Page 7 (1/2)

"So orientation ell?" Moot inside the car "How should we celebrate? Aif I told her I&039;d killed a o home"

The reflection from the snow hurt my eyes I shielded h the gates she cleared her throat and asked how it had gone

"We&039;re not supposed to talk about it, remember?" I hadn&039;t ize either

"Oh," Mom said "I&039;m sorry I didn&039;t mean to break any rules"

I snorted

"How long have I been away?"

Mom&039;s eyes darted sideways then back to the road "You don&039;t know" She stopped herself "I dropped you off yesterday "

"Didn&039;t Dad wonder where I was all night?"

"I told hiht with Denise"

"Denise is in Girdwood" Having a real holiday at the ski lodge

Mo wheel "So, that&039;s it for orientation? You&039;re done?"

Yeah, I was done all right Now I could get onto the training and killing

I wished et to spend the next seirl"

"That&039;s great, honey"

My sarcash to anyone

Mohborhood Our street still needed plowing, which h snow She clicked open the garage door and pulled in As soon as she turned off the car, Mom turned to me and said, "To will be better once we put this year behind us"

Great, another holiday

I unclicked my seatbelt "Wow, a new year"

Mo room

"New leaf Newon," I said "I resolve to break the sixth command roo out my resolutions

"I resolve to live out the rest of et drunk for the first time I resolve to finally kiss a boy No, scratch that I resolve to lose inity!"

Mom&039;s face turned red "Aurora, stop it"

"Stop what?"

"This isn&039;t you"

"You&039;re right This isn&039;t me" I turned onthe door behind h the walls I ripped open al pad onto the surface with a thwack

Aurora&039;s Resolutions

I pressed es five sheets back

kill first vaet drunk

kiss a boy

lose virginity

I stared at the list then leaned forward and crossed out kill first va else should be a piece of cake

I stuffed the notepad back inside the desk drawer then htheht my attention

I snatched the red one out of the tangle of fabric and lockedti ure reflected in the glass Whenever I tried to look at her, she was covered in blood and scars

I focused on the bandage instead and peeled it off slowly There were teeth marks in my neck rimmed in purple, blue, and red I dabbed at it with a wad of tissue paper then threw out the bandage

I wrapped the soft red scarf around my neck and remained in my room until Mom called me down to dinner

"What&039;s with the scarf?" Dad asked, knife and fork poised several inches off the table on either side of his plate

"Don&039;t you like it?"

"Why do you have it on inside the house?"

"&039;Cause I feel like it"

Dad&039;s eyes narrowed a fraction, probably at the snide pitch into the party tomorrow or not?"

Mo "I don&039;t know if I should leave Aurora alone"

I stabbed a piece of broccoli "I&039;hteen Of course you can leavethat&039;s happened - " Moh I&039;d never spoken

"It&039;s not like I&039; anywhere Don&039;t drive anymore, reo enjoy yourselves I promise not to burn down the house"

"That&039;s enough!" Dad said "I&039;m not sure I like this new attitude of yours"

I turned to ents replaced my brain as well and I&039;ve inherited someone else&039;s attitude"

"What are you talking about?" Dad asked