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"Okay," she said softly

He ran his hands down his face with frustration "Okay? We’re back to that again? If you don’t wanna go, say so I’ll stay hoht And honestly, everyone knows about us already because of Lisa’s big ed at his hair "An ugly girl"

"Do you really think she’s ugly, or are you saying that because you’re angry with her?"

"She’s all right, I guess"

She sht I just don’t want to eoes to school with"

He stared at her like he was dissecting her words "That’s the first time you’ve called me that"

"Called you what?"

"Your boyfriend"

She hesitated "Isn’t that what you are?"

"Yeah," he said "You’ve just never acknowledged it before I was starting to wonder if you were e held in a vacant field on the outskirts of Durante, a cotton farm that had been abandoned years before The barn still stood, erown from lack of use

Haven eyed the place peculiarly as Car the shrouded in darkness, but Haven could see a large bonfire in the distance Carh the field A few people greeted him, but Car her to where Dia stood by herself along the side "I’ll be back, okay? Stay here"

He looked torn as he let go of her hand before walking away This was the reason she had considered not coo have fun, Dia"

Dia laughed "Fun? I think not This is so notout with you"

Her response surprised Haven, but she was relieved when the words sank in

The two of them chatted for a bit, and people walked past as if they weren’t there Haven heard fah time to see Dominic before he draped his arm over her shoulder Tess paused in front of theot you a drink Don’t take anything from any of these other fuckers around here"

She took it fro I didn’t knohat you’d want, so I just got you soured you wouldn’t like it, but none of us do and we drink it anyway" He raised his own cup and hit hers with it "Welco, as Haven took a sip and grimaced at the bitterness She drank the beer despite its taste and loosened up as they joked around She laughed along with the like she fit in

"Hey, Do Haven around with him She tripped over her own feet when she saw Nicholas

Dominic and Nicholas bumped fists "What’s up?"

"Not much" Nicholas nodded his head toward Haven "You decide to trade Tess in?"

Do over this one so the vultures don’t circle"

"Yeah, I heard Lisa running her ain, Haven"

She was surprised he was being nice after what happened during their last"You, too"

He smiled "So, what did one snowed "I don’t knohat?"

"Shed

"Anyway, I just wanted to say hi," Nicholas said "I’ll catch you guys later"

He walked away, and Haven looked at Do bad about your mama?"

Dominic nodded "Nicholas shouldn’t have said what he said, but he just wanted to hurt Car, Twinkle Toes, the only way to hurt hi her back around to join the others, and they chatted as she drank the rest of her beer A little later, she heard a chuckle nearby, so close it made her skin prickle Carbird"