CROSSED PATHS

than ever of the whispers and stares, but she had decided not to let it get to her. Amber's wo

school art show only a few weeks away, she and R

inal touches. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the fl

," Ryan said, stepping b

better than she'd expected. The vibrant colors, intricate details, and

thing I've ever worke

saying something because I once built a kill

ng her head. "I'll be

grinning. "But this

ence and charm, Ryan was genuinely supportive, and

-

, "Hey, you hungry? There's this pizza plac

school would only fuel the rumors. But the thought of heading home

," sh

it up. "Aweso

-

nd the delicious smell of melted cheese and spices in the air. Ryan ordered a

r their food. "How are you liking

s... okay. Different

" Ryan asked, l

said. "In New York, everything is packed togethe

mes I think I'd like to live in a big

always quiet in the city.

elf relaxing. Ryan was easy to talk to, and she appre

was right about the garlic

d, grinning as Sophi

u win," Sophie

al. Sophie forgot about the whispers, Amber,

-

nothing stayed

plastered with sticky notes. Each one was

, peeling one off the locker door. "'You'

s she stared at the mess.

ky note in the trash.

aid, pulling the res

to say somethi

ead. "No. That'll

can't just let her

onfident. "I just don't want to give her

k convinced, but

-

into Amber in the hallway. Amber was leaning against a

loud enough for everyone nearby

er fists, trying

e if he's hanging out with he

espond, but before she could

em, Amber?" he sai

o show up. "I don't have a problem. I'm ju

lse should mind their o

n stepped closer to Sophie. "C

ounding. She wasn't sure if she

-

hich was empty except for the fa

" Ryan asked,

t sure if it was true. "I didn'

I wasn't going to let he

sed by the intensity in his

"Because you don't deserve this. You're kind and

ks. But standing up to her pro

r," Ryan said. "She's

but the determination

-

and the art project, but her mind kept drifting back to Ryan. The way

convinced her to go to the school football gam

th cheers and the sound of marching band music. Sophie and

ng Sophie a bag of popco

ugh her thoughts w

elines, talking with some of his soccer teammates. He ca

ed an eyebrow. "You've

id, nearly chokin

"Don't play dum

ed. "I... don'

nitely likes y

skipped a beat.

er eyes. "The guy's practically g

respond, her

-

yan found her out

looking slight

d, clutching the

e cream or somet

o gave her an exaggerated t

ie said, her

couldn't help but wonder if this was the start of s