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"So she thinks I’m a parasite that lives on the blood ofas how they live on the outside of the mammals as opposed to in the interior And they live on some amphibians, too"

He snickered "Well, that hed "It should"

"Well, Eht for me to call you Tock!" Tristan s up and down "Tick and Tock! Tick and Tock!"

"I think she approves," I said

"Elizabeth?" He turned my ith a serious stare

"Yes?"

"I knoe can’t do ere doing before anyht you didn’t kno to be a friend?"

"I don’t" He sighed, rubbing his neck "But I was kind of hoping you could show s, even when your heart is broken And I can’t res are like"

That saddened me "When was the last time you were happy, Tristan?"

He didn’t reply

That saddened me even more "Of course we can be friends," I said

Everyone deserved at least one friend they could trust with their secrets and fears With their guilt, with their happiness Everyone deserved a person who could look into their eyes and say, "You’re enough You’re perfect, scars and all" I thought Tristan deserved that h In his eyes he held such sadness, such pain, and all I wanted to do rap h

I didn’t want to be his friend because I felt bad for hih No I wanted his friendship because unlike most, he saw past my own fake happiness and he would soh, Elizabeth You’re enough…scars and all"

Tristan’s eyebrows furrowed and he looked atme for the first tiain Neither of us wanted to blink The seriousness of theus both uncomfortable As he cleared his throat, I cleared mine "Too much?" I asked