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"You didn’t exactly try to discourage that"

"No Because I liked the attention" Her teeth dig harder into her lip "I didn’t care if it was good attention or bad attention--I just liked being noticed And thatpathetic, huh?"

Sorrow climbs up my spine Or maybe it’s pity Ra her rag on herself like this makes ood friend, either," she says woodenly "I was so fucking jealous of you, Grace I’ve always been the one who goes out with the hotties and asks for your advice, and suddenly you’re talking to an, and I was so consu exploded in your face…" Guilt flashes in her eyes "It ot it intoup with him, there’s no way he would have rejectedI said about her not being pathetic? Strike that from the record

"I was stupid and selfish, and I’m so sorry, Gracie" She iivesip of coffee, eyeing her over the riht now"

Distress lines her forehead "Why not?"

"Because I think we need a break We’ve spent every waking hour together since the first grade, Ramona" Frustration clenches insideout and for connections with new people And honestly, I can’t do that when you’re around"

"We can do it together," she protests

"No, we can’t The only friends I made last year were Jess and Maya, and I don’t even like the to talk again You were a huge part of , and I don’t know if I want to throw all that away over a stupid text s used to be"

She goes quiet, chewing so hard on her lip I’ blood I can tell she wants to argue, to force a reconciliation, push her friendship on me, but for once in her life, Ramona defers to me

"Can we still…I don’t know, text? Have coffee soirl who’s just been told the cherished fa has been taken to "the far off slowly"

Her hopeful expression returns in full-force "How about coffee, then? We canresistance, I offer another nod