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Flawless Sara Shepard 34750K 2023-08-31

When she opened her eyes again, the train had stalled All the lights were out, except for the ens Only, they didn’t say EXIT anymore They said WATCH IT

To her left, Hanna saw miles of forest The moon shone full and clear over the treetops But hadn’t it been pouring just o? The train paralleled Route 30 on the other side The road was usually packed with traffic, but now, not a single car waited at the intersection As she craned her neck down the aisle to see how the others were reacting to SEPTA’s breakdown, she noticed that all the passengers were asleep

"They’re not asleep," a voice said "They’re dead"

Hanna jumped It was Toby His face was blurry, but she kneas him Slowly, he rose from his seat and walked over to her

The train blew its whistle, and Hanna was jolted awake The fluorescent lights were as bright and unflattering as ever; the train chugged toward the city; and outside, lightning crackled and danced When she looked out the , she saw a tree branch snap off and careen to the ground Thite-haired old ladies in the seat ahead of her kept cooodness! That was a big one!"

Hanna pulled her knees up to her chest Nothing like an earth-shattering confession about Toby Cavanaugh to rock your world And make you paranoid as hell

She wasn’t sure how to take the news She didn’t react to things right away, like Aria did; she had to , yes And terrified about Toby But at the hts were about Jenna Did she know, too? Had she known all along? Did she know that Toby had killed Ali?

Hanna had actually seen Jenna after her accident--just once, and she’d never told the others It was just a feeeks before Ali went , and she’d thrown an impromptu party in her backyard All of Rosewood Day’s popular kids cairls from Ali’s field hockey tea a real conversation with Sean; they were talking about theabout how scary the movie hen Ali sauntered up beside theave Hanna a look that said, Hooray! You’re finally talking to him! But then, when Hanna said, "When my dad and I came out of the theater, oh ht to the bathrooed Hanna’s side "You’ve had some trouble with that lately, haven’t you?" she joked

Hanna paled "What?" This wasn’t long after the Annapolis thing happened

Ali made sure she had Sean’s attention "This is Hanna," she said, and stuck her finger down her throat, gagged, and then giggled Sean didn’t laugh, however; he looked back and forth at the uncomfortable and confused "I, um, have to…" he muttered, and slipped away to his friends

Hanna turned to Ali, horrified "Why did you do that?"

"Oh, Hanna," Ali said, whirling away "Can’t you take a joke?"

But Hanna couldn’t Not about that She sto deep, angry breaths When she looked up, she found herself staring right into Jenna Cavanaugh’s face

Jenna was standing at the edge of her property, wearing big sunglasses and carrying a white cane Hanna’s throat seized up It was like seeing a ghost She really is blind, Hanna thought She sort of thought it hadn’t actually happened

Jenna stood very still on the curb If she could have seen, she would have been looking at the big hole in Ali’s side yard that they were digging for her faazebo--the exact spot where, years later, workers would find Ali’s body Hanna stared at her for a long time, and Jenna stared blankly back Then it hit her Back there, with Sean, Hanna had taken Jenna’s place, and Ali had taken Hanna’s There was no reason for Ali to tease Hanna except that she could The realization struck Hanna so forcefully, she had to grab onto the railing for balance

She looked at Jenna again I’m so sorry, she mouthed Jenna, of course, didn’t respond She couldn’t see

Hanna was never so happy to see the lights of Philadelphia--she was finally far away froet back to the hotel before her father, Isabel, and Kate returned from Mamma Mia!, and perhaps she could take a bubble bath Hopefully there was so Perhaps she’d even tell Kate what happened and they’d order rooether

Wow That was a thought Hanna never iined would cross her mind

She slid her room card into the door, pulled it open, slumped inside, and…nearly bu in front of the door, talking on his cell phone "Oh!" she screamed

Her father whirled around "She’s here," he said into the phone, then slapped it shut He eyed Hanna coolly "Well Welcome back"

Hanna blinked Beyond her father were Kate and Isabel Just…sitting there, on the couch, reading the Philadelphia tourist azines that came with the roo at her "Did Kate tell you? I had to--"

"Go to Foxy?" Isabel interrupted

Hanna’soutside made her juhtily folded in her lap and her head raised high Had she…had she told? The look on her face said yes