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At least Aaron isn’t here I’ht--not after what happened last weekend It would have been better if he’d been mad--if he’d freaked out and yelled, or started ru Then I could hate him Then it would ly, epically polite, like he’s the greeter at a Gap Like he’s really hoping I’ll buy so but doesn’t want to seeether," he’d said out of the blue, even as he was giving me back my sweatshirt (cleaned, of course, and folded) and a variety of er and a weird snow globe I’d seen for sale at CVS School had served pasta marinara for lunch, and there was a tiny bit of Day-Glo sauce at the corner of his e your mind"
"Maybe," I’d said And I really hoped, rabs a bottle of Southern Co it off with Coca-Cola I bite the inside of my lip, as if I can chew back the words I really want to say: This house with Mo out of trouble She landed us both in therapy, for God’s sake
Instead I say, "So A new boyfriend, huh?" I try and keep ht
One corner of Dara’s erates" Sheour plastic cups together "Cheers," she says, and takes a big swig, e half her drink
The drink sh syrup I set it down next to a platter of cold pigs in blankets, which look like shriveled thuauze "So there’s no mysterygold eye shadow tonight, and a dusting of it coats her cheeks; she looks like soh fairyland "I’m irresistible"
"What about Parker?" I say "More trouble in paradise?"
Instantly I regret the question Dara’s smile vanishes "Why?" she says, her eyes dull now, hard "Want to say ‘I told you so’ again?"
"Forget it" I turn away, feeling suddenly exhausted "Good night, Dara"
"Wait" She grabs one, and she sain "Stay, okay? Stay, Ninpin," she repeats, when I hesitate
When Dara gets like this, turns sweet and pleading, like her old self, like the sister who used to cli me, wide-eyed, to wake up, wake up, she’s alet up at seven," I say, even as she’s leading me outside, into the fizz and pop of the rain "I proets here"
For the first , Mo was different But recently she’s been forgetting: to turn on the dishwasher, to set her alarm, to iron her work blouses, to vacuum It’s like every time he removes another item from the house--his favorite chair, the chess set he inherited froolf clubs he never uses--it takes a portion of her brain with it
"Why?" Dara rolls her eyes "She’ll just bring cleansing crystals with her to do the work Please," she adds She has to raise her voice to be heard over the music; someone has just turned up the volume "You never come out"
"That’s not true," I say "It’s just that you’re always out" The words sound harsher than I’d intended But Dara only laughs
"Let’s not fight tonight, okay?" she says, and leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek Her lips are candy-sticky "Let’s be happy"
A group of guys--juniors, I’ether in the half-dark of the barn start hooting and clapping "All right!" one of the a beer "Lesbian action!"
"Shut up, dick!" Dara says But she’s laughing "She’s my sister"
"That’s definitelyHer face is flushed, her eyes bright with alcohol "She’s ain, to no one and also to everyone, since Dara is the kind of person other people watch, want, follow "Andof applause Another guy yells, "Get it on!"
Dara throws an arm around my shoulder, leans up to whisper in , sharp with booze "Best friends for life," she says, and I’ on e that"
AFTER
At 11:55 pm, Norwalk police responded to a crash on Route 101, just south of the Shady Palms Motel The driver, Nicole Warren, 17, was taken to Eastern Meer, Dara Warren, 16, as not wearing her seat belt, was rushed by a, still in critical condition We’re all praying for you, Dara