Page 140 of Come Break My Heart Again

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“You’re playing tic-tac-toe by yourself?”

I glance toward the unfamiliar voice. There’s a boy standing in the open doorway, staring at me.

My arm twitches with the strong urge to cover the folder I’m doodling on, hiding the evidence. Something about the way he’s looking at me makes me feel self-conscious.

I don’t know him, but I recognize him. Ryder James. He’s one of the kids from the trailer park. I’ve never agreed with the division in town, but I’ve always gone along with it. Never spoken to anyone who lived in the section of town with a different zip code. The Twos.

“I’m winning,” I tell him.

Ryder laughs. He has a nice laugh, deep and husky. “Of course you are, Elle.”

Warmth pools in my stomach, and a flush spreads across my skin. I’m reacting to the way he said my name. To the fact that he knew my name. To the way he’s focused on me, giving me his complete attention.

“Are you here because you’re running for student council president too?”

Ryder laughs again, but this one is different. Short and dry. “Nah. Detention.”

“Oh.”

I have no idea what to say to that. I’ve never had detention before.

Ryder ambles deeper into the room, taking the desk beside mine. “What does student council do this early?”

“I have to collect signatures. Mrs. Scott is my faculty adviser. She told me to meet her here so she can give me the papers I need.”

“Student council sounds like a lot of work.”

“It’s not supposed to be easy,” I reply. “And I might not even win.”

“You’ll win.” Ryder sounds very certain of that outcome. He leans over to look at my tic-tac-toe board. “It’s a cat’s game.”

“What does that mean?”

“No winner. Or two losers.” He settles back into his seat. “You got another piece of paper?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

I tear a clean sheet out from my notebook, then hand it to him. Our fingers brush, and I stiffen like I was just electrocuted.

My heart begins racing, and a strange fluttering sensation appears in my chest. I don’t knowRyder. All I know is that he lives in the trailer park my friends make fun of and that my chest always feels too tight when I look at him. Whenever he’s nearby, I notice. My palms get sweaty.

I have a crush on him, I think.

And I didn’t think he even knew who I was. I’m still reeling from the revelation that he does.

I wet my dry lips with my tongue. “What are you doing?”

“Staying out of trouble.” He’s flipping and folding the paper I gave him, twin lines wrinkled between his eyes as he concentrates. “I’m Ryder, by the way.”

“I know,” I blurt.

When I gather up the courage to glance over, he’s looking at me. One corner of his mouth is curved up, and it sets off a series of fizzy fireworks in my chest. He doesn’t say anything, just nods and then looks back down.

“Ryder? What are you doing in here?” Mrs. Scott has appeared, her expression confused as she glances between me and Ryder.

“Lady in the office sent me this way,” he replies.

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