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“Yeah,” I said, although my voice shook at first Nerves rattled my bones “I think I'm ready”

“You're up late,” he said “You should get some sleep” He looked at ?”

I indicated to the basket, waving at it like I didn’t need any of it What to do with it? I didn’t want to bother with buying the items, but Wil would find it weird if I just put the items away and walked out

Wil eyeballed Dr Green “Why are you interested?”

Dr Green shrugged “Oh, I wasn't being critical Don't mean to offend” He winked at me and then walked by It made sense we probably needed to continue to make it look like this was coincidence

“I don't like him,” Wil said quietly

“He just scared me for a second,” I said and watched as Dr Green turned the corner a little slowly He was showing

“Yeah, there's a ru on students” He looked at me “Be careful around him, okay?”

I clenchedwhat it'd sound like if I tried too hard “He's fine,” I said “I don’t believe in ruht It's late”

I went to walk past hiet me to pause

“Hey,” he said “You can tell ”

“I'm okay,” I said I sot to geteggs”

He waited for a moment, his arm still raised like he wasn't sure he believed me After a moment, he lowered his arm “Oh,” he said “Back of the store, all the way to the left”

“Thanks,” I said

He watched me as I left the aisle My body was tense Myruht now? I needed to get out of the store and get into a vehicle with Dr Green without Wil noticing I didn't want to risk Dr Green's reputation any more

I wondered if Dr Green would call that Mr Toot a chance, about what he’d said

Dr Green was near the dairy section in the very back of the store, looking at yogurt He glancedat the display

I got the feeling he was doing what I’d been doing and was just waiting for me This was public space If he'd been inforirl I'd talked to, then he knew Volto could be near Not to mention people who knew him from school could walk in at any moment

Should we stall and wait for North? I thought it et us both into a car We could watch for North from there

I took the ss then headed to the front of the store We needed to get out and not wait around where Volto could do so stupid to us

Dr Green kept his distance, but when I went into the checkout line to wait, he joined behind me It was the only lane open, so it shouldn't have been a surprise, but because we acknowledged each other earlier, we still waved to one another

I grimaced toothily out of nervousness

He smiled pleasantly and held on to his couple of containers of yogurt

I putto see if North had anythe pockets

Suddenly, Dr Green bent over and picked up a folded couple of twenties “Oh, hey You dropped this”

I knew I didn't, but I glanced up at where he waited patiently with the cash extended out to me

I took it, understanding “Thanks”

“Sure,” he said “Get soht Be ready for that test”

“I will”

I was the next in line for the cashier I considered what I could to do make sure I left to where he could see me Walk slow to the door so he had tith of the storesor meet him at the fast food place Options went on inas I kept hiht, it should be safe

I paid the cashier, and she bagged my few items for me I thanked her I had to cross in front of several rows of registers to leave, so I just slowed down I adjusted the backpack and then pretended to search the bag for so to allow Dr Green the chance to catch up with me

I sensed hi toward the door

I stalled at seeing Wil standing just shy of the sliding glass door so they wouldn’t open for him He waved to me “Hey!” he said “One second”

I grio to hiine what he wanted, but I couldn’t just walk off

After a feard steps toward hi me just a little ways as he headed toward the door