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I stare up at the ceiling, trying to reht it off the shop teacher at the high school I’d saved h “I had a tutor at the high school after classes ended at the middle school I happened to walk by the shop one day and saw the engine and so just clicked as I watched the shop instructor, Mr Boyd, puttering with it He ended up being one ofatshe’d have ood at the whole school thing”

I turn away and throw the tarp over the table and lead her to the private stairway leading toI don’t want to talk about it, and she seeood at the school thing was a huge understate to avoid the subject as long as I can

My apartalley kitchen I can barely fit in—like, I can’t have the stove and the cabinets opposite open at the sa roo in the center, and a bedroo else Allroom, and the dresser also doubles as the TV stand Not that I ever really watch TV

I throw esture at the apartment “It’s even less than the shop, but it’s hoive you the ten cent tour, but I’d need to give you nine and a half cents back”

She laughs, the Tinkerbell giggle, and my heart lifts But even with all the nor for calm She hides it well, hides it like a pro It’s buried deep, thrust down under the surface

I respect the hell out of her for how hard she’s working to be okay I just wish she’d let o, how to let herself hurt I want to take her pain

She’s plopped down onto the couch, and I can see the exhaustion in her eyes, in her posture I leave her sitting on the couch, head back, legs splayed out Making sure e the sheets and add an extra blanket, then go back out to tell her she can crash in my bed She’s already passed out in the position she sat down in I lift her easily She’s light as a feather, like an actual, factual fairy, ile porcelain and deceptive strength I set her in the bed, tug off her shoes, then debate whether to take her pants off for her or not

Selfishly enough, I decide to go for it I ine she does either I pop the button, slide the zipper down, grip the deniles, lifts her hips, and I pull thehs and her pale cream skin is almost too , barely disguising the tender V in which I want so desperately to burya featherlight line across her thigh, just a brief touch, but too h

I jerk hfor control

I turn back, close my eyes and peel her jeans off the rest of the way

As I’ them past her toes, she speaks, oddauy now?”

I settle the blankets at her neck, and she presses the up at led strawberry blond hair wisping across her perfect features I back away before I give in to the teertips I can’t read the expression on her face She just looks so fking vulnerable, as if all the hurt is co it in, now that sleep has nearly claimed her

“That was an assle move,” I say “I shouldn’t have done that You were asleep, I didn’t want—”