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The only way I can think to fight this is to text Rebecca and tell her I’ out after school

He doesn’t care I tell hienuinely doesn’t care He doesn’t ask to be invited along He doesn’t even ask ames He won’t text me unless I text him first I know all this--but why do I still feel surprised, as if it isn’t meant to be this way?

Rebecca decides she’s in the mood for ice cream, and convinces the rest of us we’re in the h it’s not suood ice cream place is about twenty et out of the asse author won’t miss us too much, since none of us have ever heard of him Rebecca, Ben, and I pile into her car, and Stephanie and Stevethe effects of the weekend more obviously than Stephanie is; she looks like she spent the past two days at the gyet our cones and head for a table When we start talking, it’s not about the party, but everything that happened after--all the cleanup that had to be done, all of the bullshit with the police, who didn’t end up arresting anyone They just wanted to break up the party and they did a good job of it

Stephanie admits she was a little relieved "There are some people," she says, "ill never leave a party unless the police come" From the sound of her voice, I know I’ about I have no idea

"I really liked your cousin," I tell Steve "He kinda saved the night for me"

Steve looks confused "My cousin? When did you ay cousin, but then I realize I have no idea if Steve knows

Now Steve laughs "At ht And none of them are named Nathan"

I don’t understand what he’s saying

"But Imy hand "It sounds like you met someone who said he was Steve’s cousin"

"But ould he say that?"

Stephanie shrugs "Who knows? Guys are weird"

What’s hurting me is how honest he seemed How real Now it’s like I’vea tie," I say "I think he was the only guy wearing a tie"

"That dude!" Steve laughs "I totally saw him He’s not my cousin, but he was definitely there"

I wonder if Nathan is really his naay I wonder why the universe is doing this to ain," Stephanie chimes in "Guys are weird"