eyes the way she had on the top of theEmpire State Building and break up with him all over again. The same way she didn’t think she could
watch
herself crush Brandon’s feelings under her heel, the way she had so many times before. So maybe she was a little bit of a
coward. At least she was doing
something.
The ends justify the means,
she thought. She had to do what she had to do. For all of them.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: Wed, February 11, 12:33 pm
Subject: Re: Us
Easy,
I’m really sorry to do this over e-mail.
I just don’t think it’s going to work.
I’m sorry.
Callie
Before she could think better of it or change her mind, Callie hit SEND .
Then, gnawing on her lip and completely obliterating what was left of her Preserves Hint of Honey Lip Therapy gloss, she sent
the exact same e-mail to Brandon.
She let out her breath and felt something like a head rush. It was done.
Now all she had to do was sit back and wait. Wait to see which one of them really loved her, after all.
----
Owl Net
Instant Message Inbox
----
IsaacDresden: I think you left your scarf in my living room last night. Did you do that on purpose? ;)
JennyHumphrey: It’s like a trail of breadcrumbs…
IsaacDresden: It’s working. I feel the overwhelming urge to have lunch with you today.
JennyHumphrey: Done. See? The scarf has magical properties.
IsaacDresden: I thought that was you.
----
Owl Net
Instant Message Inbox
----
SebastianValenti: Earth to missing girlfriend. Where are you?
BrettMesserschmidt: What are you talking about? I saw you last night…
SebastianValenti: For five minutes. Maybe three minutes.
BrettMesserschmidt: For dinner, which is more than five minutes. Do you need more tutoring??
SebastianValenti: If I say yes, will you cut class and come hang out with me?
15
A WAVERLY OWL IS RARELY TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
B randon heard the beep of an incoming e-mail on his laptop and sighed. He knew who it was, and he couldn’t deal. He had roughly
twelve seconds left to finish his English paper and about five minutes after that to race across campus to class.
He definitely did not have time for another one of Cora’s e-mails.
“Brandon’s got a stalker….” Heath singsonged from across the room they shared. Brandon glared at him. Heath, naturally, looked
completely at ease as he pulled on a long-sleeved black and red Lacoste rugby shirt and ran his hands through his messy, shaggy
dirty blond hair. That was the entirety of his morning routine. Because Heath, unlike Brandon, didn’t care if he looked like
he’d slept in his dirty-wash Diesel jeans. Or maybe they were regular-wash jeans that Heath just hadn’t bothered to take to
the laundry room yet. With Heath, you never knew.
Brandon glanced down at his own Rock & Republic jeans and freshly laundered Hugo Boss hoodie to confirm that he hadn’t absorbed
his pig of a roommate’s dedication to filth through dorm-room osmosis or something.
“You need to tell Queen of the Dorks that you’re busy,” Heath continued, unaware of or unaffected by the dirty look Brandon
was giving him. “Like, permanently busy.”
Brandon rubbed his hands over his face. Heath was right. “She won’t leave me alone,” he muttered.
Heath smirked. “And now you know what it’s like to be me,” he said with a happy sigh. “My little boy is all grown up!” He
smiled almost sweetly. “Of course, I
was
matched with Tinsley. Looks like I’m just destined for hotter things, unlike a geek magnet like you, bro.” He shook his head.
“So sad.”
Brandon shook his head, too and turned back to his computer. He should have known better than to discuss anything with Heath
of all people. He did know better. The fact was, Cora really
was
driving Brandon crazy. She didn’t seem to understand that as far as Brandon was concerned, Perfect Match was a finite collection
of required—not desired—events. It didn’t
watch
herself crush Brandon’s feelings under her heel, the way she had so many times before. So maybe she was a little bit of a
coward. At least she was doing
something.
The ends justify the means,
she thought. She had to do what she had to do. For all of them.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Date: Wed, February 11, 12:33 pm
Subject: Re: Us
Easy,
I’m really sorry to do this over e-mail.
I just don’t think it’s going to work.
I’m sorry.
Callie
Before she could think better of it or change her mind, Callie hit SEND .
Then, gnawing on her lip and completely obliterating what was left of her Preserves Hint of Honey Lip Therapy gloss, she sent
the exact same e-mail to Brandon.
She let out her breath and felt something like a head rush. It was done.
Now all she had to do was sit back and wait. Wait to see which one of them really loved her, after all.
----
Owl Net
Instant Message Inbox
----
IsaacDresden: I think you left your scarf in my living room last night. Did you do that on purpose? ;)
JennyHumphrey: It’s like a trail of breadcrumbs…
IsaacDresden: It’s working. I feel the overwhelming urge to have lunch with you today.
JennyHumphrey: Done. See? The scarf has magical properties.
IsaacDresden: I thought that was you.
----
Owl Net
Instant Message Inbox
----
SebastianValenti: Earth to missing girlfriend. Where are you?
BrettMesserschmidt: What are you talking about? I saw you last night…
SebastianValenti: For five minutes. Maybe three minutes.
BrettMesserschmidt: For dinner, which is more than five minutes. Do you need more tutoring??
SebastianValenti: If I say yes, will you cut class and come hang out with me?
15
A WAVERLY OWL IS RARELY TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
B randon heard the beep of an incoming e-mail on his laptop and sighed. He knew who it was, and he couldn’t deal. He had roughly
twelve seconds left to finish his English paper and about five minutes after that to race across campus to class.
He definitely did not have time for another one of Cora’s e-mails.
“Brandon’s got a stalker….” Heath singsonged from across the room they shared. Brandon glared at him. Heath, naturally, looked
completely at ease as he pulled on a long-sleeved black and red Lacoste rugby shirt and ran his hands through his messy, shaggy
dirty blond hair. That was the entirety of his morning routine. Because Heath, unlike Brandon, didn’t care if he looked like
he’d slept in his dirty-wash Diesel jeans. Or maybe they were regular-wash jeans that Heath just hadn’t bothered to take to
the laundry room yet. With Heath, you never knew.
Brandon glanced down at his own Rock & Republic jeans and freshly laundered Hugo Boss hoodie to confirm that he hadn’t absorbed
his pig of a roommate’s dedication to filth through dorm-room osmosis or something.
“You need to tell Queen of the Dorks that you’re busy,” Heath continued, unaware of or unaffected by the dirty look Brandon
was giving him. “Like, permanently busy.”
Brandon rubbed his hands over his face. Heath was right. “She won’t leave me alone,” he muttered.
Heath smirked. “And now you know what it’s like to be me,” he said with a happy sigh. “My little boy is all grown up!” He
smiled almost sweetly. “Of course, I
was
matched with Tinsley. Looks like I’m just destined for hotter things, unlike a geek magnet like you, bro.” He shook his head.
“So sad.”
Brandon shook his head, too and turned back to his computer. He should have known better than to discuss anything with Heath
of all people. He did know better. The fact was, Cora really
was
driving Brandon crazy. She didn’t seem to understand that as far as Brandon was concerned, Perfect Match was a finite collection
of required—not desired—events. It didn’t
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