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But I still wouldn’t trust him That much I knew Just because he spoke kindly to hispicked on did not mean I would form any attachment to him Yes, he had kissed me and, yes, I had liked it And yes, I was curious about whatever secret he was keeping frouy turn h school He’d been a year older than I was and beautiful I thought he really liked et todance, I had come home in tears Mom had sat on the sofa with e, and pizza She was always there when I hurt She always kne to make me smile

I shoved the memory away I couldn’t think about that I missed her too much

I pulled the blanket up over ainst the wall West’s eyes were going to haunt me Were all his friends blind to his behavior? Did they just accept it?

When I’d seen hih this afternoon-- she clearly didn’t stayall over him by the last bell--I’d wanted to be her for a second Now that I kne it felt to be in his arms, I had one weak ht he was Friday night But then I reirl he’d treated terribly Was that his apology to Raleigh? Did she forgive him so easily? Probably I’d seen that kind of warped relationship with my parents If she only kne unhealthy it could becoet themselves I had watched it so many times When you are silent, you can observe so much more I see others’ s around me they wouldn’t normally say because they knoon’t repeat the deaf

For instance, two of my six teachers today had spoken extra loudly as if I couldn’t hear them when they addressed me in class It was coh inside

I wondered hoould feel to laugh again, to laugh right out loud To feel the sound of it on one and that I had ain? Could I hear my own voice and not break into a million pieces?

A knock at my bedroom door startled me, and I turned to see the knob slowly turn I watched as the door eased open and Nash’s face caainst his dark skin as they had been earlier

"You want co on his lips

He was flirting with me Several ti I wouldn’t talk back I hadn’t expected that kind of attention, but I was certainly getting it fro but kind to me He never went beyond my comfort zone, and I had watched him with other people The others at school all seeh I wasn’t in the ood idea that he was up in ed It wasn’t an invite, exactly, but I hoped it wasn’t rude, either

"Good They’re boring e a smile, but it didn’t happen