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One

ROMAN

I fell in love for the first time when I was seventeen

One simple mistake altered the course of my future, of my very existence

Until that day feelings had always seeical My world was too dark and chaotic for love to develop

It was the first day at another new high school That made—three? four?—this year alone

The locker I’d been assigned wouldn’t open no matter how many times I spun the combination or slammed my filthy, worn boot into the rusty metal front

“Do you mind?” A soft voice came from beside me

I glanced down Five-feet-nothing of waist-length red-gold hair, soft blue eyes, and freckles stared up at me A smile played over her full pink lips that I already h

ad an urge to kiss

“I can’t get it open”

“Maybe that’s because it’s my locker”

“No, it’s not” Even though I already had a bad feeling in ht, I handed over the yellow slip of paper I’d been given this

“Hainst that plump bottoainst “It says seventy-six, but that can’t be right”

She stepped forward, not at all intimidated by my size—I had to be at least a foot taller than her Her war hair tickled my arm She smelled like roses after a rainstorm I’m not ashamed to admit I stood there and inhaled her

The lock clicked open and she opened the door “See? It’s my locker My combination works on it Yours doesn’t”

“Well, shit”

She grinned at me “What’s your name?”

“Roman”

Laughter spilled out of her “I’ to share ross boy things in it”

I scratched the back of ”

“Uh, dirty socks”

“No problem”

“Jockstraps”

“Don’t have one”

“Anything smelly”

“Okay”

Pink raced over her cheeks, and I wondered what else she was going to say, but instead, she shook her head “Welcome to locker seventy-six, roomie”

She held out her hand I took it, ive a quick shake Instead, an electric current of attraction sparked between us I stood there staring into her eyes, trying to decide if they were turquoise or teal, and stroked her soft skin

“Thank you, Juliet” I loved the way her naue

She didn’t jerk her hand away, and she held aze

I ht then and there

I was going to irl

Two

ROMAN

Protect

That’s all I wanted to do once I laid eyes on Juliet

She was so dalare of cheap fluorescent lights, she seemed defenseless

People seemed to avoid her which both bothered and pleased me I wanted her to s

“So how is your first day progressing?” The corners of herme More like ere both in on the same joke

“La as the last three schools”

Her eyes widened “Why so many? Do your parents move around a lot?”

My eyes darted away, I didn’t like talking about s that et away from you But I sensed I could trust Juliet

“I live at the group home over on Pine,” explained in a lowered voice “Foster care Before that I ith a few families None of ‘em stuck”

My story was more complicated than that Six years, twelve different faroup ho too real, ht scare her away

Sadness clouded her eyes “I live with , but I understand what it feels like…not to…”