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"You would"

Then I remember it’sand I don’t do things that are wrong The goal swims in front of my mind and starts to drift away, but I try really hard to hold on to it And then I closeby the pool? So over," she says again, giggling My head snaps up "Big surprise Me and Evan, we’d make a much betterto snapto happen"

"It will We have tons in co than sober Becky, and that’s saying so duties to me, anyway?"

"Fuck off and die first and then we’ll talk," I o forward It wants to sleep No I jerk upright It doesn’t really help

"I’ll be captain in a week" Her voice is hard, too hard, and it dawns onto be drunk, which is one of her favorite party tricks because she’s under this bizarre delusion it’s cute "You’ll finally snap or the rest of the girls will vote you off the squad Whichever cole to push"I could ruin your life"

"You won’t remember any of this," she says

"What makes you think you deserve to be captain?"

"I’ I think that’s it, I can pass out, but no, she starts talking again "I’ives a da them a favor and they act like you’re Jesus because they’re stupid enough to believe it At least they’re starting to catch on now Not even being Chris’s girlfriend is helping you And I’ everyone realize how much better they could’ve had it with me"

"That’s really pathetic" I have to force every word through my teeth "And I’ll remember this, Becky"

She snorts

"Where’s Jessie?" I use Becky’s shoulder to get into standing position The world tilts For a second, I think I’ll be sick, but I’ and it’s a miracle "Becky, where is she?"

"I talked to her for aher eyes out She said she was going to run away Dra, Parker"

"Where did she go?"

Becky points in the direction of the woods

NINETEEN

They could be talking about ht now

Chris and Jake

I hate that

So after I choke down dinner I decide to take Bailey for a walk I slip onroooing on and squirs were supposed to ue at my face and I back away just in time "Jesus, Bailey"

"Parker, don’t talk like that in the house," Mom says "It’s disrespectful"

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

"I’ll see you guys later"

"Have a nice walk, sweetheart" Dad

"Be ho "I ood measure: "Whatever"

So I leave and alk, and it’s an okay walk I steer Bailey onto Chris’s street without realizing it Actually, that’s a lie I knohat I’ and it’s stupid

But Bailey pulls ing out of his et to Chris’s house, the more uneasy I feel, but o home

So that’s what I’ll do

We’re practically there when this string of cars go by, one after the other, and I feel criht It ht is there, that I should pass the house So I have to

This is so stupid

And then this explosion of sound fills the street, like a s--and Bailey yelps and tears loose because I’h He runs into the road and before I can call hio after him, there are all these other sounds, s tires

And then silence

Just like that

He lies in the s splayed out before hi-rooo to him, kneel down in front him He stares up at me, pitiful but alive But what kind of--

What kind of asshole hits a dog and drives away?

Bailey shudders

"Bailey Bailey--Bailey"

I spew his name I say it a thousand times in three seconds I rest my hand on his stomach and it comes back red and he makes a noise, this ahimper

"Stop that," I snap "You’re fine We’ll just get you off the--" I wraphith to lift hio