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Kristina glanced back "What are you guys talking about?"

"I’ll tell you later," Casey said

Sarah and Laura were farther ahead, weaving through the crowds and leading us We got to the bleachers, and it was then that it happened

A small hush settled over the seats closest to us I didn’t look, but felt Kristina and Casey close ranks around me I focused on the field The tea up, and as I looked, Shay dropped back from a huddle His arm went back, football in hand, and he threw It was a perfect arch, soaring all the way into the end zone A second ball was hiked to hiirls took my hand in hers, and they led me past the rest of the bleachers As ent, more and more conversations stopped until everyone started to notice They looked to see what had everyone’s attention, and the whispers rose in voluirl ask, "Who’s that?"

Her friend hissed back, "Shay Coleirlfriend"

"Oh! Dick Crusher?"

"Shhhh!" a third friend shushed the She squeezedT-shirts"

"I should get a cut"

"Hey! Up here"

Sarah and Laura had gone down an aisle We went too far

Casey said as we backtracked, "They’re hyped for the parties tonight"

I was halfway to them since they were in theout, "I’ around, reacting to her hand I wasn’t expecting it and juh, and I felt another sucker punch, but a good one This was an erew misty-eyed

She saw, and a sheen of tears forhter was raped when she was fourteen You weren’t raped, but you were attacked What happened to you shouldn’t have I just wanted to say I’asped silently

The rumor mill had been silent about her assault, as far as I knew The guys who knew hadn’t spread it around Her hand curved intoto the woman "Thank you for that"

I came onto these bleachers with my head turned away and eyes only on Shay When I wasn’t looking at hi at this woman

I didn’t knohat I expected, but it wasn’t this

Casey and Kristina were dabbing at their eyes e got to the rohere Laura and Sarah were sitting Two guys were at the end, and there was an eht fit for three of us, but the two guys stood

They stepped into the aisle "You can have our seats"

"No, that’s oka--" Kristina started to say

The guy cut her off, gently but firuyshis gaze

I saw only re up my seat so you can sit comfortably is a small price to pay, believe me" He dipped his head in a nod "I’m sorry for what happened to you"

Casey’s eyes ide,the storm inside me

I hadn’t expected any of this "Thank you"

He and his friend moved farther up in the bleachers, and we sat down It was just the s at their eyes They had been watching the wo soon after

The cheerleaders ran out and began cheering, and slowly, one by one, people began looking away

I didn’t move I didn’t talk I sat like a statue until some norain