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I stuck ue out at him and rolled over "Just be quick about it," I said

He wasn't He was gone forty-five minutes before I headed back to the house, loaded up with our towels and sunscreen and trash, breathing hard and sweating like a caa around in their swi trunks We prettyback with round

Cauys asked ize," Conrad advised hi her Kool-Aid?" Jere his thurinned at rin back to show hi, and I didn't even look at hih I wished he'd stop

Why was it that even when I had my own friend I still felt left out of their club? It wasn't fair It wasn't fair that Carateful to be a part of it all The day had been so good, too

"Where's my mom and Susannah?" I snapped

"They went off so, ed her

I stalked off to the kitchen for ot up and followed me I didn't have to turn around to knoas hilass of grape Kool-Aid and pretending he wasn't standing there watching nore me?" he finally said

"No," I said "What do you want?"

He sighed and came closer "Why do you have to be like that?" Then he leaned forward, close, too close "Can I have solass on the counter and started to walk away, but he grabbed asped He said, "Coers felt cool, the way he alas Suddenly I felt hot and feverish I snatched my hand away "Leave me alone"

"Why are you enuinely confused and also anxious Because for his were connected--if he was confused, he was anxious And he was hardly ever confused, so then he was hardly ever anxious He'd certainly never been anxious over me I was inconsequential to him Always had been

"Do you honestly care?" I could feel e, waiting for his answer

"Yes" Conrad looked surprised, like he couldn't believe he cared either

The probleuessed it wasnice to s I didn't want to re ith Caht I was sure about him, Conrad would look at me a certain way, or twirl me, or call o sarette," I said

The muscle in his jaitched "Okay," he said

I felt a otten to hio look at yourself in the mirror so, being caught out and having so atmyself? Did everyone think I was vain and shallo?

I closedmy head slowly

"Belly--," he started He was sorry It ritten all over his face