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"DARREN!" DEBBIE squealed, throwing her ared her hard

My English teacher was Debbie Heirlfriend!

"You’ve barely changed!" Debbie gasped

"You look so different!" I laughed

"What happened to your face?"

"How did you becoether: "What are you doing here?"

We stopped, wide-eyed, bea, but our hands were joined Around us,the end of the universe

"Where have" Debbie started, then glanced around Realizing ere the centre of attention, she let go of my hands and smiled sheepishly "Darren and I are old friends," she explained to the class "We haven’t seen each other in"

Again she stopped, this tiht hand and roughly leading the way outside Closing the door, she swung ainst a wall, checked to make sure ere alone in the hall, leant in close and hissed, "Where the hell have you been all these years?"

"Here and there," I s her face, stunned by how ed She was taller too - even taller than me now

"Why is your face the same?" she snapped "You look aled a year or two, but it’s been thirteen years!"

"How time flies," I sain, Miss Hemlock"

Debbie froze at the kiss, then took a step back "Don’t do that"

"Sorry Just glad to see you"

"I’ a student"

"Oh, Debbie, I’h to be Well, you kno old I aht I did But your face" She traced the outline of ular scar above ht eye "You’ve been in the wars," she noted

"You wouldn’t believe it if I told you how right you are," I smiled

"Darren Shan" She shook her head and repeated my name "Darren Shan"

Then she slapped me!

"What’s that for?" I yelped

"For leaving without saying goodbye and ruining rowled

"That was thirteen years ago Surely you’re not still upset about it"

"The He tilint of a s-away present," I said

For a moment her face was blank Then she remembered "The tree!"