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I pull on my boots as fast as I can I throw on my coat and walk towards the front door I see the Jeep turn into the driveway and park just as I walk off the porch and down the front steps I stand there for half a second, holding the bat, and wait to see who gets out The snow is really pouring do, and even a few feet away fro

When a s cap rounds the back of the Jeep, I squint as I try to make out who it is She stops short when she sees me with a bat inon to covera hat or scarf, and hten her

I can’t see her eyes very ith all the snow that’s co she must need some kind of help to come out this far

“Alex?”

The one word nearly knocks me over on my ass I let the bat drop into the snow and I turn around, quickly giving Noelle et here?

“What are doing here, Noelle?” I can hear the cold callous sound in my voice, but I can’t stop it

“I…I had a probleet the book back to you today”

Her war overrock hard even in this frosty weather

“You shouldn’t be out in this weather” All I can think about is how dangerous it was for her to come here

There’s silence for half a second, and then I hear her feet shuffle slightly “You’re right It was a real bitch getting here I’m sorry I tried to call, but I didn’t want to hter and have to reinto comfort her “I’m sorry, we can do this another time I’ll just make my way back to town and try to call you later”

“No!” I don’t turn around, but the word echoes through the forest, silencing her