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"Look," he starts, taking a step onto the stairs "About what happened--"

I shakehiht now I’ood-bye and to "

His forehead creases as he steps down another stair "Okay…"

I’ve been preparing what I was going to say to him for a couple of weeks, when I realized what I needed--wanted But standing here in front of hi to do it

"I know I’ve been kind of screwed up," I say, tipping my chin up toto figure out everything that happened over the summer… It feels kind of like a daze, you know" I pause "But I’lad I met you… you kind of made me realize a lot of stuff"

He scratches his head, glancing around like he has no idea what the hell is going on "Nova, I don’t get what you’re saying"

"I’," I explain the best way I kno But in the end, I don’t know if itabout us ether "Other than good-bye"

His expression softens and he steps in front ofto decipher who I aood"

"I feel good," I say, and for once it feels like the truth "And different"

He sighs and I release a breath, then suddenly we’re hugging each other He’s a little resistant, hisain, but hoping Maybe One day When I’m in a different place

"I’"

I shake ainst his chest "You don’t need to be sorry Everything I did was ," I say "Nothing was your fault"

He stills, his pulse thudding inside his chest We hold on to each other, until o, otherwise I ht not I pull back first and offer a smile as I back away to the car

"If you’re ever in Idaho, look ate

He nods, but it doesn’t look like he thinks he’ll see ain "Okay, I will"

"And take care of yourself," I tell hi to say, but it’s all I can say right now If I saidhi him, that I wish it were another tiether, then it’d be harder to leave Because even though it’s hard, I need to go and heal

He smiles, but it’s forced, unreal, sad, and I want to cry for him "Yeah, you too" He watches me all the way to the car and when I’m about to climb in, he calls out, "So you finally decided to drive the car"

I s hard, nod, and open the gate "Yeah, it see, he lets out a breath, and starts toward the door "Take care of yourself, Nova, like the car" A touch of a smile appears on his face

"I will," I return his s the steering wheel as I watch him slip further away

He watches ht, then he turns around and walks into the house And I keep driving I’ on

Quinton

I’ood She looks happy It’s aot to that place after everything, but I don’t want to ask her, fearing I’ll ruin it for her

After she took off froood she ran away, and I h it hurt not to see her I hts, her love for music, her smell, the way she feels But she’s better off withoutI’ll never see her again I wish I could have kissed her one last tiuilt But I know it’s not possible, and when she drives out of ht, I head back to the reality of my life

Dylan has a bunch of custo, the others pretending like they’re just sa his stuff It’s part of eh, pass out, and start the whole process of falling all over again The viscous, repetitive circle ofo with us?" Dylan asks, as I head back toward the curtain He’s sitting on the couch with Delilah, but she’s passed out on his lap, and he’s flirting with another girl