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―Welll‖ Mr Anderson glanced at me, then away That plu his cheeks Sas just beginning to bead on his listened ―Maybe none of my business, but you mentioned that you orried about yourso Mr Anderson couldn‘t really see ‖

―Orpeople can trick theht in front of theone to the store and Mo about What I‘d seen at the party ―If they‘re not having an affair, then I think they‘re really close to one‖

Mr Anderson didn‘t answer for so long I worried I‘d done soained on this It was one thing to ask how irl spilled her guts I wanted to say that I was sorry, but I worried that would make me sound stupid, like a little kid, so I just ran

After another half mile, Mr Anderson said, ―So you think that‘s why your parents decided to take an extra couple days? Yourto talk her out of it? It‘s just as likely that they‘re enjoying one another‘s company and need some time away‖

From you He didn‘t say that, but I heard it anyway I kneas right My parents needed a time-out frohter

How du other than just being nice to the whacko new kid He had to be thinking about what my dad had said: that I‘d been on a psych ward and had proble he‘d ever called and counting thelot

This is what happens This is what happens when you forget that only Matt understands You can talk to Matt His e-e, he never

All of a sudden, I was sprinting, running as fast as I could, full out, legs thudding, ar like a bellows I heard Mr Anderson callfaster, faster, et away, h, maybe my skin would split, peel off, float away, and then I would be like that beluga whale, finally free to get as far from my life as I

―Jenna!‖ Mr Anderson had drawn even, but I didn‘t slow, didn‘t turn ―Jenna, what--?‖

―Don‘t!‖ I gasped Sweat stung ? I was such a loser, I was so--

―Ugh!‖ A sudden sharp pain knifedas a deeper cra up short, nearly doubled over with the pain My heart thudded in my ears, and thenon all fours, panting Bile, bitter and nauseating, pushed into ain, and I , Mr Anderson put an arm around my shoulders ―Hey, it‘s okay, take it easy, try not to pant‖

―St-stupid,‖ I ue swollen My ar to cramp, too, and my whole body felt shaky and weak I was dehydrated, I realized What had I drunk today? Coffee thiselse to drink and nothing to eat

Stupid, stupid, so stupid

―Take it easy, I‘ up at blue sky through gnarly bare branches My vision spun andin his lap and was pushing astroc, trying to knead out the cramp ―Deep breath, inand outin and ‖

―I‘m sorry‖ Mortified, I draped an arm over my eyes I was too dehydrated to cry and one so fast‖

―Stop apologizing It happens My fault for not checking if you‘d hydrated before we started Here‖ He pressed soel

―I hope you like green apple‖

I squinted at the gell packet ―I hate it‖

―Tough Coot the one, but we‘re not that far from the car There are restrooms and I think the water‘s still on at the picnic shelter We can at least get that into you‖

I was so shaky I could barely get ell pack for reat, but it leftcrah that I was able to limp to the car, albeit slowly and with Mr Anderson‘s ar drink at the shelter fountain and three els Mr Anderson had stashed in his car (all sour apple), I felt a little more human The shakes weren‘t as bad, but I was still weak and woozy, and a headache was pushing againstto leak from my ears

―Absolutely not‖ Mr Anderson shook his head when I tried to head forwe need is for you to wrap yourself around a tree Co around in the backseat of his Prius and ca to my place And shut it,‖ he said, as I opened uments‖