Who wants to be my friends ?

"You're jealous?" He was laughing. "I've known Stella for months. She has a boyfriend. That flirting? It was to make you jealous. I asked her to do it before you got there." Well played. His plan had worked a little too well. "You're annoying. I fought with her for nothing." "No. Out of love for me." "You should seriously stop acting like that with her," Ickel said. "She takes her time to help you study, for free, and you act like a hood girl. Nat is like a mother to me and Stella is like a sister. You don't have to like her. But don't disrespect her. And she's right: stop playing the thug. It doesn't suit anyone, least of all you. You're ruining your own chances. I can't be with someone who throws away a second chance. Like you, I grew up in the projects. But I want out." I didn't know what to say. He was right on every count. Out of pride and jealousy, I was cutting my own chances. "Tomorrow, bring her an almond croissant. It's her favorite. Since the sessions started, you've had coffee with everyone but her. Because of you, when Nat is in a meeting, she eats lunch alone. And then we don't see each other until the results. You can call me. There's a pay phone. I'll wait for your call every day." I don't know if it was the idea of not seeing him for four months, or of having him as a reward, but I wanted to kiss him. He saw it. He took off his helmet and leaned in. I closed my eyes, ready. Then I opened them in surprise: he'd kissed me on the cheek—slowly, brushing my lips, ending at the corner of my mouth. It was torture. "Nothing for four months, remember?"