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Violet shrugged "I don’t know" She wandered to a shelf of pretty brown bottles, each with anic Alchemy She picked up a jar of patchouli oil with a black rubber stopper and uncorked it, taking a sniff "I guess I wanted to make sure you knew About Rafe" And then she realized what a la she could just as easily have called to give Krystal the news "I guess" Her voice trailed off, trying to decide "I guess I wasn’t really ready to go home yet Can I ask you a question?"

Krystal wandered over to the pile of pillows and dropped down, crossing her legs in front of her She leaned back on her ar up at Violet "Shoot"

Violet sat too, so that she was across the table fro the way Krystal looked so open, so willing to share her innerhosts? When they talk to you, are you ever afraid?"

"Afraid? Nah" Krystal’s lips curled doard as she shook her head "They’ve been co to visit me since I was a baby My mom talked to them, and probably her inary friends, to have conversations with people no one else could see It wasn’t until Missy Bigsbyit Everyone else thought I was justtalking to ed "Whatever Missy can suck it, if you knohat I irls deserve to end up divorced and alone at twenty-one"

Violet couldn’t help laughing, even though she felt bad for the kindergarten version of Krystal She would have been mortified if the other kids had known about her secret "So you and this Missy girl, you stayed in touch?"

Krystal smiled deviously "Let’s just say that one of my invisible ‘friends’ didn’t appreciate Missy flippin’ ave me a heads-up about what her future held" She looked satisfied with herself, a s her full lips

"Wow," Violet breathed "Reet on your bad side"

"Please, I was five I’ve got better things to do now than worry about whether people think I’m crazy or not" Krystal toyed with a s Violet that she was more sensitive than she let on

"Well, if you’re crazy then I guess we all are," Violet said "I o out of my way to find them"

Krystal snorted, glancing up frouess crazy isn’t all bad Soht about Antonia Cornett--about her ghost--co her that Casey Atkins was , that she’d been taken by the collector She stopped watching Krystal’s hot pink fingernails tugging at her frayed tights and watched her eyes instead "Do you think we’ll find Casey, Krystal? Alive, Iout a heavy breath, Krystal looked up at Violet "I hope so, Vi Goddammit, I really, really hope so"

Denial

HE WATCHED HER FROM THE DOORWAY, HIS heart aching "I’ the tray on the dresser by the door "You know it’s not your fault, don’t you?"

Her wide eyes stared back at hiht maybe--maybe--he should uncover her mouth so she could answer him Maybe she was ready to be quiet now

He stepped closer, slowly, so as not to startle her She had a delicate nature, he’d learned Like a butterfly Or a flower In the end, it was probably the reason they never really clicked, why she couldn’t be the one There was nothing delicate about him; his mother had always told hihtened of hi away from her lips and frohen he sa dry they were

"Here" He reached for the tube of ointain he was cautious, ever aware of her constitution He didn’t want her to cry again And he certainly didn’t want her to screaenerous layer of the creaht away, just kept that frightened-as-a-la hot with eh he told hi to be ashamed of "I don’t want you to be scared of me I’ve done my best to treat you kindly I’ve fed you and cared for you when you were all alone You remember that, don’t you?" He reached out and caressed her cheek It was fine skin, soft like silk He closed his eyes, pretending that the two of theain, all traces of fear were gone from her eyes She felt it too, he realized She wasn’t ready for it to end

"Can I?" he asked as he lifted the sheet He cli for an answer He knew from her expression that she wanted it as much as he did

His ot this close to a girl, even the ones he knew this well It was a thrilling feeling, and he felt bolderhe wanted more His hand traced the soft curve of her belly and he pulled her close, hugging her tightly until they were one body One mind

He nuzzled the side of her neck and breathed in the scent of her, hoping he’d never forget this th of her ar with hers