d smile, recognizing her best fri

arkling mischievously. "Don't 'Stella'

her off to the side of the hallway. "I haven

r excuse? You missed my party, Amelia. The

I know. I'm sorry for not being there, but

layfully. "That's a lame excuse, and you

ly. "And that's why I'm apologizing. I'm t

er closely. "You don't loo

n excuse. She quickly averted her gaze. "Oh

ired? You look more than just tired, Amelia. So

ella's attention. "Really, it's nothing. Ju

.. if you say so. But you're acting weird. A

ituation. The last thing she needed was Stella insisting on visiting Ryan's mansion. Knowing Stella, she'd probably demand a full tour-an

ined. "Seriously, it's nothing. Just give me some ti

urther. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. But don't think you're

change the subject. "Deal. Whatever

Amelia. "Good. Now let's get to class before Mr

g about everything she'd missed at the party. Amelia smiled and nodded

ing about Ryan and that

ok, doodling absentmindedly as her thoughts spiraled. She couldn't sh

her. Who could it have been? And why had

lling her out of her reve

Amelia said quickly, st

ok. "You've been spacing out t

orcing a smile. "Just thi

ight. Like you've ever b

rer clapped her hands, signaling the end of class. The students

d her arm through Amelia's. "Okay, spill. What's rea

g," Amelia said, hoping

up easily. "Is it a boy? Oh

eks flushed.

h-huh. Sure. You'r

m n

ho is it? Tell

ay from Stella. "There's n

s a boy, you'd better tell me. Best

ile, guilt twisting in h

ia made her way toward the library. She needed some quiet tim

melia pulled out her notebook and pretended to

d distant, and the next, he was staring at that photograph lik

he thought, resting h

as something about Ryan that drew her in

n of thought. She glanced at the sc

ling in okay. Call me

, typing out

's fine. Will c

leaned back in her chair,

erly. Nothing about th