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Chapter 3

It’s been two days and I haven’t heard from Paul since he escaped frooodbye I know he’s still in town because o out to dinner with theo If Paul doesn’t want to seeto force myself on him, no matter how badly I wanted to accept the invitation

In class I can’t focus Which is crazy because English is my favorite subject, but all I can think about is where exactly I rong with Paul Things were going so great, then as soon as there was a distraction, he looked at me as if I were a leper

We’ve spent the last couple of years flirting, which felt like years of foreplay building up to the moment we finally found release Now I can’t help but wonder if, for him, the fantasy was better than the reality I feel stupid for not thinking about that consequence Rejection sucks It sucks even worse when the person rejecting you is soht actually—dare I say it—love

“Rachael?”

My self-pity party is crashed when I hearup fro atby s are stern enough to leave a bruise I don’t kno he can stand to wear that tweed jacket in this heat while I’ a tank top He bends over my desk to look out the

“Is there a riot out there, so, perhaps?” he asks

My face is so hot it’s numb I know I’m a horrible shade of pink “Not yet, but I’ll keep an eye out just in case” I say, which gets a few snickers from my classmates

Mr Oliver is not amused

“Isyou?”

I shake my head “Not at all”

“Then why don’t we leave the day drea for the musicians and artists, shall we?”

Says the ht Looks like I won’t be taking that class any time soon

Mr Oliver goes back to his lesson Despite the boy next toher teeth, I’h the class

At noon, Emily and I meet up for lunch at a pizza joint down the street I’ by myself

“You knohat you need?” she says

I take a giant bite of pepperoni with extra cheese and talk with my mouth full “I’, and bad advice is all Eiven me

“You need rebound sex”

A group of boys walking by slows at the mention of sex I stare them down until they move on

“Don’t you need to be broken up first for rebound sex? Paul and I were never dating”

“Doesn’ths, but keeps talking “Just hear me out”

I sigh, wipingif you want I’ out with this pizza slice to care”

Without skipping a beat, she says, “I know you like your guys with age spots and puuys at this school who are perfectly capable of doling out orgasms”

I throw eons stalking us “There’s this guy, Jereood authority that he’s really into you, and that he has Thor’s hammer hidden in his pants, if you knohat I mean”

“If I roll my eyes any harder, they’ll fall out of my head,” I say

“I’o on a double date with et about Paul for a few hours”

I have no idea who Chris is, but getting away fro onNetflix and Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches,I’ and fairly attractive—well, at least three weeks out of four, before PMS breakouts make oing out, having the tie where it’s still acceptable to uys

“Fine, I’ll go, but I’uy, so don’t even plant the thought in his head”

“I would never,” she says with her hand to her chest in mock-exasperation