DAMSEL RULES

EL'S

r let them cat

with thick clouds and a pop quiz in Cost

er. Not even during lunch when their varsity cro

o

d better things to do than circle around a che

remembered I like

il

The volleyball court. The noise outside the

th

noticed

een edgy

y," I replied,

ke that when you're avoidi

hate solving acco

nze

notebook.

r. "No Luke today

"Why would t

xhibition. Is

hey're busy.

ey're giving

oo

d me. Because part o

rgot my umbrella. I sprinted toward the nearest shelter be

when I

die up, arms crossed like a statue had

st

en lowered to the sta

your u

. "Don't

d his. "I

inter

Just held the

with people you might like.

pped clos

ielded from the downpou

ing. But my legs had apparentl

said you accused him o

accuse.

ti

sked me to teach him chess. W

head. "That maybe

s is da

suming th

n't a

in sof

s. "I wasn't suppo

hy

id, it might lo

d. "And

ht away. Just looked

y: "More th

at my brea

hem speak softly. It

TI'

pposed to l

exams. Scrimmages. My family was already breathin

the court perimeter. The library w

nched, annoyed, and

ered the umbrella. She gl

gre

nesty, sharpened. Most people said

di

e want to l

vening. "You shared your u

call he

orry. I just thought we

d. I never

ed me. "Yo

ny it. He l

tly: "I

EL'S

te Rule #14 in the

llas. Or secrets. Or soft s

derlined

urred. Because I wasn't sure who

se

h