I stick my head out the window, looking down nervously at the garden one leveldown.
“Good thing there aren’t roses on this side of the house,“ hesays.
“I was thinking I hope there aren’t any music boxpieces.”
Tyler swings the other leg out, chuckling. “To be continued,” he murmurs before droppingdown.
“Tyler?” I call when he hits theground.
He looks up at me, expectant, and I bite the inside of mycheek.
“I like you,” I say over the racing of my heart. “A lot. Maybe even more than cheesefries.”
His eyes crinkle at the corners. “I like you a lot too,Six.”
* * *
“Are you okay?”Pen asks as she sinks into the seat across from me at the café. “I saw Tyler at prom with Carly. He said it was to save your ass,and—”
“I know. And itwas.”
Pen shifts forward, lowering her voice. “What thehell?”
I explain about the letter from my mom, and her face looks more and more shocked. “Are you going to contacther?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” Iadmit.
“And you andTyler…”
“We’re good, Ithink.”
“If he hurts you, I’m going to cut off hisballs.”
I grin. “You’re thebest.”
Tyler’s letting me in. I felt it last night. But it comes with a price. Every time he lowers that shield and I get further inside, the world that’s not him gets a little blurrier, a little more out offocus.
“How was prom withBrandon?”
Her mouth curves. “It was unexpected… and nice, aside from the whole Tyler thing. The prom part andafter.”
“Wait. You fucked Brandon Bowers lastnight?”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s not a bigdeal.”
“It’s a huge deal. Was he? A hugedeal?”
Pen laughs. “Yes, and he was reallysweet.”
I hang on every word, truly happy for myfriend.
“All right. Enough about boys. How’s your essay forColumbia?”
I make a face. “I started it. I wondered if they had a performing arts minor. I’ve been putting so much into this musical, and now that it’s really mine, I wantmore.”
With the window for my application essay in the background on my computer, I do some searchingonline.
Vanier looks incredible. The acceptance process is rigorous, the odds of being admitteddismal.