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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJK5iWRfzC
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"You didn't deserve that."490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BbcEt00Qn
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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."490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchXmJddN18
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPi66Q7eEx
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"You can't save people, Kendall," Jude said softly. "Believe me, I've tried."490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WDW2Z26az
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X1rAYaN1n
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"Are you hungry?"490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolpgloZ3GD
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFqgMs23qB
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So I said yes.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx42jxcfiRI
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKfoJ61WbL
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"So," Jude said, stirring his coffee with his finger, "what's your problem?"490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lsGk2qklO
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoFQbWI9SC
"Excuse me?" I muttered. "What do you mean?"490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ6hIsDHPm
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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."490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpMeRRj97m
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsMfYCGeJv
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"You've been following me?"490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSO9fRXZEv
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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." 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1peANZnCJ
