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"Iher hold

Tully couldnt answer It was all she could do not to cry She wondered if Kate knew, really kne iot our bikes," she said, stepping back, looking away so Kate wouldnt see her moist eyes

"Cool "

Withindown Summer Hill, their hands outstretched to catch the wind At the bottom of the hill, they ditched their bikes in the trees and walked down the long and winding road to the river All around thehed, and leaves fluttered down fro autumn

Kate flopped down in their old spot, her back rested against the rown tall in their absence

Tully felt an unexpected pinch of nostalgia for their youth Theyd spenttheir separate, lonely lives and braiding them into a rope of friendship She lay down beside Kate, scooting close enough that their shoulders were touching After the last few days, she needed to know that her best friend was finally beside her She positioned her transistor radio nearby and turned up the volume

"Hell Week with Bugs was even worse than usual," Kate said "I did talk Sean into eating a slug, though It orth the weeks allowance I lost " She giggled "You should have seen his face when I started laughing Aunt Georgia tried to talk to me about birth control Can you believe it? She said I should—"

"Do you even kno lucky you are?" The words were out before Tully could stop the like jelly beans from a machine

Kate shifted her weight and turned, until she was lying sideways in the grass, looking at Tully "You usually want to hear everything about the ca trip "

"Yeah, well Ive had a bad week "

"Did you get fired?"

"Thats your idea of a bad week? I want your perfect life, just for a day "

Kate drew back, frowning "You sound pissed at me "

"Not at you " Tully sighed "Youre my best friend "

"So, who are you mad at?"