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They didn't hear me walk up But then I said, loudly, "Wow, so first Conrad, then Jeremiah, and now my brother"

She turned around, surprised, and Steven looked surprised too "Belly--," she started

"Shut up" I looked at my brother then, and he squirmed "You're a hypocrite You don't even like her! You said she bleached out all her brain cells with her Sun-In!"

He cleared his throat "I never said that," he said, glancing back and forth between Taylor andher left eye with the back of her sweatshirt sleeve Steven's sweatshirt sleeve I was too angry to cry

"I' Jeremiah"

"Belly, just freakin' calm down You're too old for your te his head in his brotherly way

The words came out of me, hot and fast and sure "Go to hell" I had never talked like that to my brother before I don't think I'd ever talked like that to anyone before Steven blinked

That's when I started to walk away, and Taylor chased afterI guess anger gives you speed

"Belly, I's just happened really fast"

I stopped walking and spun around "When? When did they happen? Because fro so fast with Jereed helplessly, which only made me madder Poor helpless little Taylor "I've always had a crush on Steven You know that, Belly"

"Actually, I didn't Thanks for telling me"

"When he liked me back, it was like, I couldn't believe it I didn't think"

"That's the thing He doesn't like you He's just using you because you're around," I said I kneas cruel, but I also kneas true Then I walked into the house and left her standing outside

She chased after ed her off

"Please don't be s to stay the sa with tears What she really row bigger brsts and quit violin and kiss your brother

"Things can't stay the sa it to hurt her because I kneould

"Don't be mad at me, okay, Belly?" she pleaded Taylor hated it when people were mad at her

"I'm not mad at you," I said "I just don't think we really know each other any it because it's true"

She said, "I'm sorry, okay?"

I looked away for a second "You proenuinely confused "No Jeremiah You said you'd be nice"

She waved her hand in the air "Oh, he doesn't care"

"Yeah, he does It's just that you don't know him" Like I do, I wanted to add "I didn't think you'd ever act so--so " I searched for the perfect word, to cut her the way she'd cut me "Slutty"

"I'm not a slut," she said in a tiny voice