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"Ooooooh, yeah Sorry ladies I think I may have sharted," he says, and I cover h while irls just stare ahead, eyes wide, leaning their ar to discuss this elevator ride When the door opens, I slap Nate on the ar him off balance a little

"I cannot believe you said that!"

"Hey, you left me little choice You should know--I don’t lose the eame If you think you want a piece of this, consider this fair warning You’re going to lose, every ti in my belly I used to be co to one up his test scores, and run my mile just a little faster in PE

"Oh yeah? You think I’m scared off by that?" The look in his eye and the way he sue with the back of his teeth while he listens to h to pull irls think you’re a sharter You’re never getting in their pants now"

"I don’t want in their pants," he says, the sa to his words My lungs feel tight with hope I shouldn’t have

"It’s on," I say, turning to look back in front ofinto the cafeteria This step is so ae--I wish someone in my inner circle were here to witness it I know that distractingthe doors open and stepping inside the noisy roorow even s

Yes, friends help you heal But Nate is stronger than that And he’s bringing back pieces of uys Sorry we’re late Rowe got a phone call that her ointo pick it up That’s the one that helps with the…burning…right?" Nate fake-whispers, holding ainsthow badly my eyes want to show shock, and ood at this And I think I can do this again I remember friends

"Yeah, it’s way better now That stuff works really fast," I say, and his lips tick up at the corners into a tiny sh"

I leave everyone hanging, because I know if I wait long enough, soood, and he knows exactly what I’rab the bottle of water in line and slowly pull off the cap I’h, and when she’s the one to ask, a little tiny part of ain for the first tie asks Check

"Oh, I thought everyone knew Nate’s incontinent He pissed hi the water bottle enough to spill down the back of his jeans, but behind hi in line He doesn’t flinch, but instead, stands there perfectly still while I soak his pants Checkonna have to sit inup an apple and lodging it in his teeth while he grabs a tray and e stare at hihs and shakes his head, grabbing a tray to follow his brother

Nate is the challenger I alanted, and I like hiht I did I like him more than I should And a little part of me is okay with that

Chapter 9

Nate

"Cass, pleeeeeeaase just trust me Roill be totally okay with this Just letwith Rowe’s roo that side of Rowe, the side that jokes and ss seriously I went to bed thinking about it I woke up thinking about it I thought about it throughin her rooh! Fine! But don’t getwith her If she asks, I had nothing to do with this, okay?" Cass grabs her backpack and slings it over her shoulders to go to class I salute her and cross ain before she turns around

"You love me, and you know it," I shout over my shoulder as she’s about to leave