"You know what," Michael was whispering behind me, holding me to his chest back in his room. We were deep under a blanket, waiting for my mom to make her way up the hill and collect me.
"What?" I asked, sniffling into my sleeve.
"I feel sorry for Cole." He stroked back my hair, tucking my head under his chin.
"You do?" I was incredulous. That was the last thing I had expected him to say.
"Remember when you told me about that conversation the two of you had at the beach? And he mentioned how lonely he was and that's why you thought he was so attached to you?"
I nodded, silent as he continued.
"It made me wonder today, if this is his way of asking for relationships with people. He couldn't squeeze from you what he wanted through his bad behavior, so he's acting out. Li
