Page 14 (1/2)

"He knows things that you don’t" I looked down, euess that puts me in my place"

"I didn’t tell him, Luke" I felt my heart break at his face "I didn’t want to tell you because I was embarrassed"

"You never have to be e with me"

"My mom had an affair with Bryce’s dad"

"The Mayor?" Luke looked at h school and then after we graduated, for a bit"

"No way" He blinked as if trying to get his head around it "And Bryce knows?"

"Yeah" I shrugged "He already knew"

"I wonder when he found out"

"No idea"

"I’m surprised he doesn’t hate you"

"Why would he hate "

"People aren’t always reasonable in their hate" He looked out of theand stared at his bedroom "It’s funny All these years and we’ve been friends and shared everything, and yet I found out you’ve kept two huge secrets from me"

"I didn’t mean to"

He turned around and looked at s are private and dear to your heart, but I’ve always thought that ere so close that we shared everything I always thought we had one of those friendships that transcended everything"

"But we do, Luke" I ached at his words

"No," he said slowly "I don’t think we do"

"I’ve told you everything now, Luke Please don’t be mad," I pleaded

He stared into my eyes and frowned "You knohat, Lexi, I don’t think you have"

"What?" I looked at hi else" He blinked and looked away

"What do you

"Is there anything else you want to tell me, Lexi?"

"No" My voice was s that still haunted me I just couldn’t It was too painful

"Okay" He set pancakes or should I go look for apart out?"

"Well, I think I have to move if I want to study at MIT" He s it’s tile syllable that fell froh to convey the deep pain I felt at his words "I guess you should go look at apartht now"

"Okay I’ll see you later" Luke walked out ofdown my face I ran into the bathrooling with the gushing water of the shower, I felt heartbroken, alone and desolate I felt like I had never felt as bleak as I did in this ed I wasn’t sure where Luke and I were going to go fro Dawson Creek nights seeone

Chapter 14

"I’led "I don’t have a car"

"It’s no problem" I tried to keep et out of this one

"I should really get one, butHe thinks that I’hed, nervously

"Well, sounds like he is being over protective I can understand that"

"Yeah Lexi says if he could keep me home all day he would"

I flinched as she mentioned Lexi’s name and she must have noticed, because she turned red after she spoke "Oh, I didn’t ernails "I toldto mention her"

"Hey, it’s okay" I looked over at Anna and tried to smile "Don’t stress"

"Thanks, Bryce" She rested her hand onand it was all I could do to not push it off of me "I know she was excited about the party and I’m sure you must have been surprised to hear that she wrote you those letters I just feel a bit bad"

"The letters?" I frowned and turned to look at her quickly "What letters?"

"Oh shit," she groaned "I’ve done it again, haven’t I?" She turned away froht and all" She giggled and I sighed The less she said about the previous night, the better it was for me

"What letters, Anna?" I pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the engine

"Lexi wrote you those letters when you were in Iraq, or Afghanistan, or wherever"

"Lexi wrote the letters?" I frowned, confused "Are you sure?"

"Yes I’rily "She’s had a crush on you since high school She felt like you ht need some support after Eddie killed himself And she was able to be herself in her letters"

"Oh

"I feel bad, you know" Anna continued "She’s been ena, but you chose me"