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"I need to tell you about it There’s stuff I haven’t told you"

I nod "I want to hear it all I want to help you I will be there, helping you Okay? Ito happen? Probably not"

"No idea"

I close ure out how to get out of here I’"

"We both are"

We’re quiet for a minute

"Stay on the phone with me," he says "Please?"

"I will" I cli the phone to hs a little and it makes me feel better for him We whisper a little bit, and soon we’re quiet My eyelids droop

In an instant, it’s

Nine

"What happened to your face?" Rowan asks as we stand in the bathroolare "Nothing" The ih it’s not nearly as pronounced as when I first got up

She narrows her eyes atup shifts for you in case you’re, like, feeling a little overtired Or if you need to go to the library for a project or so I like money"

I pause and look at her in the mirror "Or maybe you want to, I don’t know Volunteer sos"

I set et a little creative is all I’ Don’t you want to join a club after school? Try out for a sport?" She blinks her lashes rapidly and sto help" She puts away her lances at one of the seventeen clocks--the top one, which actually works--that the hoarder decided would look great piled on the towel rack above the toilet "Let’s go"