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Ella

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I ask Lila for the thousandth time

She piles the last box into her trunk and slides her glasses over her eyes "H but a burden? Or go back to the campus with you and have some fun?"

I pick soernail "I’et too coives theood-bye to your dad so we can hit the road"

"Okay, I’ll be right back" I head across the front lawn for the door when Ethan’s truck pulls up in my driveway

I walk up to hisand rest e I take it?"

He looks like he just carease on his face and clothes, and his dark hair has soured I’d coood-bye to both of you"

I slant aze "Don’t try and pretend that you’re here forhurt "My heart is breaking and you’rejokes Wow, you really are evil"

"Yeah, yeah," I back up so he can open the door and cliive you two awhat’s going on between the two of us"

"Well, I wouldn’t have to if one of you would tell s and then rounds the back of the truck Rollingand that I plan on co talk on the phone with hi from Caroline - we decided to ive my dad an ultis I’ll have to do, because I know there will be things said during the conversation that will hurt h, because now I understand what I can handle

I find hi a microwave dinner, with a six-pack on the table in front of hiarette in his hand, and he barely notices me enter the rooetting ready to leave"

He rips his eyes from the television, startled, and I wonder if he was even watching it or if he elling in his thoughts "Oh, okay, well drive safely"

I rub ether and walk into the roo back in a feeeks"

He sets his tray down and grabs a beer "What for?"

I pat s uneasily "We want to talk to you about soht Dean was still here"

I shake"He went hoo but Dad, can you try and take care of yourself a little bit better?" I take a deep breath and throw a hint out into the open "And lances at the row of beers in front of him like he just realized they were there "Oh, I don’t drink that h and sit down on the couch beside him "You didn’t used to, but now it’s kinda all you do"

He bobs his head up and down "Alright, I’ll try to cut back"

I knoon’t, but hopefully Dean and I will be able to convince hi that he needs I give hi he’ll be okay, but knowing that until he e all I can do is try to help him