Page 3 (2/2)

"Mark"

"Whatever his name was How old is he?"

I stay quiet on that Twenty is the answer, but I know better than to say it Dad’s just looking for someone to blame Let hiuy made me hop the fence at Carren Park and strip down tobelly flop into a deep end so cold it shocked the breath right out ofof Dara, thinking she should have been with e boulder rising up out of the dark, an accordion-wall of solid stone, and have to shutand shts

"Listen, Nick," Dad says "Your mom and I are worried about you"

"I didn’t think you and Mo down thea few inches, both because the air-conditioning is barely sputtering out cold air and because the rush of the wind helps drown out Dad’s voice

He ignores that "I’m serious Ever since the accident--"

"Please," I say quickly, before he can finish "Don’t"

Dad sighs and rubs his eyes under his glasses He smells a little bit like the ht to keep hiy pajama pants he’s had forever, the ones with reindeers on them And just for a second, I feel really, truly terrible

Then I reirlfriend and Mos pulled way too tight

"You’re going to have to talk about it, Nick," Dad says This time his voice is quiet, concerned "If not with me, then with Dr Lich theall the way, so the wind is thunderous and whips away the sound of my voice "I don’t"

JANUARY 7

Dara’s Diary Entry

Dr Lick Me--I’m sorry, Lich about o:

I hate Parker

I hate Parker

I hate Parker

I hate Parker

I hate Parker

I feel better already!