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Ilot after the last bell on the Friday of our first week in Helena She waits for ot on a plaid sweater thatblue She looks gorgeous

She always does

Sarah Hart was--is--the love ofand came back to school as so the star QB Even after she du an alien

I smile at her as I approach, all teeth It’s a reflex I can’t help it She smiles too but not as wide as I’d like

Even with the "You are Mark James" mantra in my head all day, so the cool, put-together guy I’ve always been, I start worrying about intergalactic war and if Mogs are watching me have breakfast But even when I start to wonder if I should be building a bo, part of me wants to stay planted in the world I knew before there was definite proof of aliens on Earth, where I’irlfriend

If this whole ordeal has had any bright side, it’s that I see a lot more of Sarah than I did before I like to think thatJohn’s life impressed her, ht So to coood alien, he’s still freaking ET And I’ll be waiting, even if itoff space invaders to keep her safe and show her I’ totally blows

"You’re begging to get juet closer

At first I’ at old over the heart on h varsity letter jacket

"What, this?" I ask, flexing a little and puffing outa little bit of Paradise to hell That e all feel like we’re at ho them"

"They’re the least of my problems these days"

"Whatever," she says "Your truck still se soda"

Once we’re in erand exhales a long breath, as if she’s been holding it in all day She looks tired Beautiful but tired

"I got a new name in bio today," she says, her eyes closed