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Flinching, I look away from him His reh for anyone to hear Despite how noisy the bar and lounge are, filled with chatter and music, we receive more than a few stares in our direction

I can’t stand hiet her attention Brad has his ar her in close so he can kiss her If I lose her now, I’ a piece of ice out ofit at her

My aiht in the chest and she yelps, turning her attention ontotally put out

Not that I can blaht virgin; she’s the one who’s letting souy she barely knows maul her and kiss her in the middle of a public bar

Soht I need to end this This is one part of our lives where we totally don’ther eyes, she withdraws fro to hi Tad whatsoever, and Kari and I head to the bathroo until we’ve h, we’re alone, which is like a small miracle, and I know I don’t have much time before someone does come in here, so I just blurt out what I want to say

"I’"

"No way" She shakes her head, irritation written all over her pretty face Her hair is a deep, rich auburn, thick and wavy She has hazel eyes that change color depending on herWith her flawless skin and perfect figure, she’s beautiful, both inside and out She’s my best friend

I know she means well but I’et over it I have to go

"You’re having fun, I get it You really like Brad" I lowerto bust into the ladies’ room at any minute Ridiculous "But Tad … he’s not my type"

Kari raises a brow "Why not?"

"Well, for one thing, he calledboth ofher head "You know, he ht have a point"

My jaw drops Say what?

"Hear me out" She holds her hands up, like she knows I’m about to tear into her "You really do need to loosen up, Chelsea I know you’re kind of socially aard, and that all has to do with the age difference and you graduating school and coht You really are an uptight virgin"

Holy crap I can’t believe Kari is saying this toover what they both said Again and again

Uptight virgin

Aht? Do people look at uess that’s better than thinking I’ nerd

I slump my shoulders in defeat It’s not that in They should le ofin prison for fraud At the very least, I’rabs hold ofI don’t uncross my arms, just stand there aardly while she holds s You’ve been at this college for the last two years and you haven’t done anything wild or rebellious But now I’m here to help you break out of your shell so you can have a little fun for once in your life You deserve it, Chelsea You’ve been pretending to live your life Now you actually need to go out and do it Find a hot guy and make out with him"

Not with a creeper na out with Tad I want to go home"

Kari withdraws from me, her expression forlorn "You can’t just leave me here alone"

Guilt swaether, we made a vow never to leave the other alone at parties, on cao ho? She broke up with her boyfriend froh school when they moved here and he realized there was more to this world than just hiuy who’s probably only going to use her? I don’t get it

Soical person on this entire caht! God" She glances around the tiled bathroom, as if she’d rather look anywhere else but at me "Come on, Chelsea I really like Brad and I really think he likes ht over so early when there’s still so much that can--happen I don’t want to leave"

So she leavesI’ll let you explain what happened to Tad" I stor to look back when I hear Kari yelling after h the crowded bar area, I break free,down the short hall that spills out into the front lobby of the restaurant The dining area is to ht

Doesn’t h The bar is always in full swing

I push open the front door, walking out into the cold fall night I didn’t bring a coat of any kind and the air seeps through the lace oflance around, wondering how the heck I aet hoh we live kind of far Stupid, I know, but hey, we’re safer together than alone, right? Considering I a a cab would be pricey and I’d probably have to wait a while, but I don’t really have a choice

Pulling outfor a taxi service, when I hear solance over my shoulder to see it’s Tad

Great

"Hey" He approaches s "Are you okay?"

I offer him a weak smile and a weaker excuse "I’m fine, really Just … tired"

"Um, sorry for what I said earlier" He shuffles his feet, dropping his head so he can stare at the ground "It was a total jerk thing to do"

"Yeah It’s okay" I want to s it’s okay when it so isn’t

"So you’re leaving?"