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"She les her eyebrows at me

Peck doesn’t like cupcakes I think she’s the only person in the world who doesn’t like et her to eat one One day

Peck

I sit out on the fire escape and try to avoid the Reeds and their offspring I know it’s rude oflike crazy I didn’t break it, but I did sprain it It’s in a splint, and I’m not supposed to use it I have to wear the splint for a few days and then I just need to rest it

Iine that A druned with is already having a shit fit I can’t say I blame theht I would ever see in a lifeti Yes, Emilio and Marta have money, but we have always felt like it’s their money, and not our money Yes, they’re our parents, but they instilled in us a sense of discipline and the value of hard work

I don’t need much I need to know my sisters are taken care of I need to know Eht And I need to know that my birth mother is nowhere near me

The door opens behindout on the deck It’s almost winter, and it’s cold, which means that only smokers end up outside I don’t smoke But Emilio sneaks outside so

But it’s not E on the table in front of et up," Saets closer, and then hooks his crutches in one hand, hops two steps on one foot, and drops down heavily into a chair beside uess he didn’t have a choice but to sit there Right next to me

He doesn’t say a word

For a few etit on the table

I pull my drumsticks out of my back pocket and start to tap on the ar a rhyths

"Did you hurt yourself yesterday?" I ask,in front of us

"Nah," he says "It’s fine"

I gnaw on ernail and try to think of what to say to him Finally, I just say, "Thank you"

His head jerks up "For what?" he asks softly

"For helping us yesterday You shouldn’t have done that"

He heaves a sigh "You should know by now that I would do just about anything for you"

"Sa me talk to you I promised to be quiet"