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I see an answering look of mischief in his eyes as he leans a little closer "There are no rules about kissing, Cassia We’re Matched" I have looked at Xander’s face many times, but never like this Never in the al in my stomach and heart that is two parts excitelance around but no one looks at us, and even if they did, al they would see is two shadowy figures sitting rather close as the evening dims

So I lean closer, too

And if I needed any , that this is the Match for ht, sweeter than I expected

A chis across the schoolyard as Xander and I pul back, looking at each other "We stil have an hour of free-rec ti down at his watch, his face open, unembarrassed

"I e could stay," I say, and I mean it The air feels so warm on my face out here It’s real air, not chil ed or warmed for my convenience And Xander’s kiss, ether, try to taste it again

"They won’t let us," he says, and I see that it’s true They’re already gathering the cups, tel ing us to finish up our free-rec hours so here

Eroup of friends and walks over to us, graceful "They’re going to see the end of the showing," she says, "but I’ to do?" The moment she asks the question, her eyes widen a little, reotten, for a moment, and now she worries she’l be out of place

But Xander’s voice is warame," he says "There’s a o there?"

Eht I smile at her Of course it is She’s stil our friend

As alk to the air-train stop, I think about how there were once nht Em is here, but there wil come a time when she leaves, too, when it’s just Xander andtime, months even, since I’ve been to a music halTo my surprise, this one is fil ed with blue-clothed people With workers, young and old, who have finished their late shift I suppose this happens often; with only a little tio? They must stop here on their way back out from the City Some of them sleep, I see to my surprise, heads tipped back, tired No one seems to mind Some talk

Ky’s here

I find him almost immediately in the sea of blue, al Ky sees us, too He waves but doesn’t stand

We slide into the nearest seats, Em, Xander, me Em asks Xander about his experience at the Match Banquet, searching again for assurance, and he starts tel ing her a funny story about not knowing how to put his cuff links on that night, or how to tie his cravat I try to keep fro Ky, but soes his way toward us I smile a little when he takes the seat next to me "I didn’t know you liked music so much"

"I come here a lot," Ky says "Most of the workers do, as I’?" The high clear voice of the wo winds above us "We’ve heard the Hundred Songs so many times"

"They’re different, sometimes," Ky says

"Real y?"

"They’re different when you’re different"

I’m not sure what heon , breathing fast Xander stands up and trades seats with her, guiding her, shielding her with his body so that she’s on the inside of our group instead of on the edge

I lean, too, instinctively helping to hide her, and soon Ky presses next toher, too It’s the second tih I’m worried about Em, I can’t help but notice it, can’t help but want to lean into him a little in spite of the fact that I stil feel Xander’s kiss onher Whatever’s happening, the less people who see it, the better For Elance up

The Official in charge of the music hal hasn’t noticed us yet Soa closer eye than students We have a little tireen tablet," Xander says to Eently "It’s an anxiety attack I’ve seen people at the medical center who have thereen tablet, but they’re so scared they forget" Even though his voice sounds confident, he bites his lip He seems worried for Em, and he’s not supposed to say too much about his job to others who don’t share his vocation

"You can’t," I whisper "She took it earlier today She hasn’t had tiet another one yet" I don’t say the rest of it And she’ll get in trouble for taking two in one day

Xander and Ky exchange glances I’ve never seen Xander hesitate like this--can’t he do so? I know he can Once, a child on our street fel and blood was everywhere Xander knehat to do--he didn’t even flinch--until the ful -time medics arrived and took the boy to the medical center to fix him up

Ky doesn’t ry Help her!

But even while he holds stil , his eyes hold Xander’s Ky’s lipsat Xander