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The box was s off and stared at it It was a tiny can of soht and whistle attached “Um, thanks?”

“It's pepper spray With a rape whistle,” Jairls on ca similar defense items on their backpacks

“What a thoughtful gift,” Nancy said, looking over my shoulder “That's very protective of you, James”

I aze and heat skittered south It was obvious to that he was referencing the other night He didn't want anything to happen to ift for hiive hi that would last forever

“Open hts I turned to receive the shiny wrapped present he had ready foraway on his phone for so business related

As I opened the rest of ht for Nancy and Dad, I made sure to keep the little can of pepper spray close by

James avoided me the rest of the day And then, he left

I ca pretty heavily—and Nancy told s to take care of "He wouldn’t even let me drive him to the airport," she complained

So, he didn’t even bother to say goodbye

Good It was better that way

We could avoid each other until next year and by then everything would have been forgotten Right?

I spent the rest of the day vegging and trying not to think about James But, of course, I did just the opposite I went over everything that happened again and again, co to enhance and re to

Yeah, right I couldn’t even figure out what I was feeling!

Was he running away because he was asha he was afraid of feeling? Or did he really not care at all? Was I just projecting s on to him? And if I hat did that mean about how I felt?

I wanted to screahts, but wherever I went they followed