uteile,shehitchedherchin
toaybethis”santha
loadedherbackpacke,thencheckedherselfoutintherrorinsideherlockerdoorsheranabthroughherhair
sheogetridofrunawaylinerand
studiedsothingonherforeheadifitgree
fortheproshewoulddiewhenshehadlookedenoughandprayedenough,shestraightenedandtossedherhairbacksheshedherlipstogethertoketheedfinally,whenlydiadidntshoitshookshewas
closingherlockerardleytuedtheer
”hey,santha”shecalled,breakingintoatrot”up”sheileyeteethandsleekblackhaircaptainofthecheerleadingsquad,sheostpopulargidintheclass
santhaardleycalled
palooahenstoppedandleanedashoulderagainstthelototheproithinkthats
aeheshotblesybeyou
te”santhauldntbelieveitjakedruleplayed
football,basketball,andbaseballifpastpopulargirl,heostpopularboyandgorgeousdropdead
”idlikethat,”shesaidhoutraisinghervoiceshedidnttoseevereageroltersuave
”asked
santhasopedherhairtotheside”ething
toldherthatsalsaandchipsonthenotfora
partyatjakesthisuffunbelievable
”eodka,ginyoudonthaveanid,doyou
”anidno,shedidnthaveanid
paoever”
”iyhaveaproble”santhaboldlyifshesoundedobeeninaafora
ydadsarehedrivesushereand
backhechesuslikeahaseventheslightestideathatigglingoutvodkaliketherehe
housetherehinginthehouse
panagehout”shestood
baanthainever
understoodyouhlydiaandtheotherstheyreveryyoung”
”tellaboutit”patartedbouncingfrooetotheotherofcrispsneakers”noneedyouknow
saturdaynightatsixforsothingbeforetheproseeyouthen”shejoggedoff
hopehadtuedtheerunathe
otherendofthehallshedidntveagainuntilpaasgone”sasanthaahandtoherchest”you
scared”
”didsheuch”she
closedherlockerandslungthebackpackonashoulder”shesafriend”shestarteddohehall
hopefellintostepbesideher”sinceean,
sinceeclassforyears”
”doeslydialikeher””lydia,”santhaspokeclearly,”isnotinthisequation”
”””haveto
lydiaandihavebeenheadingindifferentdirectionsallyearthoseguysareyoung”sheshroughthedoorandstarteddohestairs
hopehurriedtokeepup”theyreyourage”
”inyearsthatsall
theyhavenoideahoohavefun”
”butyouregoingtotheproarentyou””ihaventdecided,”santhasaidasshepushedopentheoutsidedoorandhitthesteps
hopefolloalloryjonessaidyou
hat”
santhastoppedshort,caupclose,andsaidhlethalquiet,”inaa,andifyousayoneodad,youredead”
sopingherhairback,shesetoffagain
hopechedhergolydia,brendan,andshellyching,too,butfronevengreaterdistancethanhope
halfanthatuedandyelled,”areyouing”
hoperanfor
ing,butduringtheentiredrivetothehospital,shetriedtodecideanthaold
jacknditseedlikehisndehel
a,theonlyoneleftherinebutkatherine
e,
ite,andthenjacksaidheneededtotalkhherandtookheroutinthehall
so,anthastaredatherforeheadinthebathrooirror,hopetaotheruponthebulletinboard,
thensatbesiderachelandtoldherthatangeladootherwasrunningfridayspiic,butjackwasbringingdrinkswhispering,shereadrashehadtenaboutguineveresdeathshepulledajarfroerbackpackandopeneditunderrachelsnose”anthaasked
”pastereerallthesignsakethanksgiving,
christs,endoftheschoolyear,startoftheschoolyear”nstructionpapercutoutspastedonposterboard”shelikesthesll”santhasnortedandtuedahopedidntcaresheuldntdoessofherlifehteague
runyanbutifthathappened,sheedrachelaohelpcleanthingsup
jackstoodinthehallhhisbacktothewallandhishandsinhispocketshedidntknobarrassed,angry,orhurt”iyself,askingquestionsandleainglittlethingsaboutrachel,andthencharliehitshthebusinessabouttryingtobuyheroffharingdoyouknothat”katherinewasunruffled”ididntknobutihaveseenthe
ring”
”bereighteen,proofof
jacksterialisidthetbackandlaugh
ifshethoughtitshesellitandgivethe
neytotheinteationalsavetheething”
katherinelookedased”forthererd,ithoughttheringwasbeautifulforthererd,sodidrachel”
”charliesaid”charlieisyoungcharlieispoorcharlieistheproductofeverypossiblekindofabusesheisotheeninthegroupandlendsadifferentinsighttonversations,butayhavebeentingedbyherothe
leastofhisenvy
arriedtosooneould
supportherwhileshe
