Fallout (Crank 3)

worth taking away from you.

AND NOW A NEW LABEL

Probably the worst one ever

affixed to me. Not because

of the word. Because of what

it means. To me. To Kyle.

To our tentative today and even

shakier tomorrows, despite

how good it is to be together

again. Despite how good it feels

to be sitting here, close to him,

skin to skin, absorbing his heat

by osmosis. Inhaling the scent

of him. Tasting the salt of him,

whenever we chance taking the time

to kiss. Time being of the essence.

Driving south. Looking over our

shoulders, back at Fresno.

Holding the speed limit, wanting

to go faster but not daring.

He, doing this to be with me, despite

my brand-new label: runaway.

SNEAKING OUT

To meet him was harder than

I expected. Not because of Tanya

and Walter. Because of Simone,

who, for some unfathomable reason,

decided she wanted to bond after all.

That day, after I talked to Kyle,

started planning a little AWOL jaunt,