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That thought war hallway lined with lockers, across the commons area to a set that sat alone in the middle of the floor next to the library I specifically requested a locker here because, even though it wasn’t with the rest of the seniors, the library was surrounded by a wall of glass, and the librarian, Mrs Boesch, always kept a watchful eye between classes

I pulled books out ofsun streah the front s of the school was suddenly blocked, and I looked to ainst the locker next to ed

"Let’s eat at Los Potros"

I looked around, and then nodded

Weston beahtest bit to conceal our conversation I shut , dark eyes

"Are you screwing Weston Gates?" she asked

I narroweddown my face What was it with s that because two people of the opposite sex were speaking, theysex? "No"

"What was that, then? He just asked you to dinner Why is he asking you out?"

"He didn’t ask ," I said Technically, it was the truth He didn’t ask

"I heard hi Alder"

"Go ahead She won’t believe you She’ll assuet theht about that for a one

I took a deep breath and continued to class,to beat its way out of e caht of Sara ruining h to offer a threat that I

Everyone was too excited about South Padre to bother giving rief By the time I’d made it to seventh period, as weird as it was to say, I’d actually had a pretty good day Weston had pulled his stool over to my desk, and a combination of nausea and exhilaration swirled in my stomach

"Check this out," Weston said His poster-sized project was spread out across the table, and I looked it over with an uncontrollable s out the , her face in shadow except for her bright blue eyes She held her knees to her chest, and a sers It was a silver heart with intricate detail chiseled around the border In the middle appeared one word: Happenstance

"It’s incredible," I whispered "She’s so pretty" I felt an urge to run ers over it, but didn’t want to smear the charcoal

"It’s you"

I looked up at hi on this project for three months My eyebrow shot up, and I shook my head, unconvinced "You’re such a liar"

"I’m completely serious"

"Is everyone ready to reveal their final project?" Mrs Cup said as she sauntered into the classroom, dressed in a black shawl and pants suit "I know you have all been working incredibly hard In years past, you’ve taken hoiven them away, or did with them as you choose But I’ve asked more from you this year We’ve learned about Faulkner’s lessons and that as artists, you hed "For your final grade, I’ to ask this of you" She held up Shannon LaBlue’s poster-sized painting and ripped it in half, length-wise It asped

Shannon’s mouth fell open She looked around, unsure of what to do

Mrs Cup walked to Zach Skidht this was going to be the crowning project of h school years I worked rade"