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"Shouldnʼt you be holding court with Twiddle-Dee, Twiddle-Du to a table in thearea where three of Jaseʼs teammates - Tyler Burkeen, Seth Roberts, and Jordan Daniels - were hanging all over a cluster of cheerleader types, occasionally tossing a french fry towards the back of Jauys all the tihly five feet fro to say that you donʼt want to eat lunch with me, Scout?"

"Of course she wants to eat lunch with you," Talley said "Sheʼs just worried that youʼre going to make her have an actual conversation with someone other than you or me" That wasnʼt entirely fair It wasnʼt my fault I wasnʼt as affable as they were

"You know, they really arenʼt that bad once you get to know theet a ketchup coated fry to stick to Jamesʼ shirt

"Jordan Daniels is not only a complete jerk, but heʼs also as dumb as a box of rocks"

"He doesnʼt still call you Al the Albino does he?"

"No" Not since Jase slaested he quit "That doesnʼta half-wit I overheard hi one of the secretaries where to put a stamp on an envelope last year"

"Okay, so Jordan is an idiot, but Tyler and Seth are pretty decent, and I think you would like soive them a chance" Sure, ould become the bestest of friends We could have sleep-overs where we braided each otherʼs hair and talked about how super-cute and hunky Jordan is

Gag

I was about to turn back to ht ain staring Only this ti at Jase with an expression which could have easily been interpreted as murderous His eyes were hard and I could see the muscles in his cheeks jump as he clenched and unclenched his jaw

I could also see Ashley Johnson babbling on like a ditz beside hi possible honeyat?" Talley glanced over and suy I should have known"

It occurred to ood idea to have uy?" Jase looked towards Alex and his face went blank I was reminded of the time he came home to find that our little sister had decided toon them with a red Sharpie He had looked at the into the biggest teel had cried for hours

"His name is Alex Cole, and he just moved here from Montana" Talley said "He is smart, attractive, funny, and madly in love with your sister"

"What?" Two voices came out in unison -- htly, but refused to be dissuaded "Cʼ at you in Calc, and he was definitely flirting with you in Shakespeare You could almost see the electricity in the air between you two"

What the Hades was she talking about? I love Talley Really, I do But there are times when Talleyʼs world and the real world are two cohtly together you could barely see the to him Do you understand?"

"Did you seriously just try to tell me what to do?"