Page 83 (1/1)

"I noticed I haven’t seen her around I thought it was maybe just because she has a new boyfriend," Rowe says

"That’s part of it When she’s into a guy, everything else disappears But honestly, I couldn’t care less right now I kind of welcome the excuse not to have to talk to her," I say,on a small star sticker above my bed, left by the person who stayed in this room beforeit behind when I leave in the spring--someone else deserves to stare at it when they think too

"I’rab her ar, and I let le off the end of the bed

"Thanks It’ll work itself out She just…she broke a promise But it’ll work out," I say, more to convince myself than Rowe

I was alone for an hour after Rowe took off Ty left his long-sleeved striped shirt with me, or rather, I took it froive it back I put it on, deciding to use it to give e calls and tells me to meet her at the curb, so we can share our cab By the ti, she’s already on the phone with so about the winter for howto be

Stress This is stressful for oes, the ive in and let a few chuckles out She continues to talk while we get into the cab, snapping her fingers and pointing to the driver so he can take her bag We’re only oodbye, along with some stupid inside joke about rhinoceroses and hippos to who to herself, amused by the conversation, when I finally explode

"You are so rude," I say

"Uhm, excuse me? That was rude," she says, her compact already in her hand so she can check her lipstick

"Your lips look fine We’re getting on a plane, not having our portraits done," I say The seal is broken The words froet worse

"Wow Someone woke up and put on her bitch costume today," she says She tucks her coet the satisfaction of that

I e to keep ue in line, through security, and for the forty ate to open When we finally board, I pullthee pulls her phone out to check her texts too, and solance in her lap I see the picture of her and Chandra, arms around each other, cups in their hands, at so the phone froers

"First off, don’t touchthe phone back and shutting it off completely

I stare at her, my sto tucked in the seat-back pocket in front of e was the one to tell Chandra, but I held out hope I knew they knew each other, but I convinced myself that they didn’t know each other well But nore the arrows, they still pointed to Paige in the end

"I can’t believe you told her," I say, forcing myself to breathe in slowly, an effort to stave off the tears that want to ruin e says, not looking at rab her chin and pull her face to mine Her first reaction is to pull back But then she sees me She sees

"You told Chandra about Paul Cotterht back at , trying to find a version of history that doesn’tBut there isn’t one She told her And Chandra probably told everybody on the teah school with the scarlet letter on her forehead

"Cass," she says, her voice quivering as she pieces it all together

"I can’t trust you," I say, unbucklingfro? Where are you going?" Her face honestly looks distressed I can’t deal with it