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But things have been hectic on my side of the table as well I’ tofor the life that lies ahead of me Plus, I have to balance my time between him and Nicole I don’t want her to start to feel rejected just because I’ve been seeing sohosts my friends just because I’ve found a man

And on top of it all, my parents have been on me about the fact that I spend very little tiet with etaway for us to St Louis I appreciate the gesture, but that’s three days I won’t get to spend with Michael

I ah I’ve heard that St Louis has a beautiful arboretu through various gardens There’s even an eco-dome that replicates the clirowing inside, aet so much inspiration for future art projects froet to spend with my parents and will surely miss them when I leave for school

With this busy schedule, ht It seeht Sometimes, I drive myself to his house, but other times, I sneak downstairs and past h the backyard and meet Michael around the block, where he’s parked behind a bush We’ve changed the pickup location a few tiet suspicious

Sometimes we just drive around and talk Usually, we find a place to park and, well, enjoy each other’s coone into his liquor stores and used the back rooans Scan-da-lous!

I am so NOT this person At least, I never was until now It’s still so crazy to ine how my parents would react if they found out The o would be appalled at this behavior, frankly

But to be totally honest, I like it Having a secret relationship is really fun, and all the sneaking around and the white lies give me such a rush of adrenaline

Itit all on the line just to get to that one moment, that moment where he’s insidein the touch of the other person on our skin I’ about it

But ed who I as that used to get under my skin, like the bullies at school I know that I am wanted, and that ait all to be with me Of course, nobody knows any of this besides Nicole I just walk around with her, and a secret smile on my face

Plus, Nicole and I have changed too Instead of swooning over the fake men on book covers, we find a private corner of the library and gush oversession Sometimes, I wonder if my friend is jealous, but it doesn’t seelesabout my various rendezvous

Plus, she’s helped me come up with a few secret spots where Michael and I can meet The best one yet was the forest preserve up North off the I-55 It took us about forty-five et there, but it orth the drive We lay down in the fresh grass beside the lake, surrounded by oak trees We ht, the sounds of the owls and the crickets hs of pleasure

Things in ht now I find it ale is not the love story I alished for I expected a long, roether, holding hands in public, going to the diner for afternoon treats I pictured being with soo to prom with me

But as they say, life never works out the way you plan Which is good, because I couldn’t have planned this in a million years