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Prologue

“See you later, Cal Are you sure you don’t want to go?”

I look up fro to see my brother in the salon door

“I’m sure,” I answer quickly “I need some time alone Go ahead and meet your friend”

“He had to cancel,” Finn scowls “So I guess I’ve been stood up Are you sure you don’t want to come?”

I groan internally because I’ forward to this concert for months There’s no way I can really say no

But then my mom walks in and rescues me

“I’ll go,” she volunteers, and Finn crows

“Sa-weet!” He glances over atthis joint”

I have to s o to a concert with their uys

I sink into theseat, leaning hts disappear down the driveway

Sweet Finn

Especially now, after what Dare told me…after his confession, I need my brother

Finn and I can’t be separated I know that more now than ever We have to protect each other We have to keep each other sane

I pick up the phone

Moet home, so this can’t wait

But ht now And then she screams

Loud and shrill, in my ear

“Moers

There’s no answer

“Mom!” I demand, scared now

But there’s still no answer

Everything swirls around me, pictures and smells and sounds, and soain In my mind, I see her face, and it’s bloody and battered

I can’t breathe and I know in one as I race out to the porch, as I stare at the sht sky, just a little ways down the mountain

I know it as I sink to a heap on the steps, gripping the phone