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Snatching a hair band off my desk, I pulled my thick, black hair into aI didn’t turn to face Kira when she came into my room ten minutes later, but I knew she was there

"How could you do this towith emotion "You’re supposed to be on my side, you’re always supposed to be on my side And you went behindat her assumption "I didn’t plan shit, Kira They told ht before they asked you to get off the phone They just wanted ht you would freak out and they needed me to be able to try to talk you into it cal us both with the news at the same time The only difference between you and me is I have no probleh to think that the gang won’t actually ood on their threats if we stay here Or try to"

I went back to packing, and there was a couple minutes of silence before she said, "I knohy you’re all really doing this Don’t think for a second that I’h not to realize this is about Zane"

I released a heavy breath and shookto do with you and your boyfriend But I do think that this is soood for us"

"I won’t forgive you for this You of all people should realize how ht, but I didn’t reply I knew I couldn’t without lashing out at her Without another word, she left my room The only sounds were her soft cries and her feet on the hardwood as she walked away

"SO NOW THAT you have us on a private jet--which justus details about where we’ll be spending the next however long?" I asked Uncle Mason a few hours later

"Didn’t your ave hihed at

"Okay, tell me what you know, and I’ll fill in the blanks"

"Basically, all I know is that Juarez and a handful of others from his crew are up for probation within a fewnext week They’re so us--but more specifically, Kira and me--and Mom and Dad think it would be best if eren’t near Taraduated and don’t have a reason to stay up in Tallahassee anyo is California, near Mom’s family, and we’ll be there for an undetermined amount of time"

"I wasn’t toldacross the aisle

"You were told that," I shot back "All of that You just couldn’t get past the California-equals-no-Zane part, and flipped while they told you the rest!"

Before we could start on another war, Uncle Mason spoke up "You’ll be just north of San Diego, near your uncle Eli He’s already been looking into places for you to live, and your parents are working so out with them for a car"

"Lovely Sounds like everyone is already completely filled in," Kira sneered

Uncle Mason didn’t respond for a long ti at Kira with a somber expression It was so unlike him "I don’t want you two to have to do this any more than you do, trust me Your dad and I know better than anyone what it’s like to pick up and move at a moment’s notice and not be able to have a say in it, so we knohat you’re going through"

Kiratoo low for me to hear, but it was obvious in her expression that she didn’t agree with him

After a subtle shake ofwith ain "Okay, so we’ve heard about Juarez’s gang and what happened with Mo taken But here’s what I don’t understand and a a little bit of trouble with Why, after sous? Wouldn’t they be over it by now? I mean, couldn’t it just as easily be so ahead and thinking it’s Juarez?"

Uncle Mason was shaking his head before I even finished asking o, but we haven’t forgotten what happened, and we know for a fact they haven’t and are still holding a grudge, because there have been letters delivered to your dad"

"What did they say?"

"It doesn’t matter"

"What did they say?" I asked louder, and Kira leaned toward us in her seat to hear his response