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Dr DeMarco pinched the bridge of his nose "Watch your ue, but Dr DeMarco’s hand shot up to silence hi to be struck

The boy eyed her strangely "What the hell’s wrong with--?"

"I said go!" Dr DeMarco said "I don’t have time for you"

"Fine, what-the-fuck-ever"

Dr DeMarco turned to her after the boy stormed out "He isn’t usuallywell, never mind; that’s a lie He is usually like this He’s finicky and angry, but that’s neither here nor there He’s set in his ways, and it doesn’t e nae boy

"Why are you up, anyway?" he asked "I figured you’d sleep most of the day to recover"

"I didn’t knohat tiet up," he said "You can go back to bed now"

"But what about--?"

He didn’t let her finish "I’ll handle this Don’t worry about doing anything today Just rest"

2

"I need a favor"

Care he’d spoken The scent of freshly brewed coffee was strong in the kitchen as Vincent cleaned the sticky mess from the floor The knees of his newest Arot a tiny bit of satisfaction fro ht you didn’t have ti"

Vincent stood "I certainly don’t have time for your attitude, but I do need a favor"

"Of course you do"

Vincent pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to hirab this stuff after school today I’d do it irls need"

Carirls, either"

"She knows enough," he said "Just do it"

Carmine shoved it into his pocket "Whatever Is it for the ninja girl? Who is she, anyway?"

"Do you honestly care?"

"No" The word caht He wasn’t sure what to think

"Then it doesn’t s, so don’t forget to ask Dia"

"I heard you the first ti you were bringing soh Where’d she come fro "I thought you didn’t care"

"I don’t"

"Then again--it doesn’t matter," he said "All that matters is she’s here now"

"Whatever"

"Whatever," Vincenthis head "It’s nice to see the money I paid to send you to Benton Academy made you more articulate"

Carmine shuddered at the mention of that place

He’d landed in trouble the year before--trouble that could have ruined his life--but his father had pulled soiving, though, and had shipped hi school across the country for a se hoain, but it was a lot easier said than done He never went looking for it, but trouble found him every time he turned a corner