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Rowan hangs around for a second like she doesn’t want to leave "You sure you’re good?"

I nod "Sure Say hey to Charlie for me and I’ll see you after at the balls Dot-co what I just said, and then we both make faces "At the car, I mean"

"Okay See ya" She heads back toward her hallway I turn to uy whose locker is next to mine says, "Hey, Jules Welcome back"

We’ve barely spoken before This is weird

"Thanks," I say, suddenly shy I takeit up, when I hear the voice that uys Hey, Jules"

Before I can turn around, he’s turninght here in public I let ers and I wrap my arms--cast and all--around his neck like it’s the h school hallway

"I oes quiet around us My body pulses with energy and I can feel his war everybody would just disappear

He sets me back down and I look at his face for the first time in what seems like forever He smooths my static hair and keeps a hand on my shoulder The corner of his mouth turns up on one side, just the way I like it But his eyes are tired

"I missed you too," I say in a quiet voice, suddenly hyperaware of people staring at us,them Which makes me feel really aard, so I try to pretend they’re not there

He observes the cast on my arm and smooths a thulances over one shoulder, then the other, gets a goofy smile on his face, and moistens his lips "I really want to kiss you," he says quietly nearcautious, or else he spotted a teacher, because instead of kissing me he just runs his thuly it hurts

"Dang," I say, a little breathless "Where’s a stupid playground when you need one? This, uh, environround," he says into , but he stays close, like he can’t stand to have rin, but I’rin falls away As he watches es, like he can read the question in my mind

"About that," he says, as if we started the conversation already "I desperately, desperately need to see you alone" And even though his eyes are hungry, this is different