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“About the deal heher in “When the police narandfather as the pri went crazy in theaway from me”

Abby shook her head “He was trying to protect you If I were hi”

“Yeah, well, he rong,” he said, his voice soft “Abby, I didn’t give him all the details, but I explained a little bit about as going on with you and he’s cool With us, Iyou”

He reached out, brushing a lock of hair out of her eye, and Abby wanted nothing more than to sink in to his touch

“I’m only sorry I listened to him,” she whispered “And I’m sorry I pushed you away I was afraid of what you’d think Of me Of my family Of—”

He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her “He’s not you I don’t care about the secret I’ve been worried about you Do you even have any clue how a you are?”

Afraid, she took a step closer, then pressed her forehead to his chest When he placed his ar her in, she sunk in to hied?”

“You have”

She pulled back so she could look into his eyes, and he placed his hand on the side of her face Did he need her touch as much as she needed his?

“Life changes us Isn’t that what it’s all about? It’s about weathering the stor out battered and bruised but, nevertheless, surviving,” he said

Abby stared up at this boy The one with a sly cah every wall until he tore them all down

His face broke into a s in her expression to convey her thoughts She should be embarrassed, but she wasn’t Her heart felt so full it hurt Full of love for the boy she found in the worst of times The one who stuck by her, even when she pushed him away

It occurred to her she ed, but she liked this new version of herself even better The one who made plans with Cammie and her friends on the weekend The one who talked to her er ran fros but toward them The one who allowed herself to feel, who opened her heart to a boy

Her world had changed So did she

But as long as she re with it