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She nodded as I got up I quickly pulled on a T-shirt and flannel pants, then went to the door to find one of Rita’s custo his arms and stuttered when he said, "I need to see Rita"

"She’s not here and she won’t be back for a couple of days"

I could see he was having so a fix real bad"

"I can’t help you, in to shut the door

He rammed his shoulder into the door I atteonna help me, but you are because I know Rita has a stash so at the door when he suddenly began screa his eyes I shoved hi behindher car keys with the a s

With a shaky voice, Claire asked ht and I realized that this was one hell of a wake up call to reether

I looked out theand watched the er side of a car and leave When the car was out of sight, I grabbed Claire by the arm and opened the front door I pulled her outside and walked her to her car and said, "You’ve got to go and I don’t want you to ever come back"

31 I’ll Take What I Can Get

Claire

I know that didn’t just happen Yet, here I sat inat the front door he just drughirasp with a siain I don’t think I could survive it a second time

I sat in my car in disbelief of the incident that just occurred and decided that this wasn’t over I got out of my car and stohtly knocked and called for Jessie for a few times, but he didn’t come I pounded harder on the door and raised my voice, "Jessie, please let me in so we can talk about this"

As I beat on the door, the fear of reality began to set in and tears rolled down ainst the door and screamed, "Jessie! Please! I knoe can make this work because I love you"

I slid down the door like a lunatic and sat against it I continued to beat on the door for the next hour as I cried in desperation, but he ignoredrain with it, and I sat until I was soaked to the bone inuniform It beca that Jessie didn’t intend on opening the door for ave up and drove hoh the door wringing wet Myroouess you should since you’re supposedly sick" I didn’t say anything and she continued, "Forbes called to check on you I told hiain, I didn’t respond and she said, "Where have you been since you obviously weren’t with Forbes?"

I could lie and avoid the whole confrontation, but I was ready to get it all out in the open "You made Jessie break up with me"

"Claire, come sit with me for a minute so I can talk to you," she ordered

I did as she asked and fell into the chair across from where she was stretched out on the couch She turned the television off and started, "You are ainst everything I stand for as a counselor, but you are more important than any oath I took I know you love Jessie, but he isn’t who you think he is He’s dangerous and no good for you He’ll only hurt you"

"I knohat he has to do for his grandmother, but it’s not because he wants to He told e how much I love him I still want to be with him," I pleaded to e of the couch "Jessie is a nice boy and he has endured some horrific circumstances It’s an absolute miracle he is still alive, but I won’t allow you to becoerous"

I felt the fury within"I just love how the two of you have made all of these decisions about what’s best for me," I yelled

"Jessie is smart and he knows your place isn’t with hi about hi there until graduation," I explained

"We are not going to argue about you dating a boy that sells illegal drugs because it’s not happening This topic is no longer up for discussion"

I had to make her see "He’s never had anyone to depend on in his life and look how he has turned out He’s highly intelligent and so athletically talented He is going to reat of himself He won’t always be like this"