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I expected Peter to tellway that none of that was otistical to assus that happened in life happened because of me

But instead he looked at me with the utentle, and whenever he softened, he was ally attractive

When he reached out and pulled me into his arms, I knew that I should pull away, but I didn’t really have the strength for it He held me to him, and I buried my face in his chest I just wanted to sob, and I wanted so, and it felt so good and safe that I aloing to be alright," he murmured into my hair

"I wish I could believe you," I whispered My tears were calainst his chest, listening to his heartbeat

"Peter!" Ezra suddenly boo directly at the bottom of the stairs

He broke whatever moment I had with Peter, and I realized how incredibly inappropriate and dangerous it was to let hi I pulled away froround Peter just turned and went downstairs to see what Ezra wanted, and I slunk back to Jack’s roo very sad, and I climbed in next to her I rested h her thick white fur She whimpered a little, and I knew that sheI could do about it

Although, I was starting to think it was h for him

Mae woke me up a few hours later I sat up with a start, but she smiled wanly at me in the dark "Jane is awake"

- 27 -

Jane didn’t look any better, and she didn’t seem entirely alert Mae had helped prop her up with a couple pillows Her eyes were dull blue, allassy, and her expression was cory to be alive, but she watched me with kind of a subdued fascination I think it was still hard for her to get used to the idea that I was prettier than her, even when I’d just woken up

"Hey," I said I stood aardly off to the side of the bed and pushed a dark strand of hair behind ?"

"How does it look like I’ just fine," Mae said before I could reply A glass of water sat on the nightstand, and Mae handed it to Jane She gave Mae a bored look, but she took it anyway, taking a long drink "She’s been through a lot lately"

"Yeah, I know," I said Mae pushed the hair off Jane’s forehead, and I didn’t appreciate the way she fawned all over her Jane did need extra care, but I didn’t like the way MaeWe haven’t spoken inatand texting you a million times You were the one who didn’t want to talk to me!"