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1 Follow the rules

2 Keep my head down

3 Graduate

4 Get the hell out of Dodge

How did things get soto quit?" Phoenix braved, his voice gentle and soothing

"No," I gave in This was a e mistake But I couldn’t walk away from these people I shouldn’t involve thes for me to be real… But I couldn’t walk away from them now I cared about them too "But I’m not this, this person Ryder’s made me out to be, Ok, Phoenix? I’m just fine, really"

"If you say so, Ivy," Phoenix shotto ask you about, um, Exie?"

Despite theat Phoenix "Yeah? Exie?"

"Is she like, with anybody?"

"Uh I knew she actually ith somebody, but not so their breakup already anyway

"So she gave me her number, but I didn’t know if she, you know… should I call her?" he asked so adorably nervous I couldn’t help but laugh a little

"Yes, Phoenix If she gave you her number, you should definitely call her" I was actually iive out her nuuys she hooked up with didn’t get her cell number Of course they also didn’t lastPhoenix would last for more than that Exie had a chance at some happiness with Phoenix and I just wanted her to have that, have some happiness, for at least a little bit

"Thanks Ivy," his huge grin was back, lighting up his entire face "See you tomorrow"

"Yep, thanks for the ride," I clih the glass doors and to the elevator This night turned out weird, fun, frustrating and… just weird all the way around

I didn’t know if I would ever find my equilibrium with Ryder

The door to ot off the elevator and a shot of nerves zapped through me Shoot

As the elevator doors quietly closed behind me ing loose and wild around her shoulders, her usually bright green eyes were dulled and anguished in the corners and her rih our apart was not entirely full yet since it opened a few years ago, this floor was However we didn’t know any of our neighbors It was dangerous to get to know people where we lived, the curse was unpredictable and we preferred to live without the dra friends was not necessarily a top priority for her

Her priorities started withmoney and then only became variables of that

Because we didn’t know our neighbors and didn’t care to know them, I kneas safe until the door shut behindhall with her eyes so hatefully turned on

To say the least

"Where have you been?" she snapped as the door clicked closed behind me

She hadn’t moved, except to allow us privacy Still fraressively to her hips and her eyes narrowed into slits of fury

"I was out with Chase," I lied Blatantly

She see that was an acceptable response She forced a breath out and a wave of whisky hit me Then she wobbled on her feet and I knew this was bad

She never drank whisky Never

Lady’s only ever drink delicate drinks Save the hard stuff for the boys

Still, when things went badly for her, she hit the sauce And hard

"Are you Ok,better of it

"Of course, I’ain "Have you gained weight?"

I opened ain and then opened it "Um, no, I don’t think so"

"Oh, well maybe you need to drop three pounds anyway, Ivy," her tone was that pretending kind of care A sick feeling washed overinto woht to settle in unflattering places" I just nodded slowly Three pounds felt like too h But mom wasn’t finished, she continued with "Did you dye your hair again?"

Her question caught uard "Uolden red hair and then held it up to the light Before Sah this super rebellious phase and dyed it black It wasn’t so et in touch withF you to Nix and my mom Of course it backfired when Saht But at the time I had felt pretty badass

Now I knew better Pissing off Nix and aht, was od, I hope this isn’t how it stays You probably ruined it when you dumped all that black poison on it" She took a step forward and grabbed a chunk full of ers closed around a fistful of it, near the roots and she yanked it toward her I winced a little when biting pain shot across the base of my neck and up to the crown of my head

"Ow, mom," I whispered