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“Lexi So what’s the book about?”

Mia began talking slowly, stu about Heathcliff, she kind of took flight The next thing Lexi knew, they were laughing as if they’d been friends for years When the bell rang, they got up and walked toward their lockers together, still talking the whole way across campus Lexi didn’t keep her head down anymore, didn’t clamp her books to her chest or purposely not hed

Outside the door to her Spanish class, Mia stopped and said in a rush: “You could come to my house after school today If you wanted to, I mean ” She looked nervous as she asked it “I know you probably won’t No worries ”

Lexi felt like s; only nervousness over her teeth kept her in check “I would totally like that ”

“Meet , okay?”

Lexi went into her classroom and took a seat at the back She eyed the clock for the rest of the day, willing tipole, waiting Kids swar one another as they made their way onto the buses lined up outside

Maybe Mia wouldn’t show Probably she wouldn’t

Lexi was about to give up the whole thing when Mia ca as relieved as Lexi felt “Come on ”

Mia led the way through the hive of students, toward a shiny black Escalade parked out on the er door and climbed in

Lexi followed her new friend into the leather-scented beige seat

“Hola, Madre,” Mia said “This is Lexi I invited her home with me Is that okay?”

The woman in the driver’s seat turned around, and Lexi was stunned by her beauty Mia’s mom looked like Michelle Pfeiffer with her perfect, pale face and sleek blond hair In an obviously expensive saled on the Nordstro cover “Hello, Lexi I’m Jude It’s nice to meet you And how is it that I don’t know you?”

“I just moved here ”

“Ah That explains it Where did you move here from?”

“California ”