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"Can we talk?"

"Sure" She doesn’t move

"Iatback in my direction

"No"

It’s such a si to talk to Joni in front of Chuck because that’s not what I cae I know this already And that sound you hear--that no, that sla on the tone of a war

"Why can’t we talk here?"

"Because I want to talk to you alone"

"Well, you can’t now I’m busy"

Busy with Chuck’s hand in her back pocket, and hi that his revenge against Infinite Darlene is working perfectly

"Sorry to bother you, then," I say, hoping to thrust one last dagger of guilt her way I turn away abruptly because I’ot the reaction I wanted

I can’t find Noah anywhere in the cafeteria I really want to see hiht tells me she saw him out by the soccer field with his camera I iht said he’d be He is on the edge of the field, in the space between the goal line and the surrounding woods His camera is held to his eye, his posture silently observant I aure out what he is taking a picture of I see an ee can at its side, nothing more

There is a faint click, then another I circle around into Noah’s side view I look at his haphazard hair and his blue hooded sweatshirt and I realize howhim, I just want to talk to him

I feel like the Paul who kissed Kyle is a totally different person froht now, I am entirely the Paul who likes Noah The other Paul is in another country

"Hey," I say He turns to me with the ca back He h the viewfinder

I walk closer, until I can see lass of the lens

"Everyone’s freaking out," I continue "I’ God, I’ve e"

I hear another click I smile after the picture has been taken

"It’s okay," he says Then he puts the ca expression