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Fifteen and sneaky, thinking we could hide in the crowd lining Jackson Square, pretending my father’s reputation didn’t walk in front ofall ridiculous on et with a wide-open bull’s-eye

The spires of Saint Louis Cathedral had stretched up toward the clouds like those on Cinderella’s castle No h, just busy crowds Tourists held chicory coffee froo cups; heat met crisp winter air and formed steam At least there’d been no heat to exacerbate the leftover sed at the ends ofout froht body look ynous Delayed puberty, my nemesis

"Benny and I met when he came to ith his dad one day I told him his belly looked like Santa’s, he toldfor round before the fight was broken up, but ot to coht before the accident, when he’d started doing things like offering up his jacket, lettingto make theunknown and scary

"The shots were so loud I thought they were fireworks at first I didn’t understand why anyone would be setting fireworks off in the unfire"

Bullets had peppered the wrought iron and the sidewalk, scattered the crowd like jacks Screa moment of my next two years Benny’s blood would be the backdrop His blue eyes were open and empty as I lay beside his wasted body, splattered by his blood It was in that second, before reality and grief rolled in, I decided I’d spend the rest of h for both of us

I ht there on Jackson Square"

"Were you hurt?"

"Took a hit onus, but he tackledin three places"

"I’ed "That’s when I decided life was short--at least I’m pretty sureif you don’t go balls to the ith it Hard to do when you’re protected the way I ahteen soon"

"Will you leave hoo to school at Tulane, for dance I understand why Dad wants me here, protected all the time It was hard on everyone e lost Benny If he could just give me a little more lead on my leash … but he won’t" I met his eyes "I haven’t decided what to do yet If one day I’ll change my appearance and run, or if I’ll stay But honestly, I can’t see the latter as an option"

"I don’t think anyone would blahten things up If I kept talking, I’d turn my hallway into a confessional and Dune into reed But I’ll only answer if you proarment preferences out of it"

He knew exactly ho I felt, and how telling hie of it, he helped me steer"Just so you know"

Chapter 9

Dune, Early December

Hallie said, "So yes or no?"

It had been just over a week since I’d blown ame of either/or in the hall outside her roo