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Ella

The next ht never happened, but I wonder if it’s an act

"I have a feeling that today is going to be full of rainbows and sunshine," Lila says cheerily as she applies her lipstick, using the ainst my protest, she took down some of h?" I’d asked and she laughed, totally confused

"Are you high?" I tease as I twist my hair onto the back of my head and secure it with a clip

She pauses, looking at me over her shoulder "Why do you always ask questions like that?"

I slip on my boots and tie up the laces "What kinds of questions?"

She blots her lips "Every time I’ People can be happy without substances"

I clasp a watch around my wrist "Most people can, but not all"

Lila clips a dia in "You look really nice today"

I glance down at the black and purple dress I have on and the boots on ot to do laundry so I had to wear some of my old clothes, which don’t match any of ives an elongated pause "So what’s on the agenda for today?"

"It depends on what you’re doing?" I ask "Are you where are you planning on staying?"

She shuts off her phone and then discards it onto the bed "I’d like to stick around with you for a while, if you don’tscheduled for the su back home"

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"No, not really"

"Okay well, I need to find a job," I say "I have to save up for the rest ofthat internship"

She puts a headband in her hair "The one at that art museum"

"That’s the one and it doesn’t start until mid-June," I explain "But that’s only five weeks away, so I figured they’d have notified s like that , then ties a ribbon on the back of her shirt "Although, if you get it that’d ht?"

Nodding, I head for the door Teeks ago the idea of returning to the desert would o, though leaving will be a little bit harder

I collectvoiceer hovers above the button as I step into the hall He told me I wasn’t ready for as on it? But am I ready for it now?

"I don’t knohy you think it’s so bad here" Lila follows h, but they’re not all bad and everywhere has bad stuff You can’t hide frohtful" I close my phone and put it away

"Bad comes in different for dealers on the corner or if it’s corrupt rich people or just your run-of-the-"

I don’t know much about Lila, other than she’s rich, her dad works as a lawyer and her reat with numbers and was the only reason I passed pre-calculus

My brother’s door is open and he walks out as we’re passing by He has a black and red polo shirt on and a pair of cargo pants There’s soel in his hair and it looks shiny

"Hey, have you seen dad?" he asks, giving an acknowledging glance at Lila

I point at the shut door at the end of the hall "I thought I heard hio into his roo" He leans against the doorfra around in that bathrooht, but now I can’t find him and I didn’t hear hi he didn’t show up, so he’s not there"

My fists clench so thatinto my palms "Did you check in the bathroom?"

Dean’s eyes travel down the hall to the bathroom door and he shakes his head "I haven’t and I don’t want to"

"Hi, I’m Lila," she introduces herself and offers her hand "You uely amused and shakes her hand "Yeah how do you know Ella?"

"I was her roo being offended "Didn’t she ever mention me?"

"We don’t talk that ain and my stomach twists "We need to find Dad"

"I’o ahead"

With legs flimsier than wet noodles, I walk down the dark hallway and stop in front of the door, having a flashback of the day my mom died The door was closed and the house was soundless, except for the running of water My hands tremble as I open the door

The room is bare, the tub empty, and the tile floor is clean, except for a small stain There are no towels on the hooks and the mirror on the wall across from me shows my reflection My auburn hair is curled perfectly in place, reen eyes are i