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Rowan splayed his arms out proudly "Didn’t I say I’d deliver?"

I squeezed his arht, then, time for wishes," Ian announced "If it worked for Jared, it’ll work for us Rowan, you found this place, so you go first"

Rowan strode over to the stuu about his posture changed Opened up There was a long, quiet pause, and when he spoke, his voice was quiet and clear "I wish o of each other"

I suddenly felt like a trespasser, stulance Did Rowan need abackward, but Rowan’s voice held ht" He turned back toward us, his face even "Bad fights Even in public Once ere out to dinner and their fighting got so bad that sohtly "I was so relieved on New Year’s when they told ht, Finally It’s over

"But it isn’t over They don’t live in the same house anymore, but in soer as they were by et away froestured toward the car "They want me to choose who to live with for the school year That’s why all my stuff is packed into Clover I still don’t knohich one Both places sound miserable"

My heart thickened "Rowan," I started, but I didn’t knohere to go fro all the layers of his sadness I’d never thought of connection that way--that hatred could be just as binding as love My chest ached for hi through all this I would have tried to help"

"You did help; you just didn’t know it" Rowan dug the toe of his sneaker into the ground "I needed someone who knewon you guys about your arguing--it just kept triggering me I know your mom can be hard on you, but you look out for each other, and I can tell your family is the real deal" He looked up, his eyes open and vulnerable "I just wish I had what you have"

My feet carriedaround his back "Rowan, you do have us We’re here with you, and we’ll be here as long as you need us"

Ian flanked his other side, the three of us looking down at the stump I carefully set a coin down "My wish is for Rowan," I said,my words "I wish that Roill be happy, and that he’ll know he’s not alone"

"Me too," Ian said, setting his coin next to mine "My wish is for Rowan"

Rowan didn’t thank us He didn’t have to Over the past three ridiculous days, Rowan had been carrying us, holding steady through our fights and bitter re him

Finally, Rowan broke the silence "I think that helped Anyone feel like going to Electric Picnic?"

"I guess," I said nonchalantly, and Ian grinned "I don’t really have any other plans"

We were exiting the muddy bank when my phone chimed Ian stiffened "Oh, no Did Walt spill?"

I lifted the screen to my face It was Olive

ADDIE, ARE YOU OK? NOW EVERYONE IS

TALKING ABOUT CUBBY AND A PHOTO OF YOU

No I froze, willing the letters to rearrange, willing theother than what it meant My breath turned shallow, er than ed to fit in with every social group on the high school spectrum, as comfortable with the other soccer players as she was the debate team If she said everyone, she meant everyone