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I recoil "I can’t believe what a total dick you’re being You’re going to feel so stupid when I tell you what really happened--"

"Then hurry up and tell oes by, interrupting him He lets it interrupt hioes off again and he checks it "It’s Anna"

"Don’t answer," I say "Josh, don’t answer--"

"Just wait a second I have to take this and then we’ll--" I storm down the driveway He calls after me once, and that’s it By the time I’ve hit the street, I can hear the faint strains of his conversation with Anna

I jog down the street, trying to outrun the feeling building inside my stomach, until I can’t, and then I pick up antacids at Ford’s Convenience Store They’re in the fourth aisle down and seventeen steps in I make the switch froth, because I don’t think the old ones are really working any after a while

"Co ym It’s too hot out to instruct, so Nelson tells us to do ant All the boys are playing basketball on one side of the roo the illusion ofto block out the voice behind s to Donnie He’s squatting next to Anna’s et her to hear hiive hi It’s all in her voice when she says, "Go to hell, Donnie"

Kara giggles beside her Before hethe words slut, whore, and bitch in my direction Anna has also decided to tor blue I’ them in the hall

Donnie lowers his voice "We need to talk--"

"Don’t touch ym, and I can’t help it I turn and look Donnie has his ar into her shirt If it hurts, it’s not on Anna’s face She’s cool, disinterested All eyes are on the two of the His face turns red, and his gaze shifts toout of the corner of yo of her shoulder and stands, trying to recover thealets near me I’m the last person in this school he can intimidate And I hate that I’m the last person in this school he can intiet up and head over to the corner, stretching ers are tingling and I can’t breathe Kara and Anna laugh I can hear they on the bench, hunched over, hands dangling between his legs, fresh off the court and taking a breather His hair clings to his sweaty forehead, and he pulls the collar of his shirt up and wipes his face Then he pauses and our eyesour view, and when it’s clear again, Michael’s watching the game I’m about to head back toto Anna Their heads are ducked together Anna glances across the gya Jack Olson to the side I head toso and none of this bothers me

It takes, like, ten minutes

"GODDAMMIT, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE"

The shout cuts through the hustle and bustle, and everyone stops what they’re doing and turns their attention halfway across the gyuys are huddled around Donnie Ms Nelson blows her whistle and hurries over

Even from here, I can see the blood

"Wow," Kara says behind me "Nicely done"

"Thank you," Anna says Shebehind her Donnie’s still screao, too

"Calm down, Henderson," Nelson says over Donnie’s shouts She tries pulling his hand away froe "Tell me what happened"

Donnie wrenches away fro a bloody ht eye is swollen and angry, painful

"You fucking elbowedpurpose, Josh!" Droplets of blood go flying everywhere "Fuck you!"

"Mouth, Henderson!"

Donnie’s hand goes back to his nose His shoulders heave, and the parts of his face not covered in blood are a , apoplectic red Everyone turns to Josh, who stands outside of it all, looking vaguely annoyed

"Yes, Donnie, I elbowed you in the face On purpose" He says it like it’s a completely preposterous idea, like people don’t elbow people in the face on purpose, in the history of oes in for the kill: "It was an accident, ot in the way"

I try to let the blood that’s still gushing from Donnie’s nose fill ain and the h

And it just means I’m next

"Brooks, escort Henderson to the nurse’s office The rest of you, back to what you were doing There’s still twenty minutes of this period left!"

We scatter back to where we’re supposed to be Josh winks at Anna

I want to punch hie Table is easier this time