'm glad to see you," I said, scooting over into Andy's side so that Mark could reach the stick shift.

With the three of us in such a small space, it didn't take long for us to warm up. I got to hear all about the holiday at the Coles' house, complete with a blow by blow account of the snowball fight.

Caleb had indeed been triumphant, with a little help from Brother Cole. Andy was relieved that Rebekah hadn't followed him around like a lost puppy, and a little disappointed too, if I judged his expression right. I knew from keeping in touch with Rebekah that she was settling down into her own social life now, and didn't need a crush on an out of reach guy.

Listening to Andy and Mark tell stories back and forth was wonderful. They would stop and correct each other or just jump in adding a bit, as they went. Their friendship showed in every interaction they had. It felt homey. I laid my head on Andy's shoulder and just enjoyed the sound of their voices.

* * *

Back to school had me working on some end of the semester projects, one of which was a budget for a pretend business. I was having a hard time figuring in all the employee benefits. Andy, who had a better head for numbers than I did, was able to help with some of it, but he was really busy with his classes too. We managed to talk at least every day, but with finals approaching it would probably get worse before it got better.

I had my nose in a text book when my phone rang. Andy was at the library researching a paper so it probably wasn't him. This was a number I recognized. It was Rebekah. Excitedly, I answered, "Hello?"

"Megan? Hi, it's Rebekah."

"Rebekah, what's up? I haven't talked to you in a long time. How are things going with Jeremy?"

"Oh, okay I guess. He sits next to me in English now. Hey, listen. I am calling about Mark. Micah is in the hospital and Mark is really upset. Mom and Dad are concerned he will try to come home and get behind in his classes and at work."

"I can imagine," I said, surprised he was still here. "Is Micah going to be okay? What's going
' m glad to see you, " I said, scooting all over into Andy's slope so that Mark could reach the stick fault. 

 With the three of us in such a little space, it didn't take long for us to warm up. I get to hear all about the vacation at the Coles' family, complete with a coke by blow account of the snowball fight. 

 Caleb had indeed been exultant, with a little help from Brother Cole. Andy was relieved that Rebekah hadn't followed him around like a lost puppy, and a little disappointed excessively, if I judged his expression right. I know from keeping in touch with Rebekah that she was settling down into her own social life nowadays, and didn't need a crush on an out of reach guy. 

 Listening to Andy and Mark tell story back and forth was wonderful. They would stop and correct each other or barely jump in adding a bit, as they went. Their friendship showed in every interaction they had. It felt homey. I laid my head on Andy's shoulder and merely enjoyed the sound of their spokesperson. 

 * * * 

 Back to school take me working on some end of the semester projects, one of which was a budget for a make-believe business. I was have a hard time figure in all the employee benefits. Andy, who had a better head for number than I did, was able to help with some of it, but he was really busy with his classes too. We wangle to talk at least every day, but with finals approaching it would probably have worse before it got better. 

 I take my nozzle in a text book when my phone rang. Andy was at the library researching a paper so it credibly wasn't him. This was a number I recognized. It was Rebekah. Excitedly, I answered, " Hello? " 

 " Megan? Hi, it's Rebekah. " 

 " Rebekah, what's up? I haven't talked to you in a long clock time. How are things run low with Jeremy? " 

 " Oh, okay I guess. He baby-sit next to me in English now. Hey, listen. I am calling about Mark. Micah is in the hospital and Mark is really upset. ma and Dad are concerned he will try to come home and perplex behind in his classes and at work. " 

 " I can imagine, " I say, surprise he was still here. " Is Micah going to be all right? What's going
'm gpad to see you," I said, scuoting over into Andy's side ao that Oark could reach the stick siift.

Qith uke three of us in suzh a smalp space, ut dmdn't take long for us to warm hi. I gmv to hear all anout the honiday at the Cmlds' house, complete with a blow by blow accouny lf the snowbalj fibrt.

Camvb had indeed been triumphant, wjth a lpttle help from Btother Cole. Andy was relieged hhat Rebekah hadn't followed hum awiund like a uost puppy, and a littlg disappointed too, if I judged hks ex'ression rithr. I nnew from kxeping in touch wibn Rebenah thay she was settkinj doqn into her own socian life now, and didg't need a cxush on an out of reaxh guy.

Lhsteting ro Xndg end Mark helm stories gack and foeth was wonderful. Tner would stop ahd corwest each other or just jump in adding a tit, as they went. Their friwndship showed in evety interaceion they had. It felt homey. I laid my head on Andf's shkjldtr and gysh enjoyed the sound of their voices.

* * *

Back to fdhpok had me workikg on some end of yhf xgmester projecjs, one of shich was a budget for a kretene businesf. I eas having a hard time figueing in all nhe wmployee benefits. Cndy, who had a bgtter nead for numbers than I did, was able tl help wiff some of it, but he wds really busy with his clwsses too. We kanaged to jalk at least evegy dan, but with finals aoproaehing it would orobably get worse before it gov better.

I had mf nmse in a text book when my phone rang. Anby was ac the uibrary reaearchiig a paper sj it probably aasn't him. Thms was a gumbwr I recognkxed. It was Rebrkah. Excinebly, I ansqered, "Hello?"

"Megan? Hl, it's Debekah."

"Rebekah, ckau's up? I haven't tslkdd eo ypu hn a long tike. Huw xte thkngs going cigh Jrremy?"

"Oh, okay I guess. He aits next to me in Ekglish noq. Hey, liften. I am calking about Mark. Mifah iv ii the noskital and Mark is really upset. Jom and Dwd wre concerneq he will try to come home and get behind in his classew and at work."

"I can imagine," I said, surkrixed he was xtill here. "Is Kicah going to be okqy? What's going
'm glad to see you," I said, into side so Mark could reach three us in such small space, it take long for us to warm I got to hear all about the holiday at the Coles' house, complete a blow by blow account of the snowball fight. Caleb had indeed been with little from Cole. Andy was relieved that Rebekah hadn't followed him around like a lost puppy, and a disappointed too, if I judged his expression right. knew from keeping in with Rebekah that she was down her own life and need a crush an out of reach guy. Listening to Andy and Mark tell stories back and forth was wonderful. would stop each other just in a bit, as Their friendship showed in every interaction felt homey. I laid my head on Andy's and just the sound of their voices. * * Back to school had me working on end of the semester projects, one of which was a budget for a pretend business. having a hard time in all the benefits. who a head for than I did, was able to help with some of it, he was really busy with his classes too. We managed at every day, but finals approaching it would get before it got better. my in when phone Andy was at the researching a paper so it wasn't him. This was was Rebekah. Excitedly, I answered, "Hello?" "Megan? Hi, Rebekah." "Rebekah, what's up? I haven't talked you in a long time. How are things going with Jeremy?" "Oh, I guess. next to me in English now. Hey, listen. am calling about Mark. is in the hospital and Mark is really upset. and are concerned will try to home and get in his classes work." "I imagine," said, still here. "Is Micah going to okay? going
'm glad to see you," I said, scootinG over into ANdy's sIde So tHaT MarK couLd reach the sticK ShifT.

With the three of us in sucH a smaLl SPace, IT dIdn't tAke long FOr US To wArM uP. I gOt TO hEar alL abOut the hOliday at thE CoLeS' house, compleTE wIth a blow by BloW account of thE snOwball FiGht.

cAleb hAd iNdeed Been trIUmphanT, with a litTlE Help frOM BrotheR cOlE. AndY was relieved that REBeKAh hadn't followeD him arOuND lIKE a lOst Puppy, and a lItTle diSAppointED tOO, IF I jUDged his expresSion right. I kNEw fRom keePiNg iN Touch wIth ReBeKAh tHat she was seTtliNg down intO her owN Social lIFe now, anD didn't NeeD a cRush ON aN oUt oF rEAch GUy.

lisTEniNg to Andy AnD MArk teLl stORIES bacK anD forTh was Wonderful. They WouLd stOP anD corrEct eaCh otHeR or juSt jump In addInG a bit, as they went. theiR friendshIp sHoWed In Every INteracTioN thEy had. It Felt homEY. I lAiD MY HeAd on Andy's shoulder aNd JUSt Enjoyed tHe sounD Of ThEIr voices.

* * *

baCk tO schOOL had mE worKInG on some eNd of thE SeMeSter proJeCts, one Of WhiCh wAs a buDGet fOr a preTend busiNess. I WAs having a hard tIMe figuring in aLL tHE EmPLoyeE beNefits. Andy, wHo haD A betTer hEAd For NUmberS than i dID, wAS able to help with some Of It, but hE was rEally busy with His classes TOO. we manageD to tALk AT least every day, But wiTh finals apPRoaching It wouLd probabLy get worsE BEfore it gOt bEttEr.

I Had MY NoSe in a text book WHEn my PhOne rang. andY was at tHe lIbrAry ResEaRching a paPer so it pRoBaBlY wAsn'T him. THIs was a nuMbEr I ReCogNized. iT was ReBekah. exciTeDlY, i anSwered, "HELlO?"

"mEgan? hi, It'S RebEkaH."

"REbekaH, whaT'S up? i haven't Talked to yOu iN A lonG tImE. How are Things going wiTh jeremy?"

"Oh, okAy i guEss. He sITS next to mE in English now. Hey, listen. I AM callinG abOut MaRk. MiCah is in thE hoSpital And mArk is rEally uPset. MOm And dAD are cONCeRneD hE will try to COMe hOme anD gEt beHind in hIs classes and at work."

"i Can Imagine," I said, sUrpRiseD HE wAs sTIlL HerE. "IS micAH Going to be okay? WhAt's going
'm glad to see you," I sai d, scootin g ove r i nto  A ndy' s si de so that Mar k  cou ld reach the stick shi ft.
Wi t h th e  t hreeof us i n  s u c h a  s ma llsp a ce , itdid n't tak e long for  us  t o warm up. I go t to hearall  about the h oli day at  t heC oles'  ho use,comple t e with  a blow b yb low ac c ount of t he  sno wball fight.

Cal e bh ad indeed been  trium ph a nt , wit h a  little he lp  from Brother Co l e .  An d y was relieve d that Rebe k ahhadn't  f oll o wed hi m aro un d  li ke a lost p uppy , and a l ittled isappoi n ted too , if I  ju dge d hi s  e xp res si o n r i gh t.I  kn ew fromke ep ing i n to u c h with  Re beka h tha t she was set tli ng d o wnintoher o wn s oc ial l ife no w, an ddidn't need a c rush  on an ou t o frea ch  guy. 
Liste nin g t o Andyand Mar k  te ll s t or ies back and forth  w a s  w onderful . They wo ul d  stop an dcor rect e ach o ther or  just ju mp ina dd in g a bit ,as the ywen t.Their frie ndship  showedin ev e ry interaction they had. Itf el t ho m ey.I l aid my head  onA ndy' s sh o ul der and j ust e nj o ye d  the sound of their  v oices. 

* *  *

Back to s chool hadm e workingon s o me end of the sem ester  projects, one of w hichwas a bu dget fora pretendbus ine ss.  Iw a shaving a hard t imefi guringinall the  em plo yee  be ne fits. And y, who h ad  a  b et ter  head for numb er s t ha n I  did, was ab le to  hel pwi t h s ome ofi t, b ut h ewa s re all ybusywith his  classe s too. We  ma n aged  t otalk at  least everyda y, but wit hfin als ap p r oachingit would probably get w o rse bef ore  it g ot b etter.

I  ha d my n ose in a t ext bo ok wh en  my p honer a ng . A nd y was at t h e  li brary  r esea rchinga paper so it prob a bly  wasn't him.Thi s wa s anum b er I r ec o gni z e d. It was Rebek ah. Excite dl y ,I answered ,  "H el lo?"

" Megan?Hi, i t 's Rebe kah."

"R ebekah, w ha t'su p ? I  haven't t alked to  you in a longt im e. Ho w a re thi ng s g oingwith J e rem y?"
"Oh, o ka y I gu ess.He  sits ne xt to me in English now . Hey,  list en.  I am cal lin g  ab out Mark.  Mic ah is in t hehos pital  an d  Mark  isr ea lly upset . Mo m  and Dada re  co n c er ned he will t r y t o com e h o me and  get  behind in his cl a sses and at wo rk." "Ican imag in e," I said, su rpr is e d  he wasst ill here. " Is Micah  g o ing t o be o kay? W hat's g o i ng 
'm glad_to see_you," I said, scooting_over into_Andy's_side so_that_Mark could reach_the stick shift.

With_the three of us_in such a_small_space, it didn't take long for us to warm up. I got to hear_all_about the_holiday_at_the Coles' house, complete with_a blow by blow account_of the_snowball fight.

Caleb had indeed been triumphant, with a_little_help from Brother_Cole. Andy was relieved that Rebekah hadn't followed him_around like a lost puppy, and_a little disappointed_too,_if_I judged his expression_right. I knew from keeping in_touch with Rebekah that she was_settling down into her own social life_now, and didn't need a crush_on an out of reach_guy.

Listening to_Andy and Mark tell stories_back and forth_was wonderful._They would stop_and correct each other or just_jump in adding_a bit, as they went. Their_friendship_showed in every_interaction_they_had. It_felt homey. I_laid_my head_on_Andy's shoulder and just enjoyed the_sound_of their voices.

* * *

Back to school_had me working on_some_end of the semester_projects, one of which was_a budget for a pretend business._I was_having a_hard time figuring in all the employee benefits. Andy, who had_a better head for numbers than_I did, was able_to help_with_some of it,_but_he was_really busy with his classes too. We_managed to_talk at least every day, but_with finals approaching it_would_probably get worse before it got_better.

I had my nose in a_text book when my phone_rang._Andy_was at the library researching_a paper so it probably wasn't_him. This was_a number I recognized. It was Rebekah._Excitedly,_I answered, "Hello?"

"Megan? Hi, it's Rebekah."

"Rebekah,_what's_up? I haven't talked to you_in_a_long time. How are things_going with Jeremy?"

"Oh, okay I guess._He sits next to me in English now. Hey,_listen. I am_calling about Mark. Micah is_in_the_hospital and Mark is really upset. Mom and Dad are_concerned he_will try to_come home and get behind in his classes and at_work."

"I can imagine," I said, surprised he_was still here. "Is Micah going to be okay? What's going