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Spencer shot up The dark, fa over her face had vanished Instead, she was in a clean, white bedroos and a poster of the human musculature syste kids how to tell time in Spanish The cable box said 6:04, and she assumed it was AM: out the , she saw that the sun was just cos wafting up from the street

She looked next to her, and it all made sense Wren slept on his back, one arm thrown over his face, his chest bare Wren’s father was Korean and his olden shade There was a scar above his lip; he had freckles across his nose, and shaggy blue-black hair, and s he wore on his right pointer finger glinted in the orgeous alrabbed Spencer around her waist and pulled her toward hi back She could still hear the voice from her dream: It’s time for Spencer to die! It was Toby’s voice

Wren frowned "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing," Spencer said quietly She pressed her fingers to the base of her neck and felt her pulse race "Just…bad dream"

"You want to share?"

Spencer hesitated She wished she could Then she shook her head

"Well, then C’, and Spencer got a relieved, grateful rush Everything was going to be all right She was safe

This was the first tiuy’s bed Last night, she’d sped into Philly, parked on the street, and hadn’t even bothered with the Club; her parents were probably planning on repossessing her car, anyway She and Wren had fallen into bed iotten up since except to answer the door for the Chinese takeout delivery boy Later on, she called and left a ht at her hockey friend Kirsten’s house She felt silly, trying to be all responsible when she was really being so irresponsible, but whatever

For the first time since her first A note, she’d slept like a baby It was partly because she was in Philadelphia and not Rosewood, next door to Toby, but it was also because of Wren Before they went to sleep, they’d talked about Ali--their friendship, what it had been like when Ali went , that someone had killed her--for an hour He’d also let her choose the "crickets chirping" sound on the sound h it was his second–least favorite noise, after "babbling brook"

Spencer began kissing him more forcefully now, and slid out of his oversize Penn T-shirt, which she earing as a nightgown Wren traced her naked collarbone, then pushed himself up onto his hands and knees "Do you want to…?" he asked

"I think so," Spencer whispered

"Are you sure?"

"Uh-huh" She wriggled out of her underwear Wren pulled his shirt over his head Spencer’s heart pounded She was a virgin, and was as discri else in her life--she had to do it with the perfect person

But Wren was the right person She knew she was passing the Point of No Return--if her parents found out, they’d never pay for anything ever, ever, ever again Or pay attention to her Or send her to college Or feed her, possibly So what? Wren on Tales, and a half an Arthur later, Spencer rolled onto her back, staring blissfully at the ceiling Soslow Then she propped herself up on her elbows and looked at the clock "Shit," she whispered It was seven-twenty School started at eight; she was going to o" She leaped out of bed and surveyed her plaid skirt, blazer, undies, cami, and boots, all in a haphazard pile on the floor "And I’o ho her "Why?"

"I can’t wear the same outfit two days in a row"

Wren was obviously trying not to laugh at her "But it’s a uniforht?"

"Yes, but I wore this camisole yesterday And these boots"

Wren chuckled "You’re so lovably anal"

Spencer ducked her head at the word love

She quickly showered, rinsing her head and body Her heart was still pounding She felt overcome with nerves, anxious that she was late for school, troubled by the Toby nightmare, but totally blissed about Wren When she ca on the bed The apartment smelled like hazelnut coffee Spencer reached for Wren’s hand and slowly slid his silver ring off his finger and put it on her thuood on me" When she looked at him, Wren wore a small, unreadable smile "What?" Spencer asked

"You’re just…" Wren shook his head and shrugged "It’s hard for ether"

Spencer blushed "I’m really not"

"No, you are It’s like…you actually seeether than--"

Wren stopped, but Spencer knew he’d been going to say, More together than Melissa She felt herself sith satisfaction Melissa ht for their parents, but Spencer had won the battle for Wren And that was the one that , brick-paved driveway It was now 9:10 AM, and second period at Rosewood Day had already started Her father would be long gone to work by now, and with any luck, her mom would be at the stables

She opened the front door The only sound was the hu herself that she’d have to forge a tardy slip froe a tardy slip before Every year, Spencer earned Rosewood Day’s perfect-attendance and punctuality awards