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I tiptoe into the hallway and listen at , so it appears we’re safe When I get back to my room, Amelia is still in bed, the sheet pulled back so it’s just her, her T-shirt, and her underwear I have a feeling that Zara would not let thisin beside her, but I feel I can’t do that in her place

"She’s asleep," I report

"Like, safe-to-take-a-shower asleep?"

"I think so"

"You want first shower, second shower, or both shower?"

"You can go first"

She gets out of bed, and stops to kiss me on the way out Her hands ht into it, kiss her a little bit longer

"You sure?" she asks

"You go first," I tell her

And then, just like Zara would, I miss her when she’s left the room

I want it to be Rhiannon

She sneaks out of the house while I’m in my shower Then, twenty minutes later, she’s back at the door, to pick me up for school My mother is awake now and in the kitchen, and s up the path

I wonder how ether at school, but not in a way that li, we incorporate our friends into e have between us We exist as individuals We exist as a pair We exist as parts of trios, quartets, and so on And it all feels right

I can’t get Rhiannon offwhat she said about how her friends would never know ether will only be us, always

I a to realize what thisso

Seventh period, Aym When we meet up after, she shows me the books she’s taken out for me, because they look like ones I’d like

Will I ever know Rhiannon this well?

Amelia has basketball practice after school I usually wait around for her, doingabout it I ask her if I can borrow her car and run some errands

She hands over the keys, no questions asked

It takes et over to Rhiannon’s school I park in my usual space as most of the cars head in the other direction Then I find a place to sit and watch the door, hoping she hasn’t already left