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"That's sooooo great that you're still seeing each other Chaz--that's Chase's father--doesn't even go to our school anyot sent to military school His parents were so mad when they found out that I was, you know, 'uploaded,' he was afraid they ht actually have hile this girl if it weren't for the fact that it would leave drooling Chase irl?"

The pause before answering is aard and uncomfortable Risa wonders whether or not there's a discreet way to check without Alexis seeing, but realizes there isn't "Girl," Risa says At least there's a 50 percent chance she's right

"What's her name?"

This time Connor pipes up "Didi," he says "Her narin frory she is at him

"Yeah," says Risa "Same as me Family tradition"

Clearly Connor has recovered at least a portion of his senses He see the role as best he can The redness in his face has receded until it's only his ears that are red

"Well, you're going to love Center-North High," Alexis says "They've got a great day care center, and really take care of student-mothers Some teachers even let us nurse in class"

Connor puts his hand over Risa's shoulder "Do fathers get to watch?"

Risa shrugs off his ar If he thought he was out of the doghouse, he's dead wrong As far as she's concerned, his na friends," says Alexis She looks to where Lev was sitting, but he'snext to hi about but can't hear anything beyond Alexis's blathering

"Or is it your brother?" Alexis says to Connor

"No, he's rins and rolls her shoulders a bit "He's kind of cute"

Risa didn't think it was possible to like Alexis any less than she already did Apparently she rong Alexis must see the look in Risa's eyes, because she says, "Well, I mean cute for a freshrade," Risa says, burning Alexis an even aze that says, Keep your claay from my little brother She has to remind herself that Lev really isn't her little brother Now it's Connor's turn to stoht to do it Too e wasan enemy is not in their best interests

"Sorry," says Risa, softening her gaze "Long night with the baby It's made me cranky"

"Oh, believe me, I've totally been there"

It looks as if the Alexis Inquisition ht continue until they reach the school, but the bus co little Chase buins to cry Suddenly Alexis goes into mother mode, and the conversation ends

Risa heaves a deep sigh, and Connor says, "I really ah he sounds sincere, she's not accepting any apologies

13 Lev

This day has not gone according to plan

The plan was to get away as soon as they reached civilization Lev could have run the moment they broke out of the woods He could have, but he didn't There'll be a better tiht A perfect time would present itself if he had patience, and kept watchful

Pretending to be one of the to be like the that kept hi would be as it should be

When the police car had turned onto the street, Lev was fully prepared to throw himself at the car and turn hi

Their pictures weren't in the paper

That bothered Lev even more than the others His family was influential They were not to be trifled with He felt certain that his face would be the biggest thing on the front page When it wasn't, he didn't knohat to think Even Risa's theory that his parents wanted her and Connor killed seeave himself up to the police, what if they turned and fired real bullets at Risa and Connor? Would the police do that? He wanted theht of their deaths on his head, so he had let the squad car go past

And now things are worse Now there's this baby Stealing a storked baby! These tinds are out of control He no longer fears that they'll kill hierous They need to be protected from themselves They needthey needthey need to be unwound Yes That's the best solution for these two They're of no use to anyone in their current state, least of all themselves It would probably be a relief for them, for now they're all broken up on the inside Better to be broken up on the outside instead That way their divided spirits could rest, knowing that their living flesh was spread around the world, saving lives,other people whole Just as his own spirit would soon rest

He ponders this as he sits on the bus, trying to deny how s about it are

While Risa and Connor talk to a painfully perky girl and her baby, Levets on the bus and sits down next to hi to music that Lev can't hear The kid slips his backpack in between the Lev in, and returns his full attention to his tunes

That's when Lev gets an idea He looks behind hiirl and her baby Carefully Lev reaches into the kid's backpack and pulls out a dog-eared notebook Written on it in big black letters is DEATH BY ALGEBRA, with little skulls and crossbones Inside are raded down for sloppiness Lev quietly turns to a blank page, then he reaches into the kid's pack again, pulling out a pen All the while, the kid is so absorbed in his ins to write:

HELP! I'M BEING HELD HOSTAGE

BY TWO AWOL UNWINDS

NOD IF YOU UNDERSTAND

When he's done, he tugs the boy's shoulder It takes two tugs to get his attention