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“That all you got?” he grunts from the other side of the door “Just sorry, sorry, sorry?”

He sounds stuffed up and nasally I don’t want to entertain the idea that Hoyt is actually crying, so I’ll assuhter I forced out of hi up his nose “Hoyt, I really am I just wanted to come find you, and … and maybe—”

“—rub it in that you ht you and I were friends”

That sets uilt I just a second ago had “Friends? Are you kidding me?”

“I bet you liked that a lot” The toilet seat he’s likely sitting on creaks as he shifts his weight “Making me screa me the way you did”

“I said I feel bad about it”

“Yeah, sure you do Now everyone’s seen me pee myself I bet you enjoyed that, too I bet you were into it You’re twisted”

“I didn’t intend for that to—”

“You’re just as twisted as Vann is Both of you are the same person now” He snorts with derision “Twisted and messed-up”

Okay, so I guess this was a pointless, uselessto be learned between us yet again “Well, I ca to help—even going as far as to bring you back your shoes—but I’ what a futile endeavor that is” After Hoytnoise, I roll et it Enjoy your semi-permanent bathroom break”

“Wait”

I stop halfway across the restrooe him “What?”

“Can you …?” He sighs “Never roans miserably

My jaw tightens up I feel a vein bulging inseconds of deliberation, I return to the stall door, cross my arms, and bite “Can I what, Hoyt?”

The door clicks, then swings open Hoyt’s face is cleared of all the forced tears of laughter, but his cheeks and eyes still look red and puffy Somehow, the wetness has made his eyes look pretty in the weirdest way, and I’ struck at how vulnerable and exposed he looks He just stands there awhile, staring atwhat the rest of his question was