Page 9 (1/2)

I listen as I take in everything he says Really though, all I hear is, "we can't be together…blah blah blah…we can't be together"

"Lake, I need this job It's what I've been working toward for three years We're broke My parents left e tuition I can't quit now"

Does he think I' him to quit his job?

"Will, I understand I'd never ask you to jeopardize your career You’ve worked hard It would be stupid if you threw that away for someone you’ve only known for three days"

"I’ you would askfrom," he says

"I do understand," I say "It’s ridiculous to assu"

His eyes glance at the note on ain as he hesitates "We both know it's more than that"

His words cause ht Whatever was happening with us, it was more than just an infatuation I can’t possibly comprehend at this moment what it must be like to actually have a broken heart If it hurts even one percent o love It's not worth it

I atteain but the effort is futile He brings his leg off of the dash and pulls me to him I bury ently rubs my back

"I' I could do to change things I have to do this right, for Caulder I’o from here, or hoe'll transition"

"Transition?" I say I suddenly start to panic at the thought of losing him "But-What if you talk to the school? Tell them we didn’t know Ask the out ofat straws There is no situation in which a relationship between us would be feasible at this point

"I can’t, Lake" His voice is small "It won't work It can't work"

We hear a door sla down the driveway We immediately pull apart and reposition our seats I restto conjure up a loophole in our situation There has to be one

When the boys have crossed the street and are safely inside Will's house, he turns to me

"Layken?" he says nervously "There’s one od, what else? What else could be relevant at this o to administration tomorroant you to withdraw from my class I don't think we should be around each other any from my face My hands start to sweat and the car is slowly beco we had up to this point is over He’s going to shut me out of his life entirely

"Why?" I make no effort to mask the hurt inyou to do this because I want to avoid you I' you this because e have isn’t appropriate We have to separate ourselves"

Separate ourselves? My hurt quickly succu up inside of me "Not appropriate? Separate ourselves? You live across the street froets out of the car I do the sah to knohat’s appropriate, Will You’re the only person I know here Please don’t ask me to act like I don’t even know you," I plead

"Co fair" He matches his tone to mine, and I know I’ve hit a nerve "I can’t do this We can’t just be friends It’s the only choice we have"

I can’t help but feel like we’re going through a horrible break-up, and we aren’t even in a relationship I'ry at him At the entire situation I can’t discern if I’m really just upset about what has happened today, orI know for sure is that the only time I’ve been truly happy lately has been with Will To hear him tell me that we can’t even be friends hurts It scares o back to who I've been for the past six months; someone I'rabit’s either all or nothing, right? And since it obviously can’t be all!" I slaain and head toward the house "You’ll be rid of me by third period tonome over with my boot

I walk in the house and throw the keys toward the bar in the kitchen with such force that they glide completely across the surface and hit the floor I step on the heel of my boot with my toe and kick it off in the entry when my mother comes in

"What was that all about?" she asks "Were you just yelling?"

"Nothing," I say "That’s what it’s about Absolutely nothing!" I pick upthe door behind ht to the hamper of clothes I pick it up and duh the for My hand slides into the pocket of my jeans and I remove the purple hair clip and walk over to the bed, pull back the covers and cliht fist around the clip as I pull my hands up to my face, and I cry ht I lay there aI will come to the conclusion that this was all a bad dream but the clarity never comes When I pull back the covers my hair clip falls from my hands and lands on the floor This small piece of plastic, so old that it’s probably covered in lead ridden paint I think about how I felt the day ave it to me, and how all the sadness and fears were eliminated as soon as he put it in my hair

I lean forward and retrieve it fro down in the center so that it snaps open I s to the opposite side and secure it in place on h, everything still hurts I pull the clip from my hair and throw it across the room as I climb back into bed

5

"I keep tellin' myself

That it'll be fine

You can't make everybody happy

All of the time"