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"It sounds like pretty words to cover up the truth Take me back to Olivia’s"

"Emily--" Oz starts

"Take me back to Olivia’s!" I yell and start for the door I yank it open and Oz stalks up behind me and slams it shut

"This is your fa what you’re doing Stick with us Become one of us and I promise that you’ll find out If you run away, you’ll be like your mom and you’ll remain an outsider"

I pivot on my toes in a flash and I’m in Oz’s face "I’m already an outsider My mom may have run away, but Eli left ned the custody papers He’s the one that gave h and a lu to understand the heartache because it shouldn’t matter that Eli abandoned me I have my dad and I love my dad and that’s what matters It’s all that should ony tearing at ins to describe the misery inside me "Don’t tell me that he wanted ned those papers"

Oz swears under his breath then engulfsfor release, but Oz wraps his arer his embrace, the more the tears threaten to escape from my eyes

This is too much It’s all too much Eli Olivia My mom

"Will you stop fighting?" Oz whispers "For once, lean on one of us"

Exhausted, tired, ee, war Not at all Because I wouldn’t do so like that over a man who has never shed a tear over ainst the wall and her knees drawn to her chest It’s al and I led her here after she stopped crying I’irls Not sure what to do with one in complete meltdown e of location can create a change in perspective

Eli texted a few o to check on Eht there so Mom can watch Olivia and so Dad can discuss the Riot situation at a late night session of Church He also infor of cancer is not fine

I rest at the end of the bed and pluck an old guitar I bought when I was thirteen and drealances atelse besides the opening to ‘Smoke on the Water’?"

I cock an eyebrow as I switch up and stru" E my skin

"How’s Olivia?" she asks

"Fine" I spit Eli’s answer