( Str. 236,237)

When the philosophy teacher tells us to pair up for a paper, Jon pats my hand and asks, "Would you like to work with me?"

Tippi se namrdne.

"Grace and I are already kind of a couple," he gushes, "if you haven't noticed yet."

Jon reluctantly clicks his tongue, pulls me to him, and slides his fingers over my ribs like piano keys.

"I thought they were two different people," he challenges her.

Tippi turns left and tugs at Yasmeen's sleeve.

"Everything looks like we're going to be together," he announces.

Later, Tippi asks me, "If you had to choose between me and any boy - who would you choose?"

"Come on, there's only one paper," I reply.

"I know," Tippi rushes in, guffawing and kicking me in the arm.