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I’ve never knohy Monday gets all the credit for being the worst day of the week I disagree entirely Sundays are There’s just sorown to hate Maybe it’s because half the town goes to church in the s while the other half atte takeout That tends to be the case in my fao to school with are at honments that have been left until the last minute, while the other half of us spends the entire day in Dairy Queen because there’s nowhere else to go We belong to the latter half

“Do you want another?”

I didn’t realize I’d zoned out until now Tearing aze up frohtening up a little from et up “What?”

Holden looks down at me and nods to the remainder of my iced coffee There’s only a small dribble left “Do you want another?” he repeats

“Oh,” I say “No thanks I’ood”

As he turns around and heads up to the counter to order again for what ht, I rubtwo thick layers of mascara once it’s too late I curse underup ed and ri for a napkin, I try my best to clean up the mess I’ve made, but I only seem to make it worse

Will lets out a laugh and I fire hi on the straw of his chocolate shake, but he quickly ducks when I scrunch my napkin into a ball and hurl it at hiover,” he says as he sits back up, flicking his hair out of his eyes I can’t remember the last time he had a haircut, but he definitely needs another one

“I’h and turn my attention to the trash that’s amassed on our table I swear, all we do on Sundays is eat because there’s nothing else to do in this town There are at least half a dozen empty cups, of which three are mine, and most of the food wrappers are Holden’s The ice cream tubs are Will’s

“Have you noticed who’s here?” Will asks, lowering his voice He tilts his head down and leans over the table toward lance over my shoulder “I think this is the first time I’ve actually seen her out”

Slowly, I shift in the booth and steal a quick glance behind me, and I spot her immediately: Danielle Hunter

Over in the booth right by the door, Danielle is sitting with her hands wrapped around a cup, her black hair falling over her eyes She’s with three other girls, all of who blankly at the table as though she is entirely tuned out of her surroundings As I study her from across the restaurant, a lump foroes out No one ever sees Danielle Hunter anywhere other than school these days

“Well,” I murmur as I turn back around to face Will “That’s new” I steal another glance over ht of her I haven’t spoken to her in a long ti that she doesn’t spot ued by how alone she seems

I only turn my attention away froer, his third of the night, and slides back into the booth next to ainst Pine Creek yesterday, so he’s in a sulky mood, disappointed with his perforreed not to e bite, and I shoot hilance

“Sure it is,” Will says with an air of sarcasm I think he likes to push Holden’s buttons so to watch He leans back against the , closes his eyes, and angles his head away from us

I pick my phone up to check the tier of his It’s just after 9:30PM, and pretty soon theher way around the booths to kick everyone out so that they can close up I nudge Holden “Let htly in his fist, Holden begrudgingly h to let me slide out

Sighing, I gently whack his bicep “And stop beating yourself up,” I tell hi the pact I made with Will Football season has only just started; I can’t put up with ale season, but even more so this year it seeht “You’re playing Brooame for sure!” I reassure him as I squeeze past

Holden shrugs his shoulders Reluctantly he flashes uess we’ll see,” he says

“I guess we’re still beingmy eyes

Will heaves a sigh and opens one eye, though he doesn’t ht? So maybe you’ll actually catch a pass this ti Holden seizes the opportunity to throw his balled-up burger wrapper at Will, hitting him square in the forehead

“Catch that, asshole,” he grins Idiots

I leave the two of the around and head off to the restrooets to 10PM the h there’re still soer kicks us out, that’s it: There’s nowhere else to go other than back hoive Jess Lopez a sirls who I don’t know all that well so I don’t stop to chat

I continue into the cramped restrooms instead and lock myself in one of three tiny stalls While I’m there, I send my dad a quick text to let hined to the fact that Sunday is almost over I slip my phone back into the pocket ofit open My heart stops for a split second when I glance up and there’s so motionless in front of the sinks I hadn’t heard anyone come in, and the moment I realize it’s Danielle Hunter, I freeze on the spot Her back is to me, but in the mirror’s reflection her eyes meet mine

I haven’t said more than a feords to Danielle since last year I’ve barely seen her, and when I have I’ve never kno to act or what to say So I just don’t say anything at all What are you supposed to say to so the death of her parents? I don’t know No one does