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"Don’t rab et to the library"

"But I wanted to pay," I said "That’s what friends do They pay their share"

"You can buy next time," Noah said and pushed me forward and out the door

The library was on the south end of the campus, near the diner It was a quick walk over, and I didn’t have tio back to the apart up the pave to keep up

"Are we racing?" I asked

"Sorry" Noah slowed down "Not used to walking with anyone as short as you"

"I’ht for a fe around with shorter people was kind of pleasant It fit in with his earlier confession that he hadn’t dated any one seriously since high school Or maybe it just meant he dated really tall woirl I didn’t know too as ht her na

"Hi, Grace," she said I winced inwardly, feeling like a tool for not knowing her name when she knew mine Faces, I could remember Names, not so much

"Hi Is Mike around today?"

"Actually, yeah, he just ca doard Periodicals"

"Great," I said I was batting negative one thousand today

I walked slowly down the stairs but didn’t dawdle at the door I knew I should’ve introduced Noah, but since I didn’t remember her name, I left one e to introduce me?" Noah whispered

"I don’t rehed

"Next time I pause, introduce yourself," I instructed

"YesI could practically hear his sh the words

We walked downstairs, turning left toward Periodicals, and sure enough Mike was there, leaning on the desk, flirting with so a sorority T-shirt Her Greek letters were appliquéd in white on the back of her pink tee

"That’s Mike," I pointed out

Noah stopped and turned towardMike tossed his hair out of his eyes Once and then again "Mike" It was a disbelieving sound

"What’s wrong with Mike?" I asked, faking s and was constantly flipping them out of his face You couldn’t talk with him for more than five minutes without a head toss

He was on the thin side, which was another negative strike against hiuy who can wear skinnier jeans than you I glanced furtively at Noah’s thighs While Noah wasn’t heavy, he was big enough that I kneouldn’t be wearing my pants, ever

Noah just shook his head at ht? Didn’t you come to my house out at the Woodlands before school started?" Mike turned toward Noah and stuck out his hand

"Dude, yes, it esoht?" Mikea fake punch

"Right I hear you ith my friend, Grace"

Mike peered around Noah, and I gave hi about going to the

"Um, yeah, that would be aweso would be when soer came up and asked the to co a friend," Noah emphasized the friend with a wink at Mike He winked back uncertainly, his eyelid lowering slowly as if he wasn’t sure what he inking about I wasn’t sure either Noah was bringing a friend? We were doubling?

Thenthe periodical desk and had heard this entire exchange Her expression accused irlfriend code

I wanted to juns on her boy, and that despite the fact that she and Mike were not dating, I considered him off-limits But I couldn’t do that and keep up my stupid fiction with Noah I’d have to explain myself later, if she let me

I extricatedI had an appoint with Mike about so stance

Noah

Grace’s abrupt departure, while herthan anything she had said allbreakfast, her tone made me instantly suspicious She drew out the naht was that she was faking When the name was attached to a real person, someone she worked with at the library, I admit that Ihim, I couldn’t believe it While Grace wasn’t super-couy didn’t fit her He wore jeans that were so tight I wondered if they were from the women’s section of the store I wanted to lop off those stupid-ass bangs of his I could barely see his eyes I didn’t trust anyone whose eyes I couldn’t stare straight into This guy looked like a stiff breeze ht snap him in half

If I pictured Grace with anyone, so I tried not to do, it would be soraphy, uy, who looked like he spent more time in front of thehim and Grace to a et a better sense of whether she actually liked him--in which case I’d have to kill hi him to putup a series of tests for me to pass, like the Twelve Labours of Hercules That was fine I’d coe, and then we could be done with it

Even thoughout Grace was talking to me I didn’t have to skulk around caether the final piece of et Grace

It was all going to work out fine I pulled out otten her number

Item number one Get Grace’s number

Chapter Six

Grace,

I’m sorry I haven’t written for whaton my rucksack, with an envelope addressed to you on the bed I’ve been writing you back lots of things in my head, but I can’t seem to find one et this, I’ two of your packages at the forward operating base Mail delivery is really spotty of late We are all cursing and celebrating the supply truck’s appearance Cursing because it never gets here on tioodness

I was the es And yeah, we got a ton ofBo with the uy who plays the lead

Yours,

Noah