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He turned to Claudia “And to you,” he said “What I did ell, it was…”

“Reprehensible?” Colin suggested

Garrett nodded “Yeah That”

I unlocked the door again One by one we filed out, putting Claudia before us I waited until Colin and Brandon took her out of the restaurant Then I stopped to turn on Garrett one last time

“Lose her number,” I said “Forever And lose our address”

He shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortably I waited until he nodded

“You lose everything for good, and we don’t ever see you again?” I shrugged nonco has to come of your computer”

Garrett glared up at me with bloodshot eyes He looked like so

“Do I, uh… ever get my computer back?” he asked hesitantly

I smiled and dropped a brotherly hand on his shoulder “Oh Garrett,” I laughed before walking away “That’s funny…”

Forty-One

CLAUDIA

Having Garrett out of the picture was like breaking free of the rainclouds and sailing into an endless blue sky My spirits were lifted I had renewed energy and ambition and focus

The seot quiet Not so in our house though That’s when things got really loud

Without the pressures or responsibilities of school, there were only two things to do: work on finishing the house, and screwing our tails off And whether for bad or good, I have to say orked more on the latter than the former