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“Bram,” I corrected

Vik brow furrowed “Whatever”

I hadn’t realized the entire football field had stopped to watch us until I heard a cheerleader ask, “Anika, isn’t that, like, your brother?”

Another asked, “Isn’t that Nastasia?”

My head turned at the question, and when I found Anika frowning at us, I clung to Vik, loweringement of others

Nothing else ainst mine

When heBra to prom alone, kid You hear me? Just you and your hand So have fun with that” An open palhly while he bit his bottorinned “Mine are full”

Vik held onto ot into his car Once there, he pulled h that almost all parts of our bodies touched and s me restlessly, impatiently, until my lips were pink and swollen

Just as originally planned, I went to prom alone

Anika and I spent the afternoon getting our hair and hetti straps and swept along the floor behind her My dress was long, black, and for It had a sweetheart neckline and thick straps Anika wore her hair up with a few loose strands of hair curled at either side of her pretty face, while I wore mine down, parted in the middle

Neither of us would be getting a corsage this evening It kind of dulled the experience, but it hat it was

There would be no lioons in the black SUV parked outside ere expected to see to our safety And once Anika’s parents had taken a hundred and one photos of us, ere on our way

Anika’s eyes met mine in the back seat I s out the ith a soft sigh

In disappointment, ere matched