“Have a nice life, Clara,” he says. “You deserve to be happy.”

“Fine.” He smirks at me. “Nice to meet you, Carrots,” he says, looking directly at my hair. “Oh, I mean Clara.”My face flames.“Same to you, Rusty,” I shoot back, but he’s already striding away.”

“You like me, Clara, he says. "I know you do.”

“It's been nice knowing you, Clara.'Huh? My brain still a bit shell-shocked.'Say a prayer for me, will you? He gives me a shaky grin. Because I'm pretty sure my parents are going to kill me”

“Clara,” he says quietly. “I think it’s time you told me about what happened in Italy.”

“Clara," he says, my name sounding different somehow when it passes through his lips. "I'll miss you.”

“I would lay down my life to protect you, Clara,”