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“Uh, no It’s a freshirl,” I said

Ethan grunted “Why are you always helping her out, anyway? It’s not like you get anything out of it Plus, she punished you Shouldn’t you hate her and be retaliating or so?”

“No,” I said, nothis eye “I help because she asked, and I don’t want her to be mad at me”

“It’s Mrs Parks She’s always mad at everyone It’s her job”

Not me, I wanted to say

“You don’t always have to do what makes everyone else happy, you know Sometimes you can say no Do what you want”

I keptat my chips

“Mia,” Ethan said, “look at me”

“What?” I shrugged, trying to look innocent “Listen, I don’t need one of your lectures, okay? It’s fine I’ets me out of the house, anyway”

Ethan sighed, gru a people pleaser that I chose to ignore So what if I wanted people to like me Was that such a crime?

I glanced at my watch and moaned It was almost noon, which el Tree Every tiain one-on-one,difference

“I can’t believe Carson and I survived our lab on Thursday without killing each other You know, there was even a , which reminds me,” I rolled from my back onto my stomach and narrowedto Duke? You know that’s my number one”

Ethan sunk down beside ainst the footboard of his bed “I was going to tell you at dinner Wednesday night ere loading the dishwasher, and then I thought, why ruin it for you? You need to go where you want, without anything or anyone influencing you That, and I didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news” He laughed

I screwed up h you have a hot date to the dance, and I do not”

“You’re going to the dance Someone will ask you You have teeks yet”