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I crythe whole way home.

The more I think about it, the more I’m certain that Patrice is in love with Matt. She came over with soup for him when she thought he was sick, for God’s sake. And that’s why she was so angry with me. Not because she thought Matt was compromising his morals or jeopardizing his job or anything. But because she wanted him.

Patrice is going to blow the whistle on us. The whole school is going to find out about me and Matt. He’s going to lose his job. And I’m going to get kicked out of school.

But wait, maybe not. If she’s in love with him, she wouldn’t do that to him. Maybe she’ll protect our secret. But if she does, it will be on the condition that he ends things with me immediately.

I just can’t bear the thought of that.

When I get home, I park in front of the dorm, but I don’t go inside. I don’t want Heather to see me like this. Instead, I rest my head on the steering wheel and sob loudly. Stupid Patrice. I can’t believe that just happened.

I’m wiping snot from my nose with the back of my sleeve when my phone buzzes. I reach for it, and my heart leaps when I see Matt’s number. “Hello?”

“Hey,” he says quietly. He doesn’t sound happy.

I swallow, trying not to let on that I’ve been crying. “Is Patrice still there?”

“No, she’s gone,” he says.

“Okay,” I say carefully. “So, um… is she going to… tell on us?”

He’s quiet for a moment. “No,” he finally says. “She isn’t. She just believes very strongly that we should end things. And… she made some good points. Really good points.”

I can only guess what Patrice must have said based on the little I overheard from the bedroom. Apparently, I’m a treacherous vixen who’s playing him for a grade.

“How about you?” I squeak. “Do you think we should end things?”

Matt sighs. “Rachel, come on. Look, I’m wild about you, but we could both get in so much trouble. Is it really worth it?”

He’s wild about me. I squeeze my eyes shut. “Yes,” I say. “It’s worth it.”

There’s a long pause on the other line. Finally, he sighs. “This has got to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”

I bite my lip. “Does that mean I can come back over?”

“Well, I can’t eat this whole damn pizza by myself, can I?”

At that moment, I almost say it. I love you, Matt. The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t quite push them out.