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"I told you," Sarah said, giving me one more elbow to the rib I just kept the du about college ga they took to play out By the ti down, it was 11 painst ASU It was a rebuilding year for us, yes, but Reed was also at his best this season And he had an a were pulled in the third quarter to save their energy for the bowl bid the Wildcats would definitely get I foundReed’s everyhe’d turn to me just once more He never did, but I also knew he liked to stay focused on that field And the players usually caught hell fro their focus away froame

Sarah, Becky, Sean and I waited for the crowds tooutside the athletic depart on Reed anyhow Sienna joined us after changing It felt like old tio out and celebrate But I was quickly reminded that it was the present, not the past, when the others joined our group in the lobby

Jason had his ar the college guys ere checking her out He wasn’t jealous, but instead see to attach hiood enough She was his prize, his trophy

Jenny stood next to the her hands a little, almost as if she was nervous I watched her ask Dylan a question, and then Jason piped in giving her a response She seemed uncomfortable, and I wanted to help her

"God, why did I want to help this girl, who just hours ago putwith me?" I wondered

I was about to walk over to strike up a conversation with her, when Buck’s boo on his crutches from the main locker roo his eyes at his stubborn father "I don’t need you to get every door for h so we all heard He wanted us to knoasn’t helpless, but no one would ever think that Not of Buck Johnson, anyhow

"Yeah, I know…just let h, okay Pops? Hu over his shoulder His hair was still wet, and his body da ready to go out for the night, wearing dark jeans and a fitted black shirt rolled at the sleeves to show off his engraved watch and strong, golden forearms

He tilted his headeye contact withto Dylan now, al when he turned back at ain, like he wanted to share a secret withstare frorin was less playful,and amused Suddenly uncomfortable, I turned my attention back to my friends, and to Rosie who had pulled up with the truck so Buck wouldn’t have to walk very far

"So, what’s the deal? Are we driving back ho uess so," I said, half ofto hear Reed’s conversation We were starting to get up to walk away,into my stomach, overwhelmed with dejection, when I felt a hand on my back, and heard his voice

"Hey, wait up," Reed said I spun around to face hiht me back on my feet "Whoa, there’s no race," he joked

I just sive you," and "I love you," and "forever" Instead, he looked down, chewing the inside of his cheek a little, and pinching his brow as if he wasn’t sure about what he wanted to say "Hey, so…I was hoping ht, I can’t," he said, shrugging over his shoulder where Dylan, Jenny and Jason aiting, s to run over with Dylan And…God, I’d really love to put them off…but I can’t I tried There’s a lot in play over the next feeeks…but, I was thinking,up So, I wanted to talk before I lost you to your books, super nerd?"

Super nerd Ha He had no idea how far from that I’d been I would be happy, at this point, to escape my psych class with a D But noasn’t the tireatness to Reed We didn’t have the tiestured to his waiting party "Sure, Friday’s fine You should go Your…people are waiting," I said, unsure of what to call then with his hand, causing Jenny to smile and wave I winced at her happiness, still jealous