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Chapter 26

Ophelia

There’s a knock on the door--the fourth of the night--but I just ignore it the same way I have the others I’ure anyone knocking on his door doesn’t want to talk to ain, harder this tiainst the door Then Ca, "I know you’re in there, Ophelia Open the fking door"

Afraid so worse than what he’s already suffered, I et a fist to my face for my trouble

"You bitch," Cath of her punch "I should kick your ass right now"

I touchalready Awesome "I’ yet" But she doesn’t hit ain Instead she slams the door behind her and just looks at ly sneer on her normally too-cute face

"If that’s all you wanted to do, you should probably go"

"Don’t tempt me," she snarls But she doesn’t make another move toward me Instead she walks over to the minibar, pulls out a slass "You know, I just don’t get you," she says after taking a long sip

"That’s okay I don’t get you, either" She’s in love with Z, probably has been forever I figured it out a few days ago and then everything made sense Why she toldWhich is why she should be throwing a party right about now I’m out of the picture and the path is wide open for her to try to start so by his bedside, holding his hand and pretending everything is going to be all right"

Even as I say the to ot any right to be upset I’m the one who didn’t bother to show up at the hospital I’m the one who dumped him a second ti Re him slowly kill himself … I’d never survive Already I feel like I’ve been ripped in half, every part of me shredded into pieces so sether again

"Wow, look at you Who knew you were so good at playing the victi"

"Could’ve fooled rimaces a little with the taste of it "You know, Z doesn’t let anybody in He doesn’t let hi walk away like he’s nothing"

"It’s not like that"

"It’s exactly like that You’re a shallow bitch just like everybody else he’s ever cared about You like hiets real, you’re out the door"

I want to argue with her, to tell her that isn’t true, but how can I when he’s in the hospital and I’ okay?"

"Like that’s any of your business? You gave up the right to know the answer to that question the second you didn’t bother to go to the hospital"

"I went"

"No, you didn’t I was there the whole ti sure he was okay I couldn’t--"

"Deal Right? You couldn’t deal with the fact that your superhot, supertalented boyfriend is a real person That he’s not easy That’s he’s got issues that run deeper than anything you want to deal with" She shakes her head, drains the drink "I just don’t get why he fell for you"

"Instead of you, youto say But I’ I need is for Cauilt on my head

"Fuck you"

"I don’t think so" I walk to the door, open it "Why don’t you get the hell out?"

"I’ out until you tell et back at hiood to hurt him like this when he’s already had the shit kicked out of him today?"

"He did it to hih "You’re pathetic"

"How about you? You’ve been wearing blinders about Z forever You don’t want to know the truth because then you’ll have to admit that you can’t fix him"

"Oh, I’m the first one to admit I can’t fix him That he’s broken, probably beyond repair You’re the one on’t accept that Who only wants him if he’s whole"

The words hit like blows "You don’t understand I sahat happened today I know he did it on purpose"

She shrugs "Who knows if he did or he didn’t? Nothing is ever that cut-and-dried with Z Besides, that’s not the point"

"It’s exactly the point You know he’s too good to go down like that--"

"What I know is that he was doing fine, holding his shit together He was excited as hell about boarding that coht before his run"