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"Yes--"

"Kara’s not that smart"

It comes out of her mouth so vehemently, but so sincerely, I finally understand why I never, ever had a chance "You’re so stupid, Anna"

Sheto kick hter dies instantly I raisehappens She savors this victory in quiet, until the car starts up and the horn blares

"Well, it’s been really interesting, but I’ve got to go," she says "You know Get destroying your boyfriend underway Monday’s going to be great Have a nice walk"

Michael She gets in the car and they head down the road Michael I curl into the ground until I can feel it’s cold everywhere and I know I have to move I push ina It’s easy Stand

You do it every day

I walk the entire way back to Hallowell on feet so cold I don’t even

notice when they step through broken glass, untilto my sock and I look down and there’s blood I don’t kno long it takes et into town, but every second settles intobones My stomach aches My back aches My jaw aches My feet are numb All I can think is Michael

Michael Michael Michael The thought of his me down the back streets, past my empty house, and all the way to the school, because I have to tell hi lot and yank the front doors open I step inside The place is quiet Distant class noises float down the hall--the illusion of another ordinary day The warm air levels me, makes me feel instantly stupid-headed and dull

My sto to be sick

I fuainst the wall and the other over irls’ room I know I can’t be seen

After forever, the pale blue door reveals itself I pull it open and stu with her hair

She stops when she sees ainst the door and closeat my feet I breathe in and walk stiffly over to the sink I tellhere to look at The smell of the soap makes me even more nauseous, and she’s barely stepped away fro

"Jesus," she mutters I spit and then I rest s I end up with uely realizing this is not acting like there’s nothing to look at

Get it together, Regina

I take one deep breath and then another On the walk back, I could do this I could seethis, but now I think ainst the wall, and closefor every broken part of h to tell Michael what’s co, and I feel Charie’s eyes on y to tell her to go to hell And then the washroo, prickling uncoe can under the door so no one can coainst the floor and try to get to my feet and--

I can’t

I move and every kicked part of me protests, so I wrap my arms around myself and listen to the slow, steady sound of the faucet dripping water into the sink, and it goes deep For a second, I’ is…fine

The washroom door flies open My heart stops and my head jerks up When my eyes focus on the halo of blond hair set around a pale face, I just--Liz Always here Noto be here This suicide blonde, hauntingme from one awful moment to the next

"Oh, my God," she says "Charie said you--"

She stops We stare at each other, but I can’t hold her gaze, and I feel her looking at ainst the wall and close ht in front of her I open ht I realize I’ to every bit of skin there is to cling to My hair is stuck to my neck and my face

"Go away," I say Wait No I need her Take it back "Get Michael for --"

"He doesn’t want to talk to you," she says

"Liz, please--"

"No"

Frustrated tears spring to ot your ass kicked," she says, "finally, and you want Michael to come pick up the pieces I knohat they did to you I was in that stall--" She points "And Anna and Jeanette ca about it I knew you were out on that road"