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“Yes. Yes, it is very much like that. So you understand what I’m saying now.”

She smirked. “Yeah, I think I do.”

Three Before

THE BELL RANGfor first period the next morning, and he was nowhere to be seen. I tried not to feel as disappointed as I did, but I’d taken the few extra minutes of effort to get ready, and he wasn’t even here. I had on a clean black shirt, mascara. I’d fingered through my short, usually unruly, black hair. I’d even put a bobby pin in it, sweeping a small piece to the side. And he. Wasn’t. Even. Here.

Was he not in this class anymore? Did he get switched? Did I imagine the whole thing? Was he even real?Definitely not. That would make so much more sense. Things that beautiful didn’t happen to me.

I kicked his empty desk with my ratty black Converse and cursed Satan himself as I made my way over to my desk. But then I saw it. Him. That halo. He was pulling at the locked classroom door. Not a single thought processed through my brain as I walked over to it and opened it for him. And then that smile, that perfectly lopsided smile, and those eyes.

Real. Definitely real.

“Both of you to the front office! You know the rules!” our teacher yelled from the front of the classroom, causing me to jump back from the door.

I turned. “What?”

“Tardy passes, now!” he yelled again, fully bugged eyes.

“I wasn’t even late,” I replied like an idiot.Thanks, brain.

“Now!” he reiterated, completely irritated.

I swiped my backpack off my desk and muttered a, “Jesus,” under my breath as I headed outside, golden halo following closely behind.

We walked silently side by side for at least a full minute, or for what felt like forever. An eternity. I kept my eyes trained on the ground in front of me, severely aware of his presence beside me.

Speak, mouth!But I had nothing. I couldn’t think of a single thing to say. I picked at the black nail polish on my fingers instead.

“Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to get you in trouble,” his deep and gravelly voice slid into my consciousness, burning itself there.

I looked up at him. “It’s okay.” I shrugged.

More than okay. Totally worth it.

He smirked; I smiled.

It was ridiculous, the warmth swirling itself around inside my body.

“I’m Greyson, by the way.” He’d stopped on the sidewalk, sliding his hands into his pockets.

I stared up at him a second too long before finally replying, “Jessica, but my friends call me Jess.”

“Jess.” He nodded, a slow smile forming on his lips, and then he turned away, back towards the office, and continued walking.

Fast; my heart was beating way too fast.

Greyson.Even his name was perfect. And the way he said my name, the way his tongue slid over the single-syllabled word:Jess.

Jess, Jess, Jess.

I’d burn that one to memory, too.

We reached the front office, grabbed our tardy passes, and made it back to class entirely too fast for my liking.

“Good luck,” he said, holding the door open for me. And then? He winked at me.Winkedat me. Fast and subtle, and completely pulling it off.

And in that very moment I remember thinking,God, I know you don’t like me all that much, but maybe I could have this one thing? Please? Just this one thing. I swear it won’t make me too happy.