Page 61 (1/2)

"Excusein the doorway, her hands on her daughter Cassidy’s shoulders Mrs Upton is wearing white jeans and a subdued but very expensive-looking top Cassidy is wearing cutoffs, Uggs, and an obstinate expression

"I’m so sorry to interrupt," Mrs Upton says "But I received this letter under the door"--she flashes a note on Fischer Hall Director’s Office stationery--"requesting a ood ti up fro into her office Tricky darts after her "Won’t you both co o all the way up to her eyes, then flashing Sarah a What’s wrong with you? look as she and her daughter follow Lisa into her office "I’, so thank you for giving us this opportunity to clear it up"

"Oh," I hear Lisa say as she closes the door, "there’s no , Mrs Upton--"

After this, their voices are muted, but it’s still possible to hear every word they’re saying through the long grate above h that she stops crying and leans over to listen

"What?" Mrs Upton exclai Lisa murmurs "Cassidy , and it was that horrible girl Mallory She was the one who--"

"Mrs Upton," Lisa interrupts calahter is clearly shown--"

"No, I would not"

After that, things beco to listen so hard and say gently to Sarah, "So, are you going to be all right?"

Sarah looks down at her lap "I guess so This is my first breakup First breakups are supposed to be hard, aren’t they?"

I think about my first breakup It had been with Jordan Now that I’irl crush, gotten over in a day If Cooper and I were to break up--which I can’t iine would ever happen, unless he died--it would take years to get over, et a little bit easier every day, until one day you et all about that other person, and you realize that breakup was the best thing that ever happened to you"

"Really?" Sarah looks atthat nearly iht now"

"Truly," I assure her "Although rocky road ice creao see if they’ve got any in the caf"

"Here," I say, handing hercard "It’s onto take it, then changes her mind "I’ets up "I guess you knohy now I knew Sebastian was thinking about doing this, but I never iht if he loved obut it wasn’t"

"He could love you and still feel like he needs to do this anyway, Sarah," I say gently "That doesn’tIt means it’s just a different kind of love than the love he has forwell, this thing he has to do"