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No I hated it when he ith Heaven and can’t explain the level of happiness when she stopped co around soand a real boyfriend hug that big of a deal to you? A kiss? More? And would it hurt to know he’s doing those things with another girl?"

Hurt? No It would be agony I want that I want hiirl

"How do I prove to him that I’ gesture "Talk to him? Tell him how you feel? It’s worked wonders for others"

I’ain I’s are so messy and uncontrollable It’s so much easier to pretend you don’t have any than it is to not only acknowledge them, but proclairoan Because I knohat the worst is

36

The Kill

Chase

I clench lare at the caller ID

Annie

I wonder if she’s calling round, Ito calht

"Hey," she says softly My insides twist How can she sound so norrind ht?"

I huff out a bitter laugh "I’ht, Annie?"

She’s quiet for a moment, and then, "You sound pissed off What happened?"

Ha What happened? I heard soas night at work"

"I won’t keep you then…"

"Great Thanks"

"Do you have a song for htly ins to throb "Yeah," I say "The Kill Thirty Seconds to Mars When you listen to it, I want you to really listen to it Hear it Hear rees I can hear the confusion in her voice

"By the way," I add, "soht That’s not safe Anybody could have walked in" I don’t wait for her to reply I hit end then toss oodbye to her, but I can’t be her friend I can’t pretend it doesn’t hurt to know she’s with someone else It’s better this way I’d rather rip the Band-Aid off once, quick and semi-painless, than pick at it over and over, day in and day out, for who kno long I can’t and I won’t

~~

I look at the clock on the nightstand in disbelief Why the hell is so? I sit up, pissed off because I had just fallen asleep I flip on the la," I say as I pull the door open

I’m not sure what surprisesin front oflivid, or that I’ in front of me in her pajamas, livid or not

"What the hell does itit intoI can hear the h the attached ear buds "You’re finished withAnnie room to coet I’m in a pair of boxer-briefs until I sit down on the couch, the pleather cold on my bare back

"What’s it mean?" Annie de into mine "Tell me," she whispers

"I stopped by your room after work"

She looks at hly She’s going to make me say it Fine "I heard you With your coives out I still can’t say it

"You heard ht…" Her eyes narrow and she takes a deliberate step inquickly with her angered breaths and she looks like she wants to dick-punch me

"I haven’t been in my room since nine o’clock because Hannah’s boyfriend came for a surprise visit," she states slowly Her tone razor sharp "It’s their anniversary What did you hear?"

Oh

Shit

My eyebrows rise in revelation And then I smile Because I’ or so

"I, um… I’m sorry," I say "I heard the sex with someone else in my room"

Ouch Does she need to say it like that? "Yes?"

She slits her eyes, her lips pressed so fir skin whitens And then she kicks me in the shin

"Da loss to her eyes

"Are you crying?"