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Inching closer, I pushed "Were you bullied or so with a piece of white loose linen off the bed sheets Reaching out, I grabbed her finger, but her eyes never lifted once toI really wanted to know

"Look at , she did as I asked

"Were you bullied? Is that why you never went to school?"

Lexi didn’t say anything in response So I waited Waited for about twoas she worked herself up to an explanation

"I had some issues… in school," she eventually confessed Her explanation wasn’t enough I wanted details I wanted to kno she was hurt and, preferably, as responsible for it I was feeling all kinds ’a protective over the little ee development for me to take, but true nonetheless

"What kind of issues?" I prompted

Lexi’s eyes squeezed shut, and when they reopened, she said quietly, "Body issues I had a few…" She sighed and added, "I had some body issues"

Taken aback, I looked down the bed and scanned her tiny fra to think how someone like her could have body issues She was petite… She was triood, ardless

Lexi, seeing ure, ripped her hand from mine, crossed her hands over her storeith fear

"Lexi? What the fk--"

"Don’t look at me like that! I can’t bear to be looked at like that!" she said kinda hysterically

"I wasn’t!" I said through gritted teeth Her eyes narrowed atto work out why the hell you had issues! I wasn’t scrutinizing you, Pix I’m not that much of an assle"

Her lowered eyelids and flushed face told ain, I was alainst her body "Pix, tell me why you were homeschooled"

"I can’t--"