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"She doesn’t wear a seat belt" I looked up into the EMT’s face "Nicole doesn’t wear a seatbelt" Clarke used to get on to her about it, all the tiument played on repeat between them

"Do you knohat day it is?" The woht in my eyes

"Wednesday" I pulled away fro about Nicole?"

"No I’m sorry" She didn’t look sorry She looked irritated, her hand quick and impersonal when she yanked the cuff offoff the hood of the car, a stranger’s car, and she held me down "Don’t move"

"Chloe" Dante was there, a burn on his face, blood across his cheek but he was okay and I hugged hi Nicole out now"

"Is she okay?" I thought of when it hit Her face Her eyes onbehind ot the worst of it" His eyes held mine, and I almost cried with relief "Do you have your cell? Mine’s still in the truck"

My cell I reached into the pocket ofClarke now"

I nodded, nu the ca, a few paparazzi present Nicole would be crushed that she ht No … not crushed I sed hard at my slip

"Do you feel dizzy? Nauseous?" the woman asked, and I shook nant?" I shook ain, my birth control shot the one appointment I never missed

She dabbed a cut on my arm, and I flinched Then, above the blare of a siren and the sounds of the city, I heard the noring the EMT’s protests and ran through strangers, toward Nicole’s voice She was strapped onto a stretcher and yelling, one ar it down I came closer, and her eyes zeroed in on me

"You!" I swear there was an accusation in her voice, and I raisedover her She looked filthy, her white sheath covered with air bag powder and dirt, her hair co out of her ponytail, her makeup a mess Combine all that with the panic on her face and she looked deranged, but, thankfully, very much alive She jerked her head toward me "Come here!" she hissed, and I stepped forward cautiously, her voice dropping and eyes darting, like she was about to share a secret "I need you to go to the car, right now, and getIt was on the floorboard These IDIOTS--" that word screaet it forover my shoulder at the remains of the SUV, which seemed likely to burst into flames at any second

"Yes It’s a black Birkin Get it and keep it with you Do you understand?" She pinned me with a look, as if her ten-thousand-dollar purse contained the cure for cancer

"Yeah," I ed "Yes," I corrected

She stared at

"Sorry" I nodded to Nicole, and turned back to the car, dodgingthe wreck I was stopped five feet away