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She smiled when she realized it was a joke

"Ah, a s her arm

Haven’s smile fell when he touched her, but he didn’t see for Haven, seeking her out in the crowd, but his vision narrowed in on Nicholas Barlow instead Carmine’s feet moved on their own as he dropped his hels would carry hi out as someone chased behind, but he didn’t slon He couldn’t

He leaped over the chain-link fence and landed on his feet as Nicholas and Haven heard the commotion Confusion played in Haven’s expression, while Nicholas narrowed his eyes

For asdespised him--Nicholas hated Carmine, too

Nicholas backed up a few steps, but it was too late Carround His knee landed in Nicholas’s crotch and he drew back his fist to punch him, but so Car his son farther away

Nicholas looked shell-shocked as he got to his feet, hesitating for a fraction of a second before running off Carhed at his cowardice if it weren’t for the look on his father’s face "Do you knohat I went through to get you out of trouble last year?" Vincent asked, fuain!"

His father stor her in front of him Tears streamed down her cheeks as they disappeared into the crowd, and Car the year before had been significantly different Only a sophomore at the tiame He’d sat in the bleachers, surrounded by his classmates, with his best friend--Nicholas Barlow--at his side

Best friend The words felt venoed this year, Carht in precisely the same way: fucked up beyond belief Only this time, he was alone

People packed the after-party when Carmine arrived, dozens of bodies crarabbing so down the hallway The den was dark except for a s mellow rock music

Everyone looked up when he entered, and a boy naot any blow?" Car down on the couch With the week he’d had, he needed aa few ie of cocaine Carmine poured soh for two lines He snorted one straightaway, his nose nu the second line, he closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch Euphoria coursed through his body, warh his liht, invincible, without a care in the world

A little while later, Lisa plopped down on his lap Caronna sit onher aside, he made two more lines and snorted theested nose, he dumped the rest of the power onto the table and offered it to Lisa She inhaled it like a vacuu back on the couch beside him "It matches my dress"

"A tie?"

"Yeah, for the dance"

The dance Caro with hilanced at her "What the hell is fandango?"

"It’s kind of like fuchsia but darker"

"So, what, purple or soed as he looked away He didn’t care as long as it wasn’t pink

The night was a haze of alcohol and drugs, like a movie in fast-forward that he couldn’t slon He drank, he smoked, and he snorted, and then he popped a few pills before doing it all over again The cycle continued, round and round, until he finally passed out where he lay

The next over of his life His head pounded so hard his eyes pulsated Wincing, he staggered out of the house into the sunshine, putting on his sunglasses as he climbed into his car

The moment he pulled up in front of the house, a war down the visor, he looked in the mirror to see the blood He pulled off his shirt and held it up to pinch his nose as he walked into the foyer, spotting his father holding a black duffel bag

"Going away?" Car for the stairs, but Vincent stepped in his path

"To Chicago, yes" He pulled Carmine’s hand away to survey his bloody nose "If you keep snorting that stuff, you’re going to dae your septuet punched?"

"Because if someone had punched you in the nose, you would’ve broken theirs" Vincent started toward the door with his bag "Lay off the coke It’ll get you killed"

Carmine fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow and oken up by a knock on his door He pulled hi it open to see Do at Carotten about the dance

He showered, trying to wake up, and dressed in a black suit and black shoes before grabbing the bag Pulling out the tie, he held it up and glared at it It was shockingly pink Fandango, ue After unlocking his bottom desk drawer, he filled a flask with vodka and slipped it into his pocket He headed out, but paused in the library when Haven ca profound to say, soain "This tie makes me look fruity, doesn’t it?"

That isn’t it

Haven burst into laughter "Like the cake"

He shook his head when she disappeared into her room She didn’t even knohat he meant