Chapter 17: Index Cards

Griffin was waiting at my usual table in the dining hall on Saturday morning, with a shoebox.

Beau stood behind him, holding a second shoebox.

It was exactly five days since I had left in the hoodie, two more than I had asked for.

I had a tray, a bowl of oatmeal, and Camille's voice still going around in my head.

"Don't leave," Griffin said. "Please. I have an apology."

"It's in a shoebox."

"It's on index cards," Beau said. "He's been up since four."

"Forty of them," Griffin said. "I numbered them, so I don't lose my place."

I sat down, because the whole room had gone quiet, and a girl at the next table had stopped chewing.

He took out the first card and held it up with both hands.

It was in blue marker, in square capital letters.

1. I AM SORRY I READ YOU WITHOUT TELLING YOU.

"Okay," I said.

"Card two."

2. THE SUN IS A VERY LARGE CUBE.

"Why is the sun a cube?"

"It's the sandwich," Griffin said. "The bread. I'm doing your thing."

He held up card three.

3. I TYPED EVERY GREY LINE BECAUSE I LIKED THE WAY YOU ANSWERED.

Card four said: MY LEFT SHOE IS INNOCENT.

I put down my spoon.

He went through all of them.

There were sandwiches of two lies on either side, and sandwiches of three, and a long one at number twenty-two that started with a recipe for gravy.

The sophomores at the next table were reading over his shoulder, moving their lips.

Every true card was in the middle.

I NEVER MEANT TO TRICK YOU.

THE METER WAS MADE UP, BUT THE WAY I FELT WAS NOT.

I DIDN'T LAUGH IN THE STAIRWELL.

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