Page 65 of Legacy Elite

She smiles a little. "But I don't know."

I look at her.

"I love him," she says.

My stomach drops so fast it's embarrassing.

"I've known him since I was six. Of course I love him." She looks down at the folder for a second. "I just don't know if that means I want to marry him."

"Oh."

"It's hard to know, I suppose, when people have been telling you how it's going to end since you were little."

She says it with a hesitation that keeps me from asking anything else.

Her phone buzzes.

"I have to go."

She starts toward the administration building.

"Linnea?"

She turns.

"It was nice to meet you."

"You too, Jessica."

I make it until after class before I see Ander again.

I'm coming out of the history building when I spot him on the path, alone now. I consider taking the long way back, decide that's ridiculous, and keep walking.

He doesn't.

Ander stops directly in front of me.

"Can I talk to you?"

"That depends."

His eyes narrow slightly. "On what?"

"Whether you're going to be pleasant. I've had a long day."

"I'm serious, Jessica."

"So am I."

For once he doesn't rise to it. He glances toward the building behind me, then lowers his voice.

"Stay away from Linnea."

For a second I just look at him. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Yeah, I did. I'm giving you a chance to try again."