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It happens one evening in the cafeteria There’s a rare conversational break between Kurt and his friends, and I pounce before I lose o with oulême is the name of a town about three hours south-west of Paris by train, but it’s also shorthand for the largest comics festival in Europe Its black-and-white wildcatspace not already occupied by the Oly that I’ve lost If Josh were still here – and if ere still together – we’d take the day trip without a second thought I need to prove to myself that I can do it without hi coht you were done with leaving this city without permission," Kurt says

"It’s one afternoon," I say "The school will never know"

Nikhil sits up eagerly He’s tiny and excitable, a kittenish ball of energy, and he always speaks in an enthusiastic babble "That sounds fun Yeah, guys, let’s do it! We should totally do it"

Michael grins at hio"

"It’s because he wants to bone Isla," Kurt says

"Kurt" I’m mortified

"Yeah" Michael rolls his eyes "I know"

"Oh" Kurt sinks They may be friends, but they don’t have each other’s rhythms down yet And then he immediately perks back up, because he still has the upper hand on infor up on Josh"

"Kurt, I’etic wince, but he stares determinedly at his food tray His dark brown skin has taken on a pinky-red undertone Crushes are so awful I wonder if they suck worse for the crush-er or the crush-ee I considerJosh from afar Yeah, definitely the crush-er

Poor Nikhil

Poor me

"It doesn’t matter anyway," Michael says He speaks with a shrewd authority that’s belied by his ungroomed, sticky-uppy hair "Saturday is the only day Arnaud can take us underground"

"Who’s Arnaud?" I ask

Kurt stabs a roasted potato with his fork "Our first connection Michael found him He works at the sewer system museum"