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"She was in a robe, you nitwit," I said, turning and continuing on ht"

"Oh yeah, like that’s any better Tellat home because you’re broke and desperate, or because yourat ho back at him

"I’m in school, that’s why What’s your excuse?" Billy rolled beside me and shoved me out of his way

I barreled into Veronica before I could right e "People who are in school for six years are called doctors What is it you’re studying?"

He set laid Maybe you should try it" He pushed the ground and rolled on

"At least we have actual cars," I yelled after him

"I hate when he does that Gives a stupid rebuttal, then takes off so he gets the last word I et laid? Even if that wasn’t sleazy and gross, it still wouldn’t irl? His lack of success speaks for itself But did I have a chance to sound a logical argument? No, I did not Because off he went, a twenty-four-year-old on a freaking skateboard How does he even have the right to taunt us? He’s on a skateboard in the rain"

"We’re wandering around with ns" I brushed the hair out ofwas still there The watchfulness The eyes digging into my back

Billy wasn’t the source of that The lurkers were still out there

"There is that, yes," Veronica said, oblivious to the danger around us "But at least we have jobs We hatever way you want to slice it I wish he’d stay still long enough forout in front of my house, a beacon for anyone who hadinto their garage, the red of their taillights washing across the cement of their driveway

Amidst the whole sorry scene,of safety I’d always taken for granted

"Coain

"Penny, you are not tellingdefinitely has you spooked"

"Yes, fine, but not right now" I glanced behind us A flicker of htin the wind, or soed Veronica across the street by her wrist, sighing in relief as soon as my foot landed on our property The sense of dread that had been growing inlance down at our property line, I pulled Veronica up the walk and to our porch "Just come in really quickly, okay? I want to see whatin I don’t care if I have to choke down youron"

I turned the handle and pushed, part of me terrified the door would be locked and I’d be trapped outside After it swung open, thankfully, I dragged Veronica inside and gave her a little shove away froave a satisfying click, I peered out theA car rolled by, the driver looking straight ahead A light clicked on in the front roomacross the street Lewis Ti his gaze along the street His curtains were pulled shut a , and I realized I’d been holding my breath

Myin a pot She glanced up alked in before going back to it "Did you fix everything?"

Veronica looked at me with her eyebrows raised Apparently I would be spearheading this conversation with my mother And while that had initially been the plan…now here I was Theory was