Jude stayed with me in the school parking lot after Christian drove off. We just sat on the swings in the back, not speaking for the longest time. Finally, when he spoke, his voice was edged.493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF8odCPlxj
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"You didn't deserve that."493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXnOMfp4JQ
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I shifted slightly and shook my head. "This is the first time he's ever pushed me away. I just want to be there for him."493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRFuf4WKBn
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The wind had picked up, rushing around us, feeling cool against my skin. The silence returned, then, and all I could hear now was the chirping of a bird and the noises of a nearby squirrel.493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbV3AxofRH
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"You can't save people, Kendall," Jude said softly. "Believe me, I've tried."493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN4dTD3mMw
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I frowned as I watched him start to swing, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the chain tighter. When I thought he was high enough to jump off, he came back down and dug his feet into the dirt to stop himself. Then he moved his hair from his eyes and turned toward me.493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFjboucjBt
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"Are you hungry?"493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JrMUENyAB
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Part of me knew I shouldn't have answered, that I should have changed the subject to anything else, but I was appreciating the comfort he was giving me.493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOZSou9I5F
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So I said yes.493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVXttuv1Ao
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Sitting in a coffee shop with someone who was not my boyfriend (I use the term loosely at this moment), wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'm not sure what I expected, actually. I guess I thought it would be awkward and I'd want to leave. I didn't. Leaving would require driving and passing Christian's house, something I didn't want to do right now.493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBMWVGuGME
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"So," Jude said, stirring his coffee with his finger, "what's your problem?"493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNgru95AMn
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"Excuse me?" I muttered. "What do you mean?"493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrrxZoGPAn
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"Your problem," he said, enunciating the word problem. "Your secret. Why you go to see Dallas Alder after school almost every day."493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLPv2Wxh6z
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I swallowed a mouthful of coffee at the wrong time, and when I heard his last words, I started to cough. When I stopped, my eyes widened in his direction.493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGXqBjYqgn
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"You've been following me?"493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7gERqyMdb
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"No," Jude said, shaking his head. He handed me a napkin. "I've seen you there because I'm a patient, too." 493Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouOwfkPT4d
