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“You sure have a shitty way of showing it”

My hand is on the doorknob Thankfully, Ms Bullock coive Alex a chance to leave peacefully Instead, she starts whacking him on the shoulders

“When a lady asks you to leave, you leave, dammit!” Ms Bullock shouts

God bless her violent, ancient heart

Alex covers his head with his arht “I’ up, Violet I’ll find a way to fix this”

“Good luck with that,” Ion him

I wait about thirty seconds before I turn the lock and crack the door Ms Bullock is still in the hallielding her broom like a sword From down the hall, Melvin sticks his head out, deathinto the hall with him

“Is he gone?” I whisper

She purses her lips and gives her head a quick, alarette is perched precariously between her lips Her bright orange lipstick has bled into the creases around herit look like a messy starburst

I hear the ding of the elevator from the other end of the hall After a few protracted seconds, Ms Bullock claain and takes another haul Blowing out the sives me the nod My shoulders drop, and the tension leaves my body

I unlatch the chain lock and open the door “Thank you”

“It see to hiarette bounces between her lips as she speaks The ash is

I can still sarette smoke and Melvin’s body odor “Don’t be fooled by the pretty He’s bad news”

“Must be if you’re keeping hi him to jump in your bed”

I choke back a laugh Ms Bullock is probably

Melvin waves fro okay, Violet?”

I wave back “Everything’s fine, Melvin Thanks for asking”

“You wanna play Guitar Hero?”

“Maybe another time”

His face falls, but he nods “If you change your mind you knohere to find ering in the hall