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Loden’s kind of a friend of mine He’s on the swiolden-boy thing going for him He comes from money I’m not sure of the hat, or why, just that there’s money to his name And a lot of it He’s pre-law From what I can tell, he’s s shit she’s always looking for in a guy

He’s also a little bit of a douche bag I’ve never had an issue with him personally, but I’ve heard rumors Apparently Loden doesn’t have a type He likes women A lot of women And fro at Annie, I’ht have She’s a big girl She can do whatever she wants But as ation to warn her And if I’ honest with myself, which I rarely am, I’m pissed off

I pulllow ons somewhat dry and join the two lovebirds on the bench

"Hey, ?"

"I can’t coe Annie because I’d rather talk to her alone, but she shoots me a look and refuses tointo hers, forcing her over and getting her clothes wet She rowl, and I grin at her "Can I talk to you real quick?"

She presses her lips together tightly and I can al to ten "In a e anyway"

Annie turns back to hiht up like a kid on Christht o`clock"

"Eight o`clock," she echoes in confirh the locker roo on the door

"What’s at eight?" Not what I had wanted to talk to her about, but it is now

She s"

Annie likes all that kind of shit Dancing and gyh high school

"Where you going?"

Her brows ht shake "He didn’t say Why?" I can feel her eyes on aze away fro to warn her about Loden

I gri to be pissed And usually I’ Annie off, but I need her to hear ht now

"Do you know hiether I talk to hiot he was on the swi overpink "What do you roan simultaneously It’s difficult to say this to Annie Her specifically Beginning of our senior year, soh school I was never given details--nor did I ever ask--but all of a sudden, Annie started avoiding hiuess? Date rape I punched the guy in his face at a party one night for talking shit about her and Hope I’ve never talked to her about it because I’m afraid we’d have to talk about what he did to her

So talking to her about sex and dating makes me nervous

"Chase What?"

"I’ve just heard that he doesn’t…you know…do the whole relationship thing"

She blinks ator if she even understands

I inhale deeply and let it out all at once "I think he wants to take you out to have sex with you," I say, no longer choosing ht be what’s going on so you’re prepared In case you were expecting more"

And then it occurs to me that maybe she wasn’t Maybe she wants a hook-up

"Don’t worry," she says softly "I don’t expect much from anybody anymore" She scoops up her shoes as she stands "Thanks for the warning, but I’ll be fine I always a back

She pauses and glances back at s indifferently "Doesn’t reallyRoad to Ruin

Annie

It doesn’t reallyaround and around intiin with But I don’t kno to find that place in life where everything is fine Where I’m content All I can do is follow hts down as I get ready for my date with Loden

Loden Guiles My stomach does this little twist, somewhere between butterflies and nausea