Page 8 (1/2)

"I just went somewhere with Justin," I tell her

"Well, your father’s coht, so I want us to all have dinner"

"That’s fine I’ll be home before that In an hour or so"

As soon as those words leave ain I hatethis to happen, and I hateatlate," he says He picks up the blanket and shakes it out Then we fold it together, drawing nearer and farther and back nearer again, until the blanket is a square Usually we just roll it up and throw it back in the trunk

It feels different, driving ho hos he never wants to hear about--other people’s relationship draood school and leave the rest of us behind (which I fully believe she should do), the pressure I feel to do well, too, or at least good enough

After a while, the sun has set and the headlights are on and the songs we’re choosing are quiet ones I lean on his shoulder and close ain I don’t mean to do it, but I’ into hi But now--it’s just to have hietting close to my house I eren’t

The only way for e between now and the next time we’ll be like this I don’t need to plan exactly e’ll get there I just need to know it’s there for us to get to

"How et in trouble?" I ask "I , do you think they’d really notice if we’re gone in the afternoon?"

"I think they’d catch us," he says

"Maybe once a week? Once a h at that, but instead he looks bothered Not by me, but by the fact that he can’t say yes A lot of the time I take his sadness in a bad way Now I aln that the day has meant as much to him as it has for me

"Even if we can’t do this, I’ll see you at lunch?" I ask

He nods

"Andafter school?"

"I think so," he says "Ion My ht--s happen "Fair enough," I say "Tomorrow is to One last turn One last street Noto leave you

"Here we are," I say e get to my house

Let’s make it always like this, I want to say to him

He pulls the car over He unlocks the doors

End it on a nice note, I think, asdown It takes a lot of control to let it be what it is