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I was sure I was forgetting to relay so that would convince hient Truents in one of their black vans with the tinted s I tried to e slower than everyone else and that I no longer needed normal amounts of sleep or food

Tyler didn’t co where he went all silent and introspective, as if he was assessing every word Every syllable while I sat there, terrified I was losing hihtened as I waited for his verdict And then I realized what it was I’d forgotten

"Here Leton across froazines It was the kind with one of those razor blades that can be raised and lowered with just the flick of a thumb I snatched it and, before I could chicken out, took a deep breath and flipped my wrist over, ready to slice intoabout my ability to heal--that what I’d told hiedyou cut yourself"

I looked up, searching his earnest green eyes I wished I knehat he was thinking, wished I could see inside his head

I lowered the blade, nodding considerately Because I didn’t have to be a nize that look: I’d pushed him too far

"I understand," I said at last when I couldn’t take another iven ht I’d been for five years Hu that I’, but thisthat I was abducted and experimented onby aliens" I made a face to drive my point home "It’s too much I kno it sounds, and if I were you, I wouldn’t want anything to do with me I mean" I looked down at myself, at the blood on my jeans and at the box knife in ht?" There was nothingI could do but wait for him to make up his rip on htened "You think I won’t believe you unless you cut yourself? You think you have to prove yourself by showing me what you can do? Jesus, Kyra Jesus Haven’t I already convinced youI trust you" He loosened his hold, and without thinking, I did too The box knife dropped to the floor between us

Tyler got up and stared down at me "You’re stupid," he statedoffense

"You’re stupid"

He laughed then "No, I ive up on you that easily"

My voice lowered to barely a whisper "But even if you believe ithow can you even want? God, it’s just so" I exhaled, trying to get rid of all the aardness bundled up inside e, Tyler I’ er beneathmy eyes to his Not that I’d want to look anywhere else I could stare into those eyes for the rest of er than his would be "God, Kyr I don’t care about any of that" His finger , stroking,it hard to pay attention to his words "I care about you You, Kyra The you I know The you Iin love with It doesn’t matter to me how old you are or will be; all I care about is who you are, and that hasn’t changed fro You can’t stand there and tellyou, you are You’re more perfect than anyone I know" His hands slid up tomy face His mouth was mere millimeters from mine, and I could taste the intensity behind his words as his breath fused withyou’ve just toldIt’s your memories and life experiences, your hopes and fears and dreams and passions that ed, have they?"

I shookto feel half his passion as our lips nearly brushed My breathing was already co as I blinked to hold back ht be falling in love with lad you’re back here with lad you’re razedaway just enough so he could add one , "everyone else will feel the saive them a chance If you don’t believe that, then you’re underestirinned, unable to stop lad I’ged ainst his "You knohat I mean I think you need to tell your parents the truth What you told uy, and if he’s really as dangerous as you say he is, they’ll keep you safe That’s they’re job That’s what parents do"