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"And does she realize I like you back?" I ask, drifting closer, fingersover his shirt

"Definitely"

"Then I must say, you have a very observant sister" We are at whisper distance now

"Cut it outl" Claudia shouts fro, which no doubt will onlyfor our next move

We pick up the credit cards and head back to town

Please Rewind Before

Returning

Noah and I split up--he’ll get the pizza while I get the rental This is probably for the best, since I’ed Spiff is the reason most of us still have VCRs--he’s a tapehead like djs are vinyl freaks He refuses to carry DVDs or any of the new technology

Spiff arranges the videos in his store according to his own logic American Pie is filed under Action/Adventure, while Forrest Gu with other inspirational classics Spiff will never, ever tell you where a tape is, or even if it’s in You have to find it for yourself or leave eive a damn about any of us--just the ivento watch Basically, if it features an Indie It Girl, it’s a safe bet John Cusack is also a plus I head to Dra full well that Spiff believes that comedies hold life’s true dran Language It’s ht in Co section, but not big enough

"Paul?" Kyle says again, this time hesitant His expression is more open to me than it’s been since we broke up I mean, since he dumped me

"Hey, Kyle"

There’s nobody else in the store--justthe monitor he devotes solely to Tarantino and Julie Andrews

"I’ve beento talk to you," he says He shifts from foot to foot I look down at the frayed cuffs above his shoes I re a thread fro the ankle underneath, all a part of a Sunday-park daydrea real

His sneakers are different, though I notice that

I don’t knohat I’et into a conversation right now, especially since Noah is supposed to drop by when the pizza’s ready And at the sa to know: What could he possibly have to tell me?

"I’m sorry," he says So plain, so clear I lean on the nearest rack, nearly knocking over a full collection of Abbott and Costello

"Why?" I ask Maybe I’ve misheard him I try to think of a word that could sound like sorry, but there isn’t a single one