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The ses had faded? That quickly? I stalked to the vanitymy palms on the surface scattered with es just as dark as before Disappoint else rong So--but my reflection was

Tick, tock

I shook e re, I reached up and patted my lips Tock The corners hadn’t soer able to catch htened and turned away What I’d just seen The fault of ination, surely

"I look normal to you?" I deht your Nana’s chocolate chip cupcakes would fix--hint, hint, I want chocolate chip cupcakes," Kat said at the saination was at fault

No big deal, I decided Everything would calm down once I’d dealt with my stress load

I licked"SoCole and I broke up We’re one hundred percent over There’s no hope of us ever getting back together"

"What?" Kat gasped, jolting to her feet "What’d he do? And I know it’s all his fault, the jerk! I’ll kill hinored her, her hand fluttering over her heart "Oh, Ali I’m so sorry"

I jutted my chin, somehow able to uys were so happy And he was spending the night with you," Kat said, clearly reeling "Bronx told Frosty he caught Cole sneaking out to coht have snuck out and spent the night, but we never actually had sex" Not even before my injury

Mom had told me to wait for someone special Someone who loved and appreciatedto all his friends Or hurt ive Or abandon ht Cole was that boy, but Ia part of himself back

Go me

"He didn’t think we’d last," I said, "and he didn’t like ht for e to hiain

"Well, boys suck!" Kat flicked the length of her dark hair over one shoulder, truly angry on rab your keys and your dad’s credit card We’re taking a girls’ day, and since he’s one of the ene"

"That seems fair We just have to be back by six," Reeve replied, standing "I have a date--I mean, uh, I’m sorry, Ali" Her dusky skin flushed, and her shoulders drooped with sha andI’ down the pity road "Don’t you dare stop talking about your love life just because h I have a feelingup in flames, too" Kat toyed with the ends of her hair "I don’t think Frosty will be willing to beco up on dudes"

Reeve shook her head in exasperation

Me? I suddenly saw Kat through new eyes She only ever talked about axing Frosty when she looked pale and withdrawn In other words, when her kidneys were acting up Fear was driving her, I realized, just like it had driven Cole She probably felt vulnerable, desperate to protect herself

Poor Kat One day, Frosty et tired of the hot-and-cold treater at Reeve "Don’t think I’ve forgotten you’ve been sidestepping uy"

"Maybe I’ll tell you about hie "You guys aren’t the only ones who can keep secrets"

Kat backed dohat else could she do? "I don’t knohat you’re talking about I’irl in the world," she irls peered over at me, expectant

Kat wanted confirmation Reeve wanted irls’ day?" I asked

We had our hair cut and styled, had facials and bought ht those things I was still saving my irls Every ti else for h it all, I avoidedirls raved about my appearance

Sadly, I almost hyperventilated when Kat said, "A new you, for a new direction in life"

Fine I did hyperventilate, and it freaked out both girls It was just, terror had wrapped cold, cla off my airways The second heartbeat had becoer had returned

Reeve splashed water in rip As close as she was, I could s perfume--and I wanted to bite her So bad The desire threwon to the ar to breathe

Kat called Frosty, thinking I needed medical help only the slayers could provide

Frosty, Bronx, Lucas and Cole--please, anyone but Cole--arrived at the store fifteen minutes later, and all heads turned in their direction Eyes widened Womenhere?" Kat hissed

The ringing inme to make out her words