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Kate clung to hertears

"Its going to be okay," Mom said "Trust in all the drea to become the best reporters this state has ever seen Your dad and I are so proud of you "

Kate nodded and looked up at her h hot tears "I love you, Mom "

Much too soon, it was over

"Well call every Sunday," Tully said behind theet home from church "

And then, suddenly, they were gone

Tully flopped on the bed "I wonder what Rush will be like I bet every house ant us How could they not?"

"Theyll want you," Kate said softly, and for the first tiirl theyd called Kootie all those years ago, the girl in the Coke-bottle glasses and high-water Sears jeans It didnt otten contacts and lost her braces and learned how to put on irls would see through all that

Tully sat up "You knoont join a sorority unless were in it together, right?"

"Thats not fair to you, though " Kate went to the bed and sat down beside her

"Re her voice Over the years those words had become a catchall phrase, a kind of shorthand for their un at fourteen, back when David Cassidy was groovy and a song could make you cry, would last forever

"I havent forgotten "

"But you dont get it," Tully said

"Get what?"

"When ran died, who held my hand and took me in?" She turned to Kate "You Thats the answer Were a team, Kate Forever friends, no matter what Okay?" She bumped Kate, made her smile