Page 46 of Perfect on Paper

Finn lifted his head—and from the stiffness of his neck, that was apparently a ten-ton feat—and shook his head with a stern expression, eyes squeezed shut. “Nope. Nope.”

“You stand corrected,” I said with a grin.

“I thinkDarcyis The Best Friend, actually,” Brooke said, and I suddenly realized just how much I’d been wanting her to say something affectionate like that lately. I could forgive her for ditching me a million times over, I felt, as long as I knew I was still her best friend. Still important to her.

My phone buzzed. “Brougham’s here,” I announced. I was a little disappointed he’d arrived so fast. I’d been enjoying the quality time with Brooke. Because, yes, compared to how things had been recently, pairing up to watch Finn was practically a weekend getaway for two.

“Hurry back,” Brooke said. “I—Finn Park, don’t lick the carpet,oh mygod.”

I hurried.

ELEVEN

Dear Locker 89,

I (17yo F) broke up with my boyfriend (17yo M) about a month ago, and ever since he’s been orbiting me. Liking all my stuff on Instagram, viewing every single story, opens every Snapchat etc. But he’s the one who told me he didn’t want to stay friends. I figure if we’re out of each other’s lives, we’re out of them. I don’t want to block him or anything because we ended on ok terms (he just said he wasn’t feeling it anymore:() and it’s not *bothering* me that he keeps popping up. But I wonder what it means. Should I reach out to him and ask why he’s up in my shit? Or try to start a conversation? Do you think this means he wants me back and is too scared to ask?

[email protected]

Locker 897:53 p.m. (0 min ago)

to Hadley Rohan

Hey Hadley!

Orbiting is a great term here. He’s keeping himself in your orbit, and it’s also a sign you’re in his. While I can’t say it’s necessarily a sign he wants to get back together, or he still has feelings for you, I can certainly say you’re on his radar. He is aware of you, and notices your presence. The only time this observation might change is if he’s the type of person who views and likes every single thing that comes across his feeds. You know the answer to that better than me!

Regardless, I don’t advise you to reach out. If he dumped you, and he hasn’t made an effort to get back in touch, then it means that, for whatever reason, he does not want to be in touch right now. Not only that, but if he *does* want you back? After getting dumped, you absolutely deserve to be re-courted with fervor. Don’t take on the emotional load of fixing what he broke, especially given it sounds like the breakup wasn’t any fault of your own. If he does reach out, I recommend you be pleasant, but don’t jump into anything too fast. You have every right to take your time to decide whether your heart is ready to try again, and to ask him what’s changed, and how you’re supposed to know he won’t change his mind again in a month.

Brougham spotted me instantly, and plowed through the crowd to approach me with brisk strides.

From the looks of things, I’d caught him as he was getting ready for bed. For a start, he smelled like apricots, like he’d just gotten out of the shower, and his hair was messy and standing up at odd angles. Instead of his usual casually preppy style, he’d thrown on sweatpants and a wrinkled, baggy white tank top that showed off his bare arms. He looked, in the weirdest way, sweet. Cuddly, even.

Until he spoke in a clipped, no-nonsense tone. “Where is he?”

“Down the hall, come on.”

He glued himself to my side as we skirted around the living room, weaving in and out of small groups of chatting, drinking people, guided by the soft blue glow emanating from the television.

“Thanks for coming,” I said. “I know you have swimming in the morning, but I—”

“Hey,” Brougham cut me off, grabbing my lower arm. I stopped and faced him straight-on, and he took a step toward me, deathly serious. “It’s Finn. If something happened to him and I found out you hadn’t called me? I would hate you until the day you died, then I’d crash your funeral and tell everyone how much you sucked. And if I died first? I’d haunt you until you wished you’d gone before me.”

I wrenched my arm away from his. So much for gratitude. “If you go anywherenearmy funeral, I swear to god you won’t have known themeaningof haunting before then.”

Brougham shrugged. “No worries, we’ve avoided all that messiness because you had the sense to call me when you did. Aren’t you glad?”

“Ecstatic.”

Ray and Brooke jumped apart when I opened the door. Because of course Ray had darted in to fill in for me themoment I left the room. I didn’t want to know, so I didn’t think about it, didn’t think about themmaking outwhile their friend was sick and in need of help and support, lying only feet away from them, possibly still licking the rug with zero intervention. Didn’t think about how shitty that was, and how Brooke would never have done anything like that before Ray, and how Ray made everything, and everyone, worse, because she was a liar and selfish and did cruel things to people she was supposed to love.

Didn’t think of it at all.

My self-control was really improving these days, I was so proud of myself.

“You’re an absolute numpty,” Brougham said in a fond voice, crouching down in front of Finn so they were face-to-face.

“I want it to stop. Make it stop?”

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