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Josh turns the page and draws our teacher, a teeny version with flyaway hair and the jaunty gleain to fill the space around him Mike and his bonehead friend, Dave; my snobby lab partner, Emily; and…Sanjita Devi Who was once ives Sanjita her own page He dresses her in a suit of arloves The suit is as polished as her exposed fingernails, but she’s looking down and away, as if she’s afraid that we can see through the steel to what’s really underneath

It gives me the chills He tilts it in my direction for approval

"Wow," I whisper "Yes"

Professeur Hansen doesn’t hear it, but Sanjita turns around in her seat to glare at me Her mouth forms a perfect circle of surprise Few people know about my crush, but she’s one of thee I hold Sanjita’s gaze She recedes, battle lost I clutch my necklace for comfort

A moment later, Josh extends a slender arer I hold out the co, antique chain, and as he leans forward to take it, his hand carelessly brushes against mine Or…not carelessly? He cradles the co it, head es, erines

"Ahes back against my chest and lands with an audible thump Professeur Hansen has surprised us fro seen the set-up It’s always a attention Except when that someone is you He co as Mademoiselle Martin’s necklace is, I assure you that the philosophies of Rousseau are far more likely to appear on next week’s test"

"Yes, sir" Josh looks apologetic But not fazed

"You there" Professeur Hansen shter "You can do better than this riff-raff" He gestures towards Josh

I’ve sunk into the deepest depths offor

"I know I can" Josh’s expression is deadpan "She’s a terrible influence"

Even the professeur laughs at that Satisfied, he pushes up his glasses on his nose and launches back into the lesson My eyes stay glued to his, Josh hands me a sheet of spiral-notebook paper He’s drawn ree on the needle Underneath it, he’s written: WHY DOES SHE WEAR IT EVERY DAY?

It shakes me to the core

I place it beneath the cover of my textbook and try to play it cool, try to s the thrill of possessing so that he made And the absolute wonder that he noticed Iover my shoulder with a smile I hope it looks flirtatious "I wear it so that I won’t get lost, of course"

"Is that so that happens often?" he asks

There’s a traffic jam at the door Josh is directly behind me, and when I turn my head to reply, his own smile is lopsided – unquestionably flirtatious – and I can no longer remember my name or my country or even my place in the universe

"I’ at Josh, but I’ve also turned the wrong way down the hall The stupidity blush is ily, Josh follows

"We’re going to the cafeteria," Kurt tells him "You’re never there Where do you eat?" It sounds like an interrogation

Josh’s set detention We aren’t allowed to leave campus while school is in session"