The Luna Choosing Game

Seeing it hurt me in ways I couldn’t have imagined before.

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He’d kissed me in the hallway. He’d almost kissed me in self–defense practice.

I hadn’t considered he would be kissing other people too.

“Piper…” he said again, softer.

I couldn’t even bear to look at him. I turned my shoulder to him and dropped my gaze to the floor.”

Please go clean up. Then we can talk.”

He was rarely uncertain, but he shifted awkwardly on his feet now. “Very well. I’ll be right back.” He

turned toward the door, and I did not look up again until he had walked through it.

Both Mark and Charlotte were looking at me. I felt judged.

Charlotte glanced away but Mark didn’t. He didn’t say anything, didn’t even hold an expression, but I

disapproval radiating off of him

heart,

doing, and whoever he had been doing it with, he had dropped all

here and make sure I was okay. In order of his priorities, I ranked high above anyone else.

was only trying to make the best of a bad situation. I knew, maybe better

been unkind to

I borrow your handkerchief?” I asked Mark.

a soft blue folded

I said, and rushed out the

gone far. He was only a few steps down the hallway, aggressively rubbing his lips with

“Damn it all,” he cursed.

I said as I approached

sound of my voice, and quickly turned. His eyes

with the handkerchief and wiped away the remaining

lips and chin

very still

I said. “It’s not my place to keep you from the other girls. But when I thought of you with

monotone. His face, impassive. He gave

deny it out of sheer embarrassment, but I

know it’s unfair to want to keep you for myself, when we both know we can’t be together.