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The trip out of the building and back to the apart see the alphabet backwards, tried thinking about the old lady who lived in the building nearby, who soht was not pretty, but it still didn’t work

The rain was still co lot and under the awning I shookwater everywhere Avery stopped at the base of the stairwell leading up to our apartht it was all the rain I’d just pelted her with I opened ize, but she turned sideways, her face pale as she peered up at hup that knot in there, at the stark confusion and fear in her eyes Fear I didn’t get it Had I done that to her? No I couldn’t believe that Not the way she had reacted to me I saw it in her eyes She had wanted me to kiss her, probably even as badly as I wanted to kiss her, but she had pulled away becauseI honestly didn’t know

I thrustit off rinned slightly, and her chest fell, her shoulders relaxed, as if she needed to hear this "There’s always tooing to change anything"

"We’ll see"

"There’s nothing to see You’re wasting your time"

"When it concerns you, it’s never a waste of my time"

And that was the damn truth

Ten

The Wednesday before fall break, I skipped nutrition again and searched Avery out, finding her where she alas during this class: in the Den with Brittany and Jacob It was a good thing that I had I discovered three i abouther out Score for that

And she also compared me to a serial killer

Not that I was offended, but it wasn’t every day that one found himself mentioned in the same sentence as Ted Bundy

But her friends totally supported a date I liked the with amusement as she stared at a blood-red, absolutely e of serial killers I canyou later about that This is about you, Avery This fine young gentle you out You’re single You’re young You should say yes"

"Oh ainst her face "Is it tihed deeply "Go out with"No"

"See?" I addressed Brittany and Jacob "Keeps turning me down"

Jacob looked dumbfounded "You’re an idiot, Avery"

"Whatever" She stood, grabbing her bag "I’ to class"

"We love you!" Jacob shouted

She ood-bye Fall break kicked off to ho behind Traveling to Texas was a hell of trip for four days, but she could’ve gone home with one of the alone here

I waited until she was done and then followed her across the Den She arched a brow atme?"

"Like a true serial killer," I replied

"You knoeren’t being serious, right? And I’ to theI know--"

"It’s okay" I droppedher toward the cluster of trees outside of the building It was chilly and she hunkered down, pressing closer, whether she realized it or not "I don’t care"

"You don’t care?"

I shook my head Maybe it should bother me that there was now an audience to lanced down at her and smiled Her attention was focused on one of the blue vans that were always on campus

"Uh-oh," I murmured

"What?" She looked up atacross her face and tucking it behind her ear Ever since the night on the roof of Byrd, I took every freaking opportunity to touch her and she letie s ho up her hair and separating it into two long sections I s to back until Sunday night So, no eggs for you this week"

"Boo" Her face fell a little

"Don’t cry too much about it" I brushed the ends of her hair across her cheek and tried again with her doing so to take Brit up on her offer and go ho out here and get so done"

"Nerd"

"Jerk"

I smiled as I spread her hair over her shoulders "You knohat?"

"What?"