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“Hey, guys,” Miles said, stepping aside to let theood to see you ”

Instead of welcoarden

Prickly, ugly weeds grew everywhere Her once-beloved plants see over one another in a rush to leave their confinement

“Jude?”

Jude blinked and saw Molly standing beside her Had she been talking? “I’m sorry,” she said “Senior moment What did you say?”

Molly and Miles exchanged worried glances

“Co an arm around her

Jude let her friend sweep her up like a warm tide and carry her into the front roo across the —Sheryl Crow singing “The First Cut Is the Deepest”—he snapped it off and turned on the television instead The Seahaere playing football

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One by one, Zach’s friends filed into the house They took up space, these boys and girls she’d known for so long She’d been with arten She’d fed them and driven them to and from events and even occasionally advised the ready to leave the safety of the island and go off to college

Minus one

Miles ca to come down?”

She looked up at hied her: the old Zach would never have been late to his own party “He said he would I’ll go get him,” she said

She nodded and left, realizing too late that she’d just walked away from Molly She should have excused herself

Honestly, it was hard to res like that these days