a

almost knock him over? Of all people, it had to be him. She should've said more to him, but she'd been at a loss for words, thoughts-just like the first day of school when he'd ca

m and his smile. As sure as she was that he probably didn't even rem

fe and had gone through grade school and middle school with them. Since Valerie had

e and her mother had come out to visit her mother's sister, Valerie's ste

yone was just hanging around the bonfires and listening to music. Sarah had never really grasped everything Valerie had told her about Angel and his brothers.

irls. The girls waited, their anxious smiles enormous. He wore denim shorts and a tank top that showed off his muscles. Sarah had never seen a finer-looking smile. His d

rlfriend?" she'

herself at him and tries to convince anyone that will listen that the two of them are an item. Everyone k

sometimes a little too exaggeratedly, but still at least they could hold a conversation around him. She had barely been able to breathe the first day of school when he looked

nds was not on her agenda. She didn't pla

e sure she finally emailed the gift. She'd put a slideshow together with pictures of the good times they had had, along with all of

r, and she wanted to show her appreciation. Sydney meant the world to her. They'd been thr

they had swapped emails, and since Sydney's parents had offered to get her a cell phone that had unlimited minutes, the

d be able to stop her from going back to Arizona. She would save enough money to be able to pay Sydney's parents to let her st

ster she'd be running for her home track team at Flagstaff High, wh

ing from ear to ear. Oh, God, what now? She fought the urge to roll her eyes. As she reached the bottom, Jesse stood in front of her, delibera

today is?" he a

op

disbelief. "Valeri

e was getting hotter, and already sweating. She knew s

ay?" she said. "I'm in th

e opened up his arms.

ed, and she stepped

e're here in school. I'll take a hug for now." He le

ng him away. "I don'

to move forward and force a hug. "Oh, come on, Sara

s weight on her, heavy at first, pushing her against the fence. And then just like that, the weight was gone. It took her a moment to un

t with one hand; the other lay flat on her chest, feeli