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It was volleyball day, the one sport I was actually good at I tossed the ball in the air to serve and al me from the hallway

I s soood at

When I looked again, he’d vanished

Soainst the side of my head “Ow!”

The volleyball thunk, thunk, thunked against the gymnasiuym teacher yelled

My face flamed hot At least Roman hadn’t seen that

After class, Vienna elbowedhottie?”

“That doesn’t even make sense”

Not offended, she grinned and flounced into the locker room ahead of me

True to his word, Ro in the hallway for me after class

Again, he tookit over his shoulder

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine”

Apparently we’d reached a stage in our relationship where I felt co up his sleeve to inspect his arm

Black and blue stained et you some ice for this”

“I’lanced down at his bruised skin “I’ve had worse”

“Doug’s such an asshole,” I seethed “Principal W better have had a chat with him too”

He grinned at me “You’re pretty cute all fierce”

He thought I was cute? My heart tapped out an erratic rhyths

Again, he took the seat behindat Steve Lennon who usually occupied that seat With Roman at my back, I felt safe and protected

Nor about the boy behind me

After the final bell, he followed me outside “Do you take the bus?” he asked

“Not usually” No, I’d had enough of being picked on and called nao and decided I’d rather walk than put up with my obnoxious classmates

“Do you drive?” I winced after I asked He was in foster care; I doubt he owned a vehicle

“No car” His jaw tightened and I wondered if I offended him

“I’htless of me”

“It’s no big deal, Juliet” But he seeain

My already shaky nerves rattled as we got closer to my street

“I’m actually not that far from you,” Roman said “A couple streets over”