Page 32 of We Are the Stars

I wrap my hands around my shake and mutter, “I’m sorry.”

“Please don’t do that.” His voice is quiet and neutral. “I don’t need that fromyou.”

The way he says it is like I mean something different than everyone else. “What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing. Everything. Nothing.”

“Makes perfect sense.”

He runs a hand through his already messy hair, making it stick out all over the place even more so. “I’m a difficult person.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“And yet you’re still here.”

“I’m still here.”

“Why?”

“Because… I…” I sigh. “Because we work together now. Wehaveto get along.”

He regards me, knowing I’m not telling the entire truth.

Honestly, I have no idea why I’m here. He’s been a jerk, and I haven’t exactly been a peach, but…I don’t know. There’s something about it, about him. I like him even when he’s angry and mean. I especially like him when he’s nice—which he’s only been once. At the end of it all, I like him. Well, I think I do. I don’t know him well enough to truly like him, but I like what I know of him. He keeps me teetering on this edge of uncertainty. I haven’t had anything uncertain in my life for far too long; I feel like I need that, and Carsen seems like the guy to provide it.

Which probably makes me insane.

Whatever.

“I suppose you’re right.”

“I’malwaysright. Get used to it.”

“I’m just going to glaze over that. You want something to eat?”

“Fries? A grilled cheese sandwich? And nacho cheese sauce.”

He scrunches his nose up in distaste. “What’s with the nacho cheese sauce?”

“Um, it’s delicious.”

“On everything?”

“Yes. Don’t question it.”

“Fine. I’ll be right back.”

He leaves to order us lunch and I peer out the window into the laundromat where this all started. A flip of the finger was all it took. Now look where we are: having lunch and hanging out like friends.

If that’s what we are.

“You look troubled,” Carsen comments as he returns to his seat.

“No. Amazed.”

“By?”

“This.”

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