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Chapters (67)
  1. Big Boned
  2. CONTENTS
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. One Month Later
  60. Acknowledgments
  61. About the Author
  62. Copyright
  63. About the Publisher
  64. Backad 1
  65. Backad 2
  66. Backad 3
  67. Backad 4

I looked down at my hands when she said this, and that’s when I noticed the small dot of red paint on one of my nails. I rubbed it off quickly. I didn’t know if I deserved a medal; in fact, a part of me felt that I didn’t deserve this kind of praise at all. I had stumbled upon Rose by accident in a way; I hadn’t even known who she was. Banksy knew what he was saying with his art. Did I?

There are no such things as accidents. Only meant-to-be’s. I heard Xander’s words in my head, but was suddenly distracted when my phone beeped. I scrambled to get it out of my pocket. I looked at the screen and felt my cheeks go warm. I hoped Thembi hadn’t noticed that.

“Who is it?” she asked.

I shrugged. “No one.” Only it was someone. It was Jake.

37

I waited until I got home to read Jake’s message.

JAKE: Super late notice . . . totally random question. I have tickets for a show at the planetarium tonight. One of the parents at school gave them to me, he works there, do you guys want to come?

A hollow pit formed in the bottom of my stomach.

LORI: Sorry, I only saw your message now

LORI: Sounds cool, but Zac is out with my mom tonight

JAKE: I was starting to wonder if you were ignoring me

LORI: No. Sorry

JAKE: We don’t have to take the kids

LORI: What do you mean?

JAKE: Just us

LORI: To the planetarium?

LORI: With you?

JAKE: yes

JAKE: I know it’s random, but it could be fun

JAKE: When did you last go to the planetarium?

LORI: I don’t think I’ve ever been

JAKE: First time for everything then

My heart started beating faster. Like a date. Was this a date?

LORI: Sure. Okay. I mean . . .

JAKE: OMG, you don’t sound keen. Is it the idea of a planetarium or the idea of going with me?

LORI: No, it’s nothing like that. I’m just surprised, I guess

JAKE: Why?

LORI: I just imagined us hanging out with our siblings in tow. You know

JAKE: So you don’t want to be friends with JUST me?

LORI: That’s not what I’m saying

JAKE: We hung out on the beach the other night, I couldn’t have been such crappy company?

LORI: OMG, no. I didn’t mean that

JAKE: I’m starting to get really offended here . . .

LORI: Please don’t. That’s not my intention

JAKE: How boring do you think I am?

LORI: I WANT TO GO OUT WITH YOU!!!

There was a pause and my embarrassment made me want to melt into the floor as I waited for his response.

JAKE: Wow! Caps. Multiple exclamation marks

LORI: I mean, it would be cool to go to the planetarium

JAKE: With me?