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Chapter One

The noise fro downstairs seeped into my quiet space I pal the wall I threw it in the air a few ti it off the wall above my headboard

It was ten o’clock at night on a Thursday, and the party was just getting started My parents said that having people over tonight was unavoidable We were leaving for Cedar Ridge, Texas—a town too sister on ood-bye Any other seventeen year old would probably be excited about sneaking a drink or having an excuse to buy a new dress, but not me I wasn’t much of a party person Or a people person

With my stuff already packed up and the TVs unhooked, I was beyond bored Still, there was no way I was going downstairs

I’d disappeared to my room as soon as the caterers arrived Since then, I’d found the end of the internet Apparently there were only so irl could enjoy Unless I wanted to pay for crappy re-runs, I was out of things to watch and left with only a bouncy ball to aid in my entertainment

It’d been a bad idea to pack everything but my essentials so early Twenty-three sainst the side of my room Most of them were filled with books The only stuff that I’d left unpacked would fit into a s and my backpack

But a bouncy ball was better than nothing, andthe cronstairs I threw it to the beat of the music and counted down the seconds Those would turn into minutes, and then into hours, and then eventually back into quiet so I could go to sleep I was really looking forward to a fresh start The sooner I could go to sleep, the sooner it’d be tomorrow

Only three e I se

A knock came from my door “Bathroom’s downstairs,” I yelled I heldthey heard me

The knob turned Shit I should’ve locked it

I hopped off my bed “Hey—”

“Whatcha doin’, Tessa?” My older brother, Axel, swung open the door

I sat back down on the bed He knew exactly what I was doing “What do you want?”

He leaned against the doorframe He ell over half a foot taller than me, but that didn’tinches We had the sarow—and the same dark brown eyes, thanks to our Latina mom “Dad wants you to come downstairs, even if it’s just for aabout you”

I made a face “I’d rather not Cover for me?”