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Breath catching, I took uneasy step back "Ca over to help me They’ll be here any ot a final right now" He took a slow, measured step forward "Why would you say that when it’s not true?"

My heart thudded asover sooner than that I got the tihed a short, dark sound as he looked away, running a hand through his hair "You didn’t get shit messed up"

I drew in a deep breath as I took another step back, close to the open door Screw getting my stuff I didn’t want to be in the rooer "I’ll just come back another--­"

Erik shot forward so fast I didn’t see hi by Deb’s bed and the next he was in front of me A scream built in my throat, but it never escaped He was onhis hand down onme back from the door A metallic taste filled ht leg gave out as he slammed his hand in the center ofmyself with my hands at the same point I heard the door slam shut and lock

I was stunned for a moment as I slowly liftedmy vision The inside ofup hat just happened, but when it did, fear roared throughers aroundmy head back I yelped as heat spiked downto leverage ht as fire spread across my scalp "What are--­?"

"Don’t act like you have no idea" He dragged ht onto my left, but the position hurt "Debbie’s dead because of you"

"You’re crazy" The words were out ofcrazy You killed--­"

Erik let go ofhts I fell to the side, jaw stinging, and the roo Tears of pain filled ed in air A burn raced across my face as I slowly opened o fro finals to this?

This couldn’t be real--­could not be happening

Every part of me froze up It was too familiar The wayinsidefro sixteen all over again, cowering on the floor as Jere so simple, so stupid Helpless Scared Confused Body and hands shaking

"I’ed his voice,to her and oddamn business, she wouldn’t have broken up with me"

"What?" Blood leaked out of the corner ofhand and foundsmear of red

Too familiar

"When you asked her about the bruises! And then that fking Sunday You had to get involved" He started toward et hurt Like it wasfault It wasn’t! It was yours!"

Fury snapped at the heels of the rising fear, and I did soot

I wasn’t a victiain

"So typical" I spat the words out "You hit someone and it’s always their fault Never yours"

"Oh, shut up, you stupid ginored the dizziness that assaulted uess your fists just slip and fall on ­people’s faces?"

"Only those who deserve it"

"Did Debbie deserve it?"

He cursed "Don’t you dare talk about her You don’t know shit"

I lurched toh a haze of tears I spun, reaching for the closest weapon I grabbed the bedside la, more than prepared to knock him upside the head so hard that it kicked hi at ave hiain the upper hand He snatched the lamp from my hand and tossed it across the room It hit my clothes and then thudded off the wall My heart stopped, and then I whirled toward the door

Pain exploded along the back of ain, and I blinked to clear my vision, but it felt like it took hours to reopenI kneas on the floor, on

Erik was pacing, his sneakers crunching over my hair How had iant bruise I drew in a deep breath, and it hurt"I didn’t even hit you that hard"

My head was full of cobwebs I must’ve fallen and passed out, which meant I probably had a concussion

And concussions were bad news, right?

Feeling like I’d been abruptly woken up, I slowly rose onto h mud

"I wasted sohis palain "I didn’tainst the bed, winded He didn’t mean to do what?

"It justit just happened I came over to talk to her, to prove to her that she ether, but she toldinto sizable fists