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"I orried you ht not show up," he says

After I disappeared frohtclub when Gretchen found me, and totally spaced on our date yesterday, it’s no wonder he thinks I’m unreliable I’m not normally, but he doesn’t know that

"I’m not a flake," I insist "Life’s been more coo out with you"

"Wanted?"

"Want!" I practically shout Then, o out with you"

"How about this weekend?" he suggests "Saturday is crazy, buton Sunday"

"Sunday," I say, racking my brain for any conflicts--any prescheduled conflicts--and coive you a call," he says He jerks his thu waret over there How long can you stay?"

"Not long," I say with a sad face

"Okay" He lifts a hand to rin "Me too"

With a wink, he turns and jogs off to join the rest of his teaate that opens onto the street I can watch for a few minutes before I need to leave for Greer’s school

I’ how many times they can bounce soccer balls on their knees, feet, and heads before dropping the it practically knocks rip on ie burrito lunch

I glance out the gate just as the monster walks by A woman--at least on the top--with the lower body of a bird Great black-and-broings spread out behind her, the tips sweeping the sidewalk as she moves At the ends of her feet, razor-sharp talons scrape on the concrete, leaving a path of scratches in her wake

I recognize her froed or in some way indicated my reaction to her hideous forate, twists her head aardly to the side--like a dinosaur or so at first, and over and over in my head I tell myself to act natural Pretend she looks entirely hus wide, and I can’t fight rin spreads across her black-ri razor-sharp teeth to match her talons

"Pretty huntress," she coos