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These two guys must be the cousin and brother that Jessica referred to earlier Two feet divide Haley’s fa, yet they remain in their neutral corners For a few seconds, I respect thehts outside of school

"I did it," I announce

Mohawk boy loses his outer playful demeanor and his inner demons possess him as he advances on me "You hurt Haley?"

"No I defended her"

"I fell" Haley grabs ers squeeze my skin "I fell"

I don’t kno to help you It’s what I want to scream Instead, I lay my hand over hers and brush my thumb over her battered knuckles Her hand is frozen, lifeless She attehtly and I’ht now to take care of her and her probleuys "She fell I walked out of the store, saw Haley on the ground and Conner standing over her Iassuh to compensate for the blackout "Bullshit"

"Fine Then you explain hoent down We fought I won Unless you want to adrin for effect and the assle twitches Several guys in his group laugh at the "joke"

"Is that the way it happened?" Matt asks Conner

His internal struggle plays havoc with his face I’irl pounded uy’s ass in my defense The assle nods

Matt scratches his teaze betweenon me "Who are you and why are you up in Haley’s business?"

"He’s a stranger," responds Haley right as I answer, "We’re dating"

Haley whirls in my direction, a tornado in a cornfield "We’re what?"

"Dating," I state clearly Because neither Matt nor her fa and they won’tunless we offer incentive "In private But it’s okay, Haley" I overe her attention "Now that I’ve transferred here, we can tell people our secret"

She transfor dead and blinks repeatedly I position my hand under her elbow in preparation for if she faints Note to self: she shocks out easily

Mouths gape Souys harden into stone Then it suys her boyfriend? Jessica mentioned a failed relationship with Matt, but Haley could be seeing so shit in a Crock-Pot

"You’re dating Haley?" The pure menace in Matt’s tone indicates I ha Haley?"