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r let them cat
with thick clouds and a pop quiz in Cost
er. Not even during lunch when their varsity cro
o
d better things to do than circle around a che
remembered I like
il
The volleyball court. The noise outside the
th
noticed
een edgy
y," I replied,
ke that when you're avoidi
hate solving acco
nze
notebook.
r. "No Luke today
"Why would t
xhibition. Is
hey're busy.
ey're giving
oo
d me. Because part o
rgot my umbrella. I sprinted toward the nearest shelter be
when I
die up, arms crossed like a statue had
st
en lowered to the sta
your u
. "Don't
d his. "I
inter
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with people you might like.
pped clos
ielded from the downpou
ing. But my legs had apparentl
said you accused him o
accuse.
ti
sked me to teach him chess. W
head. "That maybe
s is da
suming th
n't a
in sof
s. "I wasn't suppo
hy
id, it might lo
d. "And
ht away. Just looked
y: "More th
at my brea
hem speak softly. It
TI'
pposed to l
exams. Scrimmages. My family was already breathin
the court perimeter. The library w
nched, annoyed, and
ered the umbrella. She gl
gre
nesty, sharpened. Most people said
di
e want to l
vening. "You shared your u
call he
orry. I just thought we
d. I never
ed me. "Yo
ny it. He l
tly: "I
EL'S
te Rule #14 in the
llas. Or secrets. Or soft s
derlined
urred. Because I wasn't sure who
se
h