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I set rab the note, and unfold it But it’s not fro isn’t ile line on a piece of paper that has a photocopied quality about it

I hate it here

Michael

His name floats intoto find him behind me He’s not But--

Oh

I try to work it out Why do I have this Why was it in ift fro so important and private--he wants me to see it, wants to share it, but he wouldn’t, not even now, because that’s …his e over and see another line scrawled across the back:

Underneath the water fountain outside of Hartnett’s

The handwriting is deliberately warped

This isn’t bad Not yet I crumple the paper and rush for Hartnett’s room I’ sitting in front of o soon, so I leave it

This is est drink of her life when I finally reach the fountain, andI wait and wait and I’m about to shove her out of the hen she stands, wipes herthe porcelain underside until I find the next piece of paper taped to it

I rip it off and unfold it

I think I liked being an Unstable Freak better before she died

I hate everyone in this school, but I want to tell theuilt that’s invading every space inside ofinto tears This is so private I flip the paper over and it directs me to the fountain outside of Holt’s office No one’s there I rip the note off and unfold it I don’t want to read it

But I do

These people all look the same They walk the sa that comes out of their mouths is important

These people are wasters

It leads me to the fountain on the second floor It’s bad

I’ement problem That’s the latest

Everyone here is afraid It’s sort of a in a really dumb way Liz says it’s her fault I like Liz She’s better thanthe halls

I shove my hand into my pocket and find an antacid, and then I shove it into my mouth and chew The next note sends ht by the entrance

I unfold it

I hate it here

Even the poor quality of the photocopy can’t hide how hard Michael wrote these words The ink bleeds out, stressed edges around the final sentence I can’t picture hiry and ready to explode--like me He worked so hard to make sure no one ever saw it At the fountain beside the lab, the next paper reads this:

I need a reason

I close e roos I yed him all day yesterday Why didn’t I pay attention? I should’ve known I should’ve known When I reach the storage room, there’s one last note taped to the door I rip it off I don’t need to read it

I push the door open

Anna

"Where’s the notebook?" I deina," she says cal notebook now, Anna"

"It’s already back in Michael’s hands He didn’t even knoas gone Now close the door, Regina, so we can talk"

I close the door "Give me the photocopies then"

She crosses her arood enough to be acknowledged by her Even after all this And then the reality of the situation hitshere and looking at me like--