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But I was kind of glad she didn’t like Garrett I couldn’t remember exactly why I loved him I couldn’t recall what it was that ed, I just knew that I did And even in death, I wanted him all to myself

E the scratches on her throat froht Tiny red marks lacerated her skin Her windpipe still ached from the pull of the necklace She’d taken a bunch of Advils and covered up the scrapes with the Dior foundation she’d found in Sutton’s bathroo amiss She could still feel the assailant’s hot, stale breath on her neck She shut her eyes and winced

"You okay?" Garrett asked

Emma nodded "Yeah I’ht?"

Eet any"

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

E It still felt foreign around her neck

"C’mon" Garrett poked her side "You can tell me what happens at your crazy sleepovers I wish you told me more"

E an idea Actually, Garrett ation after all

"Well, I’m not sure ‘fun’ is the word I’d use," she said slowly "More likeintense Sometimes I think my friends hate me I think they’d stab me in the back if they could" It felt weird to recite the words she’d found in Sutton’s journal

A couple of college kids sed from behind the curve The air shifted and suddenly reeked of srape; so about that night?"

Eht?"

Garrett slowly chewed a cracker "The night you won’t tell me about?"

Emma’s eyes widened What did he mean?

"Or do you mean Charlotte?" Garrett asked when Emma didn’t answer

E this led somewhere "I just don’t knohat her problee of his sneaker into a scrubby patch of desert grass "You’re going to have to give her some time, Sutton Try to see it froo out with you A lot of girls would have a tough time with that"

Emma pushed another piece of Brie into her mouth to hide her shock Charlotte and Garrettdated? She certainly hadn’t learned anything like that from Sutton’s journal

But it iven E came up in Never Have I Ever There was that picture of Garrett’s naked torso hanging outside the shower in Charlotte’s bathroom, too And the picture of him that had been abandoned under her bed

"She’s clearly not over it," Ereed "Actually, I don’t think she’s over you"

Garrett sighed and wrapped his arht she understoodmore, there wasn’t any romance I didn’t think she felt a spark either" He broke off a piece of cracker and held it in his palm "She’s actually called s up"

Ehter "Likeprank calls?"

Garrett frowned "I don’t think so She just doesn’t knohat to say I feel bad for her I ot to be hard on her And I still see her all the time with you I want her to be my friend--I want all of us to be friends Besides, Charlotte was there forthat happened with Louisa" His voice cracked on Louisa A pained look crossed his face "We share a lot of history together"

The words rushed over Emma She felt dazed as she tried to process all Garrett had said Then he grabbed her hand "I don’t want it to be anything h I’m with you noant to be with you"

He moved a little closer to her and draped his arhof e talked about this summer Ourplans?"

E hard not to pull away Garrett looked so serious all of a sudden "Uh-huh," she lied, hoping he’d elaborate

"Well, I was thinking ofthat happen for your birthday" He shot her a bashful sle on her ared "Uled toward her and leaned his face close to hers Emma braced herself as he touched his lips to hers, but he tasted like sweet grapes and fizzy cider, and his lips felt warm and soft She relaxed a tiny bit into the kiss

A twig snapped close by Ee "Did you hear that?"

There was another snapping sound "Yeah" Garrett frowned and looked around, too Soirl with pale skin and bright red hair Emma drew in a breath

"Oh!" Charlotte stopped short and pulled a pair of iPod earbuds froaze darted from Garrett to E up here? Had she been watching?

Garrett tugged nervously at the collar of his shirt "Uh, hi, Char What’s up?"