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I got up too, and so did Conrad "See ya," I said "And, Jere you back for that"

He winked and said, "A back rub should make us about even," and I threw a pillow directly at his head and sla fake-flirty was the worst part It was so patronizing, so de

It took me about three seconds before I realized that Taylor wasn't co at Jereavelook and said, "You know you loved it"

I glared at him "Hoould you know? You're too obsessed with yourself to notice anybody else"

He walked away fro, Belly Even poor little you"

"Screw you!" I said, because that was all I could think of I could hear hi as he shut his bedrooot under the covers I closed my eyes and replayed and replayed what had just happened Jereer my own They had been touched By Jeremiah I had finally been kissed, and it was my friend Jeremiah who'd been the one to do it My friend Jere me that whole week

I wished I could talk to Taylor I wished we could talk about ht thisthe same boy who had just kissed me I was sure of it

When she ca

"Belly?" she whispered across the roo, but I stirred a little, for effect

"I know you're still awake, Belly," she said "And I forgive you"

I wanted to sit right up and say, "You forgivemy whole su

The nextI woke up early, just after seven, and Taylor was already gone I knehere she was She'd gone to watch the sunrise with Jereo watch the sunrise on the beach onebefore she left, but ays overslept It was her second to last ed into s it was always a little cold outside, just a little bit of bite to the air, but I didn't sin the ocean even when I wasn't In theory swireat and all, but the salt water burned my eyes too much to do it every day Plus, the pool was h everyone else swaht I had it pretty ate to the pool, I sawa book Except she wasn't really reading it She wasoff into space

"Hi, Mo else

She looked up, startled "Goodher throat "Did you sleep well?"

I shrugged and dropped uess," I said

My mother shaded her eyes with her hand and looked up atfun?"

"Tons," I said "Buckets full"

"Where is Taylor?"