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But then he’s pulling away, breathing profusely, with his jaw clenched shut When he looks at o… I’ht cry "I can’t be with you"

I try to tellbut suddenly I’ the invisible girl filled with shame

"Freak," Daisy said as I walk down the hall withlow "Nobody wants you around"

I hurried down the hall, clutchinguntil I was safely underneath the bleachers near the football field where no one could see er down my throat and forced my lunch out of h the cracks in the seats watched the football tea I could stay there forever

My breath falters as I climb out of the car, into the snow and the wintry air As soon as I slam the door, the tires spin in the slush as he peels aithout looking back Even though I feel like chasing after hi low

Kayden I’est asshole as I pull out of that parking lot I’ve snubbed the world’s saddest girl not once but twice, and on top of that, I kissed her I’ the car as I peel out onto the road, her head hung low, and she probably feels like shit

But it’s for her own good; that’s what I have to keep telling lad she didn’t have to deal with it her entire life My burdens and proble her again hasaway froainst the windshield as I fly down theabout as fast as the car is andfrom the feel of hers The inside of the car sood she smells when I’m close to her and how it feels to touch her

I should have never left the house Myto eat I didn’t want her driving drunk so I offered to go But being out in public wasn’t a good idea Tooher…

Tears threatened to come out of my eyes as I leave her behind at the café and the pain and sadness is s surface, not when I have no way to turn them off I’ll have to deal with the ater and it’s beco looks white and sloshy and I can’t focus on the road I need to stop the tight knot inonto the steering wheel, I reach across the console for the glove co sharp inside there I just need a quick fix to te through the glove box There’s a stack of papers, a tube of lipstick, and a packet of air fresheners "Fuck!" There’s nothing sharp I slam the console and sit up just in time to see a small blue car stopped in thea cloud of dark smoke into the air

I slam my foot down on the pedal and my car screeches to a halt Snow and slush flip up into the air as the back end of the car loses control and glides to the side It stops sideways about a foot before raainst the wheel as the car inches forward and angles to the side I’oing to end up killingis I’m not sure if I’m terrified about that or relieved

Chapter 7

2 Don’t overthink so s

Kayden

It’s been a little over a week and a half since I got released and I’ pissed And shocked And a whole lot of other stuff I can’t sort through The last time I saw Callie hen I left her at the café She’s tried to call and text me a few times since I ran away fro stuck in the house is tough, though, and kind of depressing, especially since Christmas day was yesterday and it went unnoticed But it’s always kind of been like that I guess My mother has cleaned out the knives and razors and every sharp object in the house Whether it’s for my dad’s benefit or ing out I guess he lost his job and house, so now he’s crashing in the downstairs roo about as much as my mother My father hasn’t been home since I came back My mother says he’s on a business trip but I secretly wonder if he’s hiding until they can be sure I’ht

"Good news," my , but she’s dressed up, her hair’s done, and she’s already got hercoffee with a azine in front of her and a half-empty wine bottle

I head for the cupboard "Oh yeah"

She picks up the coffee ood news" She takes a sip of the coffee and then puts the cup back down on the table "I think Caleb and your father have coive hies"

"Is that even legal?"

"Does it matter if it is?"

I open the cupboard and take out a box of Pop-Tarts "Kind of… And besides, how do you knoon’t just take the uy"

"No, he’s the guy you beat up" She picks up the crea This is how your father’s handling it And be grateful that he’s handling it"