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Since I’d already known that I hadn’t technically killedwords really didn’t put ht, but I hadn’t done everything in ally responsible I hadn’t technically done it

I was, however, morally responsible

Which I was discovering was a heavy weight to carry, because how did you shed that kind of culpability? I wasn’t sure you ever could

But I illing to try

I hadn’t gone to lunch, my stomach too twisted up in anxious knots fro out in the library, and I’d told her I was fine, just had to study for an exam

I knehat I needed to do when I got hoht of it made me want to hurl all over my shoes Maybe that hy, as I ca out to the parking lot, I stopped by the closed double doors to the s else

Peering through the small s, I felt the irls run sets across the court Coach Rogers stood by the net, calling out commands The walls and thick doors muted most of his deep voice There were only a fewattention The teaood year and they would most likely make it to the semifinals

I should be in there

The ainst the sudden wave of regret I could’ve played the last couple of weeks since the cast came off I could’ve—

I could’ve done a lot of things

But it was too late for that I’d o back on that, even if I didWhen I was out on the court, my brain had shut down I hadn’t obsessed over Sebastian I hadn’t stressed over Mom or worried abouton the ball—on my team

“I can play again,” I whispered, and my body jerked Surprised, I opened ain Try out for a college teaht not make it, but I could try I could—

The sound of footsteps pulled , I stepped back and glanced down the hall

It was Keith

I hadn’t seen hi back from a banquet, in dark trousers and a button-dohite shirt His gy from one of his hands

Our gazes connected and his footsteps slowed “Hey,” he said, glancing at the doors beside me “What are you up to?”

Having no idea how to explain what I was doing, I shrugged “You heading to practice?”

“Yeah” He stopped in front ofhis eyes “I had awith my parents andand the lawyers Took most of the afternoon”

My sto with a whole different set of consequences frootten about that? “Howhow is everything going with that?”

Lifting his free hand, he scrubbed his fingers over his head “It’s not Yeah, it’s not good Our lawyer is advising them to take a plea deal You know, a fine and community service to avoid jail ti his hand “There’s the civil suits, you know?”

I nodded, unsure of what to say

“Can I ask you so?”

“Sure,” I said

A aze found mine once more “Why didn’t you join the suits? You were hurt pretty bad You were in that car”

Not expecting that question, I floundered for words “II just didn’t think it was the right thing for ht I should’ve been sued myself “I just don’t want to be a part of it”

He nodded slowly and a long moment passed “My parents aren’t bad people They let us drink at hoht it was safer That ouldn’t be out there driving” I knew all of this “Cody could’ve stayed with me He knew that we had an open-couch policy Everyone could’ve stayed That was the agree” Keith cursed under his breath “Cody knew that”