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Ethan turned away froe wooden sandbox on the other side of the fence A couple of shovels and castles"

Eed She wasn’t sure if she was into Sutton’s crowd, either "You wouldn’t have had to talk to them I was the one who invited you"

He picked at a scab on his knee "Honestly? I kind of thought it was a setup I was afraid I’d go to that party andI don’t know So blood on my head or whatever, horror-film style"

"I wouldn’t set you up!"

Ethan sniffed "Sutton Mercer wouldn’t set someone up?" He looked at her doubtfully

E net in the middle of the court She had no idea what Sutton would or wouldn’t do All those comments fro to feel personally responsible for all of it, even though she didn’t have the slightest idea what any of it was

Erabbed a handful Absently, she arranged a few on her thigh in the shape of a sreen nose, and a red and brown M&M smile

"You do that, too?" Ethan asked

Emma looked up "Do what?"

"Make faces with your food" Ethan pointed at Emma’s creation

Emma ducked her head "I’ve done it since I was little" She’d sculpted smiley faces in ice cream sundaes with chocolate chips, or with extra ketchup on a plate after she’d eaten all her fries A counselor once caught hera session and told Emma that she probably did it because she was lonely But E she ate deserved some personality

Ethan popped an M&M into his ian waffle we called Bob Bob was a regular waffle with two big blueberries for eyes, a whipped creauess," E" Ethan pointed at her "A piece of honeydew!"

"Melon on a waffle?" Erinned at her and shook his head "I can’t i with her food"

"There are lots of things you don’t know about e mystery" More than you know, she silently added

Ethan nodded approvingly "Mystery is cool" He leaned toward her a littleEmma’s shoulder He didn’t immediately pull away E at her, not the girl he thought was Sutton Mercer

Click The overhead lights faded, flooding the court in darkness Emma stiffened and let out a little yelp "It’s okay," Ethan said "The hts just ran out"

Ethan helped E into his car and starting the engine, Ethan poked his head out theand gave her a long, curious look "Thanks, Sutton," he finally said

"For what?" Eestured out theto the court and sky "This"

E he’d say more He pulled out of the lot and headed for the exit "Fireflies" by Owl City wafted fro was one of Emma’s favorites As he turned toward the street, Emma slid down the chain-link fence to the warm asphalt At least someone here was nor to do with Sutton’s life

But watching fro about Ethan that made me think he had more to do with my life than he let on

Chapter 14

VINTAGE EMMA

Ominous thunderclouds opened up on Thursday afternoon, and Coach Maggie made an announcement over the loudspeaker after seventh period that tennis practice was canceled E her ars ached froht

At the end of the day, as Emma entered the combination to Sutton’s locker, a hand slithered around her waist and pulled her tight E a bouquet of tulips in her face "Happy first-week-of-school-al in for a kiss

Emma tensed as his lips touched hers He smelled like turpentine from art class