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She stared at hi and then flicked her eyes back to Ari, clearly wary since Ari had fumbled with a lie but on the fence because of their innocent appearance "Trouble how?"

"Mom, who is it?" Charlie’s familiar voice floated out from the house and then suddenly, he was there

He stood behind his mom, eyes narrowed on Trey before they flicked to Ari, then back to Trey, and then quickly back to Ari As he looked at her, Ari felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle Charlie looked even better up close If their lives had been different … she shook the thought, trying not to stare back when he was so blatantly checking her out

"They said they know you That you’re in trouble," Mrs Creagh drew his attention back to her

He shook his head, glancing at Trey and then turning back to Ari with his penetrating gaze "I don’t know them"

"Please, Charlie," Ari took a step toward him and she watched his brow pucker at her familiarity with him "You don’t remember me but I know you I really need to talk to you"

"I don’t reth of her before returning to her face "And I’d definitely remember you"

"What’s the holdup?" Another voice joined the fray, and Mikey suddenly appeared at his brother’s shoulders "Mom, you said dinner was almost ready" He shot a look at Trey and then turned to Ari, his eyes widening with interest a second before they clouded over with confusion "Hey, I know you"

She jerked back in surprise as Charlie and Mrs Creagh turned to hi now "Dude, how do I know you?"

At the sight of hirown up, ether and how much she’d loved him It had broken her heart when he died Tears clouded her vision and her voice shook as she replied in a whisper, "Froripped her hand to offer coht of Ari’s tears

"Perhaps you two should coested quietly Ari and Trey followed the threeso on the tails of their curiosity

When they were all standing in the Creaghs’ living rooaze sincerely into each of their eyes before she began "What I’ to want to throw h this will seeeous, it’s also the truth"

"Why are the hot ones always crazy?" Charlie h," his ed back at her

Ari decided not to react to his comment It made sense that this Charlie would find her attractive since the other Charlie had What he found appealing wouldn’t have fundaed

Still, not the time Not that there would ever be a time for Charlie to find her hot

"Okay" She drew in a deep breath and told them her story Their story

Silence filled the room when she finished Charlie’s face darkened "Are you shittingis not some funny little ‘bit’ for whatever sick prank this is"

"Charlie!" Mrs Creagh cried "This is all very strange but that’s no excuse to use that language in front of your little brother"

"Get out," Charlie ignored his lared at Ari "We don’t do crazy people in this house The last crazy person got kicked to the curb and now he doesn’t pay child support on tiestured to the door and Trey i her It didn’t faze Charlie at all "Man, I will seriously kick your ass"

"Wait," Mikey held up a hand to stop Charlie, his face pale, his fingers shaking Everyone stopped and turned to him but his eyes were on Ari "She’s really familiar, Charlie I feel like I know her"

He rolled his eyes "Stop playing, Mikey"

"I’ scared "Dude, I know her"

"We need to hurry this up," Trey sighed and with a crackle of energy Ari now found familiar, Trey held up his hands and let the ehs stepped back, amazement on their faces

"What The Eff," Mikey e

"We are Jinn," Trey informed them solemnly "What Ari told you is the truth, and now one of the most powerful Jinn in history is after Charlie We don’t have tio We need to--"

Fire exploded around the room Ari and Trey ihs

"Stay back!" Ari shouted at them

She set her shoulders in determination as the two Marids came at them

15

Who We Used to Be

"That cut on your forehead should be healing quicker than it is," Treythe skin around it

Ari gave hi "It’s because I’m absolutely exhausted" First she’d killed an Utukku, then she’d fought with Lilif, and then she’d fought with Marids, and then she’d expelled what tiny a everyone through the Peripatos one at a time Exhausted didn’t cover it

Her friend did not look pleased