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SWITZER: What you’re suggesting is i you If you want to keep the country froive the carriers to me

SWITZER:I’ll talk to the president

FOUR

ZAC COMES OVER STRAIGHT AFTER SCHOOL HE by practice I hear the familiar purr of his car drive up and rush to theto confir out, I curse under ers I look around my room as if I can hide somewhere Ridiculous, I know It’smy head, I bound over my bed to my dresser h et so my brush on the dresser, I hurry downstairs and answer the door before he can push the bell I don’t want Mom to answer it Don’t want him to see her face and think souess she thought she needed to be here for me Which is kind of funny since I’ve been in my room all afternoon and she’s been in hers Ever sincethat boy, she’s been evenshe fears I will become But that will never happen

I close the door behindthe knob at my back like a lifeline Zac’s steps slow as he advances, his gaze locking on me A breeze ruffles his brown hair The sides are cut close, but he’s always had a good inch or two on top Enough forin my throat

He steps up on the porch and stops beforehi, I lean in, press ainst his chest and wrapht nohen everything is falling away, he’s here Holding ether

"Why haven’t you answered my calls? Were you really sick?"

The sensation of his hands on et And I want to forget Only I can’t

"Davy? What’s wrong?" he presses, his voice a soft croon in ue Lies all But ould be the point? He has to know We’ll get through this We love each other

I peel my face away froainst reen eyes dazzle me I moisten my lips "Do you remember when they tested the students for HTS earlier this year?"

He’s caught off guard Like he doesn’t knohat that has to do with anything Withhis memory "Uh, yeah Think so Why?"

"The results came back I have it I tested positive" I say it quickly, let the words tu so fast

He pauses and then laughs "Yeah Right"

"Zac" I gaze into his face, waiting for hi in hio lax with shock His arms loosen around me

Several moments pass and he doesn’tfor him to speak, to say the words I need him to say

My voice shivers froene?" he whispers

I wince, hating that HTS sounds ueclinical but harmless

I nod and his ar at me ide eyes Eyes that don’t blink--just like Mo to reach hih his hair, out of reach fros on the strands as though he h he’s in physical pain He stares down at the porch, as if he can find so to explain ahat’s happening

I say his naain Louder

He looks at me then, and my heart seizes inside my chest Because it’s not hione The craving, the need for hter than ever but filled with bewilder to swing Hit sorowl erupts froht, bloodless fist I flinch

"I’m still the sairl you loved yesterday That hasn’t changed"

He drops his hand from his hair and shakes his head "I--I know I just don’t"

Not an outright rejection but it feels like it Suddenly, it’s hard to breathe The air feels thin, but I nod like I understand

"Yeah Okay" The words stu strides are gone He’s al so badly that I can’t stand At the door to the car, he hesitates and looks at me He’s conflicted I can tell from his body Part of him leans forward like he wants to come back to me And God, I want hiht

Then he’s inside the car, slaainst the front door and slide to the porch as he peels out of the driveway

I squeeze htly I can hardly breathe Tears run hotly down my cheeks, and my mouth opens with a silent, breathless sob even as I know his reaction isnormal Expected even He didn’t knohat to say, what to do

Understandable Neither do I

Zac

Can u co

Tori

Is Davy w/u?

Zac