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"You know," he continued as he sat down on the edge ofme as I stayed curled up in theseat, "school didn’t suck today with you to look at"

I ducked my head and studied the blanket I was covered up with He was going to flirt some more I wasn’t used to this Sure, I’d had boyfriends beforebefore everything happened That had been different, though We hadn’t been kissing or hanging out It wasthat happened only at school or on the phone at night My mother had been very overprotective, and I wasn’t allowed to date until I was sixteen

Once, I’d also been a cheerleader and had a lot of friends But that all changed, and over the past two years I’d lost that part of me

"I didn’t mean to make you feel unco to make your transition to a new school easier"

He was handsouy I would have liked in irl would like I could ignore hi to be rude He was my cousin’s friend and, so far, my only almost-friend in town

I reached for the notebook and pen I had left lying besidefrom me I would like a friend here Someone who didn’t look atnice to me This day could’ve been harder than it was, but you were a friend

I handed the notebook to hied up both corners of his ot a phone? So we can text?" he asked

I nodded and reached into od had happened Two years with Jorie had been anything but co I was in her way, and she had no idea how to deal with ave up and called my uncle Boone and asked him if he still wanted me He and Aunt Coralee had responded immediately It wasn’t even one week before Jorie had me all packed up and ready to move Since then, she hadn’t even called to check on ed; it was the saottenthe bill Nash held out his hand "Can I put ain I nodded and let him take my phone from me He took a picture of hirinned at me "I texted myself Now I have your nuo with your contact info?"

I didn’t really like the idea of hiave him a small nod, and then he held the phone up "Smile," he said

I didn’t smile, but he took the photo anyway

He chuckled "That’s okay No need to smile"