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Nick’s mouth went dry "Yeah--a few I just--" I just have their sealed responses hidden in a drawer "I haven’t heard back"

"University of Maryland has a prograe level science andsemester It’s by teacher recoet a jura

"I’d like to recommend you But I also need to know you’re focused"

Reassure him Say you’re focused Or thank you Say thank you

But he couldn’t say anything A ju his brothers to start college next fall, and this guy wanted to accelerate that by nine an off the back of his desk chair and shivered "It certainly got chilly in here Do you have any thoughts?"

Nick grabbed his bag and stood up "I need to think about it" He bolted for the door

"Nick!"

The instinct to obey authority overrode his desire to get the hell out of the classroom Nick stopped in the doorway, but he didn’t turn all the way around

"I don’t knohat’s going on with you," said Dr Cutter,

"but e your chances at a future"

His voice wasn’t unkind, and Nick sed

Then Dr Cutter added, "I want to ht student for this opportunity Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly Thank you"

He should have been excited

He wasn’t

At lunch, he sat with his brothers and their girlfriends, but Hunter and Quinn didn’t show up He didn’t care what his roommate was up to, but he did care about Quinn Nick sent her a quick text

She responded al study help for US History I’ll see you later Can you give ht?

The studio Adam

He mentally calculated He was supposed to help Michael on Wednesdays, but they’d be done by seven-ish

Sure 7:45?

"What’s eating you?" said Chris

"Nothing," said Nick He set the phone next to his tray and drove his fork into the cafeteria ainst the table "Is Quinn okay?" she asked quietly "She’s really upset about the Ele to Nick, but he knew Quinn didn’t want Becca to kno rough her ho froree with either course of action, but Quinn wasn’t exactly giving him all the details, either He nodded "I’ll talk to her I’ht"

Gabriel snorted "Wow, playing chauffeur Sounds like true love to irlfriend Layne hit him "Leave him alone"

"Will you tell her I’m worried about her?" said Becca "I don’t--I didn’tlook "I’ll tell her"

His phone chi a bite of meat loaf into his mouth Nick reached for it

But then Gabriel said, "Who’s Adaht?"

Nick choked on his food

Stupid Stupid, stupid, stupid

His heart beat so quickly that he could swear all the blood rushed away fro moment he wondered if he’d pass out fro He needed to say so

They were all staring at hi?

No,on meat loaf

Did Gabriel sound suspicious? Why would he be suspicious?

What did he think?

"Quinn’s dance partner," Nick said quickly, wheezing a little

He needed to cal "He’s auditioning for a scholarship, and she’s helping hi if he’ll see you?"

"I don’t know" Nick shoved the phone in his pocket "I guess he’s wondering if Quinn has a ride"

That was probably sufficient, but he couldn’t look at any of theuessed his secrets They hadn’t, right? Or had they? He was going to need to look up

If he’d been telling the truth, it would have felt like enough, and he wouldn’t have felt coh his teeth, and he needed to make sure there was no question of his non-relationship with Ada "Quinn said he has a crush on ive hi with him? Did he really say that?

"That’s not funny," said Layne She looked vaguely disgusted

"It’s not like that," said Nick quickly His shirt felt like it was sticking to the back of his neck "He knows I’m not It’s like--

it’s a joke now"

God, he needed to shut up

"It’s creepy," said Gabriel

Nick froze "Creepy?"

"A dude hitting on you? Yes Creepy"

Suddenly he wanted to punch his twin

Do not pick a fight over this

Do not

Do Not

"He’s not hitting on ht"

"No, he asked if he’d see you, which is creepy"

"Knock it off," said Becca "He’s Quinn’s friend Nick’s trying to defend hi a royal--"

Chris wrapped an arm around her neck and put his hand over herto have to finish"

"Oh, I’ll finish it," Becca said through his fingers

"No, I’ll finish it," Nick snapped He stood, grabbing his tray so roughly that he almost dropped half his food on Chris