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One of Veronica’s perfect brows lifted "So you’re the infairl with abilities no one can explain"

I could see the Blood Lines we poured around our homes, a mix of chemicals the zo fla every zoht their hands and needed several minutes to achieve the same results I could sometimes see into the future

I wasn’t sure why I could do these things, or what enes were no more special than anyone else’s

"Yes," I said Cole wouldn’t look at me Why wouldn’t he look at me? "That’s me"

Veronica’s head tilted to the side as she scrutinized me more intently "Did you use one of those abilities on my friend?"

I stuttered for a response, but came up empty

"So what if she did?" Kat called, always ot the boss er She can do what she wants, to whoirl?

Venom leaked into Veronica’s sweetness "No one wraps Cole Holland around their finger"

Cole left both co "Later, Ronny Practice without me"

Ronny? He had an affectionate nickname for Mackenzie, too Kenze, he sometimes called her I hated both

He stalked to an open treadmill, motioned , you need to build your stamina back up Do not--I repeat--do not overwork yourself"

I closed the distance between us "You’re right about the stamina, and I can tell you I have no plans to overwork myself, but first we need to talk"

Still he refused to look at me "Clearly, you had a vision with Gavin"

Gavin The name of the boy I’d just mind-molested "Y-yes But that’s not what I want to talk about This Veronica girl--"

"What did you see?" he said

"I, well, uh" I couldn’t tell him, and I wouldn’t lie So, where did that leave me? "Does it really matter? It won’t come true" I wouldn’t let it

"It matters It will come true And we both know it" Cole walked aithout another word--without ever looking back at me

I watched him until he disappeared inside the locker roo a staccato beat in my chest Veronica--Ronny--followed him She paused at the door, and she did look back at me

To smirk

Chapter 3

Can’t Go Back to Yesterday

While Kat and I had run the treadmills side by side, and I’d tried not to worry about the vision with Gavin and Cole’s behavior before and after, Nana had been out buying own Not from the thrift store The shiny monstrosity had a lacy corset top, stripes on the skirt and a black hat to top things off

I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be--other than a Southern belle ician on crack

Nor with colors And never anything this fantastical I liked to blend with the shadows Needed to Tonight, however, I wasother than the tee and shorts I’d sported the past feeeks, and the workout clothes froht up, and for hi h He’d kissabout hiht tonight, but I wrapped a utility belt aroundfrom the attached sheaths I never left home without the He hadn’t said Well, other than the naughty nurse, but I knew that had been a joke

I stepped into the dress, hooked everything together and studied myself in the mirror Not bad Quite fancy I wished my parents were here to see ht before it could fully for war

My cell phone chirped, signaling a text had just come in I wiped the tears aith the back ofplans as a mistake I need a break Stay in & we’ll talk 2morrow

I had to read the words three ti break? Seriously?

From what? I wanted to screaer and disappoint on w/you? Respect h 2 talk 2 me! Apparently that’s how relationships WORK

A minute passed Two, three He didn’t respond

I threw my phone across the room, and then had to rush over to make sure I hadn’t cracked the screen

What the heck was he planning to do on this "break"?

And as he going to do it with?