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bf35306
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"I'm sorry," he says. "What? Why?" "You're fixing everything I set down." He nods at my hands, which are readjusting the elephant. "It wasn't polite of me to come in and start touching your things." "Oh, it's okay," I say quickly, letting go of the figurine. "You can touch anything of mine you want." He freezes. A funny look runs across his face before I realize what I've said. I didn't mean it like Not that would be so bad."
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humor
st-clair
anna-oliphant
embarrassing
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Stephanie Perkins |
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165659f
|
"His eyes lock on mine."Anna,I promise that I will never leave you." My heart pounds in response.And Etienne knows it,because he takes my hand and holds it against his chest,to show me how hard his heart is pounding,too."
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etienne
anna-and-the-french-kiss
st-clair
etienne-st-clair
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Stephanie Perkins |
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f0fd1f7
|
And I realize ... it's okay. It's okay if St. Clair and I never become more than friends. His friendship alone has strengthened me in a way that no one else's ever has. He swept me from my room and showed me independence. In other words, he was exactly what I needed. I won't forget it. And I certainly don't want to lose it.
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etienne
anna-and-the-french-kiss
st-clair
|
Stephanie Perkins |
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9c91a71
|
I'm the last one in the dark, until- suddenly- it happens. St. Clair removes something from his pocket. And then he gets down on one knee. Anna's entire body lights with shock and joy and love. She nods a vigorous yes. St. Clair places the ring on her finger. He stands, she throws her arms around him, and they kiss. He spins her in a circle. They kiss again. Deep, hungry, long. And then he turns to us and waves- with the biggest smile I've ever seen- clearly aware that we've been standing here the whole time.
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love
st-clair
|
Stephanie Perkins |
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b37efe0
|
When I come back, the club is packed. There's hardly any standing room. Anna snagged a wooden bar stool, one of the few seats here. St. Clair stands close to her, facing her, and he smoothes the platinum stripe in her hair. She pulls him even closer by the top of his jeans, one finger tucked inside. It's an intimate gesture. I'm embarrassed to watch, but I can't look away. He kisses her slowly and deeply. They don't care that anyone could watch. Or maybe they've forgotten they aren't alone. When they break apart, Anna says something that makes him fall into silly, boyish laughter. For some reason, that's the moment that makes me turn away. Something about their love is painful.
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love
lola
st-clair
|
Stephanie Perkins |
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8ea22d9
|
"That guys. Sideburns. You like him?" My back squirms. "You've asked me that before." "What I meant was," he says, flustered. "Your feelings haven't changed? Since you've been here?" It takes a moment to consider the question. "It's not a matter of how feel," I say at last. "I'm interested, but ... I don't know if he's still interested in me." St. Clair edges closer. "Does he still call?" "Yeah. I mean, not often. But yes." "Right. Right, well," he says, blinking. "There's your answer."
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relationships
st-clair
anna-oliphant
|
Stephanie Perkins |
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39aee54
|
"Confidence, darling." He leans across the table and touches a finger to my cheek. "You could learn something from me, you know."
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isla
st-clair
|
Stephanie Perkins |
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960bd89
|
"Wow. See? You can't say that's not impressive." I recognize the names, even if I don't know what they all did. "I didn't." He reaches for his wallet and pays our admission charge. I try to get it--since it was my idea in the first place--but he insists. "Happy Thanksgiving," he says, handing me my ticket. "Let's see some dead people." We're greeted by an unimaginable number of domes and columns and arches. Everything is huge and round."
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humor
st-clair
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Stephanie Perkins |