Private (Private 1)

starting to chafe,” Noelle snapped.

“I was just asking a question,” Ariana said coolly. “So, is he

This time, Leanne looked as if she might cry. She got up, pulled coming?”

her backpack onto her shoulders, and shot me a scathing look

Dash laughed as he shoveled down a forkful of eggs. “Does he

before walking off.

ever?” He glanced at me. “Pearson is not a morning person. Ask

“Nice one, Noelle,” Natasha said, rising as well. “She just wants Josh.”

you to like her.”

I had no idea why he had directed this comment at me. Had

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Thomas said something about me? Or had Dash read my mind and

“What? It was just a question,” Kiran said.

realized who I was looking for as well?

“She lives in her own little world,” Ariana explained.

“I’m his roommate. I can attest,” Josh said, raising a hand.

“Look who’s talking,” Kiran grumbled at Ariana. She looked me

“Man likes his sleep.”

over and leaned back in her chair, placing her apple wedge down on Ariana placed her book aside and picked a piece of toast up from her plate. “You know, this apple is a little sour. I’d like a new one,”

her plate, crunching into it. She smiled at me as she chewed and I she said, looking directly into my eyes.

smiled back through my embarrassment, silently thanking her for There was a moment of silence and I realized that everyone was

asking the question I never would have had the guts to ask.

looking at me. Expectantly.

“Ugh!” Kiran groaned, snapping her Sidekick closed and

“What?”

tossing it on the table.

“She said she’d like a new apple,” Noelle said. “And while you’re She hooked her arm over the back of her chair and looked away