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She cuts herself off and I finish for her "Than what everyone at school thinks"

Her frown is an ady

"I know the rurade"

"As I said, you’re smart," she responds "So why did you repeat?"

Because of the steep incline, the river is a class-three rapid We’ve had a steady aainst the sharp rocks about thirty feet below

I ree The sun was setting and the sky was bleeding pinks and reds I gauged the distance, the spiked rocks and the racing current Back then, I had considered ju this feels strange There are toome and my mother, so it’s been pointless to speak the truth Somehow, Breanna’s the person to say these words to

A breeze cuts through the trees and Breanna’s hair soars She raises her face to the sky and it’s like the wind dies off at her coets

Multiple wheels spin in that brilliant brain and her hazel eyes flash with understanding

"Go ahead and ask," I say She’s the one person on this earth besides uarantee that, at least with her, there won’t be shouting

"Was that the year your mother died?"

I flinch and Breanna notices "Yeah I was too o to school at first and then Dad had a hard ti e had been done Too much time missed Too far behind in class"

"I’m sorry About your mom and about how people talk about you"

Me, too "I’m sorry they talk about you, too"

A cloud sweeps over Breanna’s face, but she forces her lips up like that will reossip fro to earlier this year"