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“Yeah, of course it’s okay” The hands I have stuffed inside hs, despite the fact that they aren’t sweaty I feel like they should be, though God this is painful

“So…why didn’t you tell me we’d already met?”

“I…don’t know Eliza and Jack were in the kitchen and I thought it ht be weird? I don’t know, Lilly Half the ti unless it’s related to school”

I’ to over-explain myself but stop before any more words come out of my mouth

“Why did you keep this?”

“I don’t know”

She twirls it round and around on her hand “Most people would have thrown it away”

Yes, they would have, but I’m not most people

“It doesn’tIt’s just…” I clear my throat uncomfortably “I was a nerdy little freshht where I felt incredibly aard at a party I didn’t want to be at” I shrug my now broad shoulders “So I kept it”

Lilly see her a co her she’s beautiful or smart or witty All I did was say she was nice tome as if I were a saint

I ht live like a monk sometimes, but I am no saint

“Most guys are assholes” She plucks at one of the green strands When she stands up and stretches, I back away, giving her a wide berth, watching when she puts the bracelet back on my dresser

“You can have it back,” I say feebly for lack of anything else

Lilly turns her head “Don’t you want it?”

Yes “Doesn’t matter It’s yours”

“I gave it to you”

I cannot tell her I’ here is killingto suck me into the carpet

“Sorry”

Lilly leaves the bracelet, ending the discussion, and snatches her shoes before walking to the door “I should go I can’t believe I fell asleep My roo her where I was at”

She bounds back down the stairs