Page 32 (2/2)

To someone who has never actually played the Secret Relationship Gaht sound fun and roly difficult Every touch and kissfor more We wrote back and forth to each other constantly, but I longed for a conversation Mrs Sole hadnʼt felt the need to resume the point/counter-point articles, so we didnʼt even have afternoons at the library together any discovered When I thought about howit continue How could I be willing to risk Alexʼs life for a few stolen kisses? Every night I would resolve to break it off Then, the next day, I would show up in Calculus and there he would be, looking atat me, and I couldnʼt do it I wanted him It was reckless and stupid, but I wanted hiive him up and walk away

I wished on the first star of every evening for just one day to be with Alex, to talk and laugh together without having to look over our shoulder After five weeks, , which meant that I was curled onto the couch, a behemoth bowl of Capʼn Crunch perched on one knee, and Toon Disney on the TV I was trying to helpfully point out to the endearing Dr Doofensh free of his constraints and about to ruin yet another brilliant plan when so on my front door I hit "Pause" on the DVR and sat my half-eaten bowl of cereal on the coffee table I was certain it was Mr Roberts fro conversations that would begin with the weather, end with his first wifeʼs infidelity, and hit every single topic in between My yuue froes to last yearʼs tobacco crop

"Just a uilty for the irritation inmore sympathetic Mr Roberts was a sweet man; he was just lonely I should at least try to be nice

I forced my face into a pleasant, friendly smile and yanked open the door

"Well, so for all the world as if he belonged onin two sloppy braids, unicorn themed pajamas, and a pair of pink and yellow stripped toe socks -- with a s here?" My eyes darted wildly around the yard as if they expected to find Toby hiding behind a tree

"Arenʼt you happy to see me?"

Of course I was happy to see him Ecstatic even I was also scared to death "The treaty, Alex Iʼ here is in direct violation of that" He soans donʼt know--"

"Wonʼt get you killed?"

"Stop being so h Ion your front porch" He looked at me expectantly

I could have left him out there I should have left hio away

And explained that I wasnʼt really worth all the trouble Of course, I did none of those things