Page 44 (1/2)

"I get it," P-Nut said "You wantit It’s a little on the weird side But I’ll play it for ato be one of my best customers when I open ht Co soon But anyways … back to our regularly scheduled progra"

There was a click, and Gates’s voice replaced P-Nut’s, icing Will’s blood in an instant

"Will …" Gates’s voice was heavy, full of eain, then you have to come back, buddy I’m not mad at you I know you think I’m mad, but I’m not It’s not safe for you out there I can’t keep you safe when you’re not withyou Come home, Will"

Will knocked hard on the door to the cafeteria He wore a gray hoodie that was three sizes too big for him The front was splattered with deep brown soil stains thanks to what looked like a year or so of use as a rag for potting and unpotting the flower The hood covered Will’s face though, as long as he kept staring at the floor It had kept hiet here, and that’s all he needed fro inward A Slut with six paper clip wire hoops piercing one nostril peered out at Will He edged his foot forward to block the door fro slarabbed Will by the sweatshirt just below his neck and yanked him in Before he knew it,hi hall and threw him forward

Will stu at someone

"Lips, I told you to--"

"Boss!" one of the Sluts that threw Will said Violent turned and looked down at Will

"You," she said Her lip curled and the corners of her mouth sunk

"Yeah, me"

"This is your fault"

"Maybe"

"Not maybe! Yes What is it with you, huh? Why are you such a shit , but her words had already kicked the furnace door open

"Why are you such a towering bitch? You can act like this isaround school like she’s bulletproof--"

Violent grabbed his hood, spun hily strong He felt soh the crotch of his jeans

"Whoa, whoa!" he said, throwing his hands up He looked down to the knife pressing into hi!" Her pupils shook like the epicenters of ; despite the knife at his crotch, Will felt he could trust her

"You love her, don’t you?" he said

"I’ve never loved anyone"

Will sin to arc her mouth upward just before she bared her teeth and jabbed hiers Will couldn’t breath He hacked and coughed, and his throat ground against itself like it was full of puhed so hard he felt the blood swell in his head He saw spark clouds all across his vision