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"Come on, now" She pokes me in the ribs "You know I run faster than you So you’ll do it?"

"After you’ve pointed out you’re fast enough to hunt hten my arm around her and turn my head to tuck her under my chin

"I’m stubborn," she warns as she closes her eyes "Don’t think you can just wait until et"

"Of course not, Miss LaRoux You’d shoothas evened out Alec wells up in ain, and I can hear our conversation I hope I die first

Has she been thinking about that too? About ould become of her? My throat closes as I realize that she’s not talking about learning to defend herself if soive her a lesson If I at least show her how to operate the settings, she’ll have options I can’t think about it any further than that

I turn my head to take a better look at her now she’s asleep

There’s a rip in the leg of her jeans, running down by her knee and exposing skin that’s turned grubby with dirt Her blue shirt’s untucked, rime

Her hair’s escaping the piece of string tying it back, fra her face in a halo of wispy curls that re the pod’s descent

There are dirty s with the freckles all over her face, and that bruise on her cheek Even in sleep, her ht, determined line

There are purple half circles underneath her eyes, and she’s sweaty, beat up, and utterly exhausted

She’s never looked so beautiful

"You didn’t stay at the wreck"