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I gave the detective your information, and she said they would call you when they want you to come in I’m not sure what happens next

JW (aka Jacqueline, aka J, aka Ms Wallace, aka Jackie - but will apply self-defense training as needed if called such)

Ms Jacqueline (not-Jackie) Wallace,

I never for one ht up in ly rotten about it I’lad you found out, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you myself If anyone was clueless, it wasanything to ht was your fault I was so amped, and pissed--at hiht have killed hi order?

Lucas

Me: Can itch to text?

Lucas: Sure np

Me: We got the paperwork to file a temporary RO tomorrow afternoon

Lucas: Good If you feel threatened, I want you to call me Ok?

Me: Ok

Lucas: To a review on Friday

Me: Obviously, you don’t need that I thought you were a bad slacker student Sitting on the back row, drawing, not paying any attention to the lecture

Lucas: I guess I did look that way This is h the class I know the material pretty well

Me: So, after Wednesday, we don’t have class together? And after the final next Wednesday, then what?

Several minutes passed, and I knew I’d asked a question he either didn’t know the answer to or didn’t want to answer

Lucas: Winter break There are things you don’t know about ain, but I’ out there I don’t know if I can I’an a week from Friday--the last day of fall finals I was required to leave the dorin for seven weeks A lot could change in that space of tirade and broke my arm I couldn’t play my bass or braid my own hair for seven weeks When I was fifteen, my best friend Dahlia went to summer camp for seven weeks When she returned, she was best friends with Jillian I res were never the same between Dahlia and me Seven weeks after fall semester started, Kennedy broke up withover hi

Erin came in from work before I could formulate a reply to Lucas, if there even was one Uncharacteristically quiet and wearing a distracted expression, she peeled off her work clothes carefully, dropping the tendency

"Erin? Is everything all right?"

She flopped onto her bed and stared at the ceiling "Chaz was standing next toflowers"

I didn’t see any flowers, so I could only iood "What did he want?" I knew exactly what he wanted I knehat he’d wanted last Saturday What he’d probably wanted ever since he’d been duirlfriend

"He apologized He groveled He said he’d apologize and grovel to you if I wanted hiht Buck would resort to--that--to get a girl, because girls are always throwing theo that it isn’t about sex It’s about dominance" She raised up on her elbows to look at me "He didn’t listen to ed with rape--now he’s listening"

I shrugged "I guess that guys who’d never do souy would," I said, but I could see her point Awareness and apologies were fine and good, but they could come too late

Chapter 21

Kennedy aiting outside the classroo eye contact, I intended to walk by him into class, but he reached out as I passed "Jacqueline--co him to pull me a few feet to the left of the door, I faced the classroom so I could see when Lucas arrived

He kept his voice low and leaned one shoulder on the smooth tile wall "Chaz says you and Mindi filed police reports yesterday"