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"I think it’s adorable," he says "She likes you, too I can tell"

"Really?"

He laughs "You’re too easy And yes, I don’t kno, but I can tell she likes you Y’all are cute Why are you hiding it? Or better yet, who are you hiding it froin walking toward class and Breckin falls into step with me

"Why not? Because you’re an asshole?"

I stop and look at hiht you knew that"

I laugh, then start walking again "He thinks it’ll screw everything up since we’re all best friends"

"He’s right It will"

I stop walking again "Who’s to say things won’t work out with me and Six?"

"Didn’t you just o?"

"Doesn’t ood feeling about her"

Breckin studies me for a moht" He turns and walks in the opposite direction, but he stops and faces ain and your secret is out"

"Okay, Powder Puff"

He laughs and points at me "See? Such an asshole"

He spins and heads toward his class I pull my phone out of my pocket and open up Val’s contact information I hit delete, then add Six’s number into my phone I’ll wait until I make it to my classroom before I text her

Don’t want to seem desperate

Chapter Four

Me: Pretend you’re going to the bathroo

I place ain I’ve been here almost an hour and Six and I have barely had a chance to talk I don’t know if I’ll even need Breckin to out us, because I’m about to lose my patience and do it myself

I know everyone’s curious about her trip to Italy, but she see about it Her answers are short and clipped and I hate that I’m the only one who see up Italy I also like that I’m the only one who notices, because it proves that whatever connection I feel with her is enuine I feel like I know her better than anyone else here Maybe even better than Sky knows her

Although it’s absurd to feel that way, since I still don’t even know her birthday

Six: There’s only one bathrooo there it would be obvious if you got up and followed roan out loud

"Everything okay?" Jack asks He’s seated next to me at the table, which is fine any other time but I really wanted Six to be in his chair I nod, then put irlfriend drahs and turns back to Holder, continuing with their conversation Six is involved in a discussion with Sky and Karen Breckin ended up not being able to co Not sure I could have handled the fact that he knows

Right now it’s justa silent war at the dinner table

"That reot" She scoots back froht back" She stands and takes two steps before turning back toward us "Daniel? They’re kind of heavy Mind giving me a hand?"

Don’t act too excited, Daniel

I sigh heavily "I guess," I say as I scoot back from the table I look at Holder and roll my eyes, then follow Six outside Neither of us says a hile we make our way to the side of the house She reaches her , then turns around

"I lied," she says Her eyes are worried, which causes me to worry

"About what?"

She shakes her head "I didn’t buy anyone presents I just can’t take another second of all the questions, and then seeing you across the table and knowing howthis whole dinner really irritating But now I don’t have presents How do I go back in there without presents?"

I try not to laugh, but I love that she’s been just as irritated as I’ve been I was starting to worry I ht have a few issues

"We could just stay out here and never go back inside"

"We could," she says in agreement "But they’d eventually come look for us Not to h all this trouble to cook for me and oh, my God, what if it’s true, Daniel?"

I don’t know if it’s me or if she’s just really difficult to keep up with, but I have no idea what she’s talking about "What if what’s true?"