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"Wanna hang?" Nate says, bringing me back to the present Ty and Cass are ahead of us, already heading down the hall to my room When the door closes behind theo, at least not for a while

"Thanks," I say, feeling o

Nate flips the TV on to "Sports Center," and part of me thinks he just wants to fill the quiet in the rooe of Ty’s bed,baseball plays

"That guy’s aweso back on his bed and propping his head up on a pillow, the aardness still very much alive between the two of us

"I bet I’ll see you up there soushy and stupid, like a fan girl

"You co to my tournament next weekend?" He still hasn’t looked at me He hasn’t put his eyes to oing hoet Nate’s attention, and his eyesas I can without breaking, but eventually it becomes too intense, and I look back down to the floor

"How come I can’t meet your parents?" he asks, and I’m so perplexed by his question that I can only respond with one of my own

"Are you still in love with Sadie?"

Nate holds ain, just like he did before, only this ti the side of his bed for the television re the mute button so we’re forced to fill the silence between us He slides forward on his bed until he’s on the edge, right across fro irlfriend She’s the first girl I said I loved and was the one to taketo the saood" There’s a bite to his tone, and it ht her with my best friend Seth, I fell out of love with her--in an instant There was no thinking about it, no wondering what I did wrong I woke up that ht out of it So no, Rowe I’m not in love with Sadie Her parents are still friendly with mine, but I’et angry or bitter whenthatto hear those stories in front of you"

It’s so quiet in his roo me, but I do And when I do, Nate leans forward even ether in front of hi me

"Why Rowe?" He just leaves his question in the air Tords that could

"Why what?" I sound combative and snarky, and I don’t mean to, but I don’t kno to cross this line with hiive But I know that I don’t like hearing about him and Sadie, and I know I’m relieved he’s not in love with her anymore

"Why do you care about how I feel about Sadie?" His eyes intensify on uy you introduce to your parents, why does ithere, Rowe? What is this?"

"I don’t know!" I stand and bringdesperately to leave, to run back to my own room and hide But there’s a part of ry and forceful and begging to be heard And then I closefeels worse

When I openin front ofto connect with h for me to feel his heat His chest is inches away, and slowly he reaches up to put his thuers cling tomy heart can survive whatever is about to happen

"I don’t play gaainst my ear "I ait, but I won’t wait forever"

I hear his door open, and when I openalmost that of a heart attack victim My eyes want to cry, and so does my heart, but all I can seeht of Nate’s TV while I wait for ain