahed softly as she settled onto the bed beside hiht as well be," heto stay here tonight?"

Chris shook his head before rising slowly to his feet "No, it’s pretty quiet over there and I suppose I should go hooing to h it was true, Cassie didn’t tell hiht If she was alone then she would think, and if she thought, she knew that her thoughts would be centered upon hihtly around herself She didn’t want to think about Devon, she wanted to forget his existence entirely, but she knew that was going to be impossible, especially if Chris went ho herself to ask Chris to stay He would know so if she did, and she didn’t want anyone to know just howher anxiety, she drew on her pride as Chris swung a leg out herto take his nor"

Cassie nodded as he leapt onto the tree branch, swinging for a brief s wrapped around the trunk as he swiftly used the other branches to cliround She watched as he loped across the street, disappearing through his front door

Sighing softly, Cassie closed thehts, she slipped into bed, knowing that she would not be able to sleep Staring blankly at the flickering TV she tried hard to shut her mind off of Devon, tried hard not to think about him, but the harder she tried the , Cassie finally ed to slip into a restless sleep at al And the moment that she slept, she dreaht of the lasses Her eyes were killing her; she was exhausted, twitchy, and extreitated Her skin felt two sizes to se urge to rip it off The sun seeled with pain and disco to be a miserable day and she hadn’t eventhe back of her neck, she eased further into the shadows of the giant oak overhanging Chris’s Mustang "Are you ok?" She glanced over at Melissa, nodding slowly as she hugged her books tighter to her chest "Cassie…"

Melissa’s voice trailed off as a strange quiet settled over the student body The tingling sensation of her skin increased tenfold, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end She turned slowly, her eyes instantly latching onto the sleek black Challenger that moved slowly past Her heart turned over, her mouth went dry She knew instantly as behind the wheel, even though the tinted ere to dark to get a glimpse of the driver

"Wow," Chris breathed his eyes so wide Cassie was certain they were about to pop out of his head