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"No, you don’t!" I shouted "I just saw so like it’s really not that big of a deal People just get burned alive all the tiet told to ju to do it! That’s crazy That’s legit insane!" "Josie," he said softly, carefully

"And it took et up correctly Three weeks! Hibernating bears learn faster than that"

His lips twitched and his voice dropped, "Josie"

"Don’t you dare laugh, you asshole!"

"Josie," he drawled, arandparents without it hurting, ormy eyes shut, I drew in a shaky breath Tears burned e of the bed Except, of course, Ion my butt on the floor by the foot of the bed The pain didn’t even register as I pulled ainst my eyes

"Hey" His voice was closer, and I felt his hand wrap around ot stuck "They’re dead, Seth" My voice cracked, because it was the first time I’d said it since it’d happened "They’re dead, and because of what? They were good people--great people They didn’t deserve what happened to them"

His hand moved up to my arms He pulled one down, and I lowered the other as his steady gaze locked with ht They didn’t deserve that, Josie But you can’t bottle that stuff up in you No a will help you if you keep the lid on it It’s not healthy"

"No shit," I retorted, pulling my arm away I wiped underThe knot into cruhts away fro I blurted it out without really thinking "And then there’s you…"

"Me?"

I looked at hiht and you touch s--"

Seth rocked back, putting distance between us "Josie--" Warmth infused my cheeks, but I continued on, because why not? It was either eo with the former "You touch me, and then you leavehis chin down as his chest rose "You don’t want that Trust me, you--"

"Don’t tell me what I want!" I shifted onto my knees and slammed my hands into his broad shoulders

Unprepared for what I’d done, he fell back on his ass His eyes widened on me, like he couldn’t believe I’d just done that, and yeah, it rong

But I didn’t care "Don’t tell me what I want You don’t live in my head or in my body Don’t you dare make that call for me"