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I had just enough money to cover the cost

Until they added the tax

“Da the lint out of led dollar bill

“Here” Pip thrust his lunch money into my hands “Last time I ate at the food court I had the shits for a week”

The salesclerk groaned

“You sure?”

“Yeah, take it,” Pip insisted “Is it for the girl?”

“Her birthday’s co up”

“Take it,” he said again

I accepted thefor the bracelet

“Thanks, Pip” We walked into the o?”

“Nope”

We had just enough money left over to buy two sodas There wasn’t roup, so we sat and waited

“Thanks for doing that,” I said

“You really like this girl?”

I couldn’t hide ht of Juliet Liked wasn’t nearly strong enough to describe what I felt for her “Oh yeah”

“Is she hot?”

“She’s beautiful”

“When can I meet her?”

“I don’t know”

He wiggled in his seat, as if he couldn’t contain his enthusiasether, I can eat lunch with you guys”

I snorted and leaned over to ruffle his hair “You got it, Pip”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Juliet

I woke up the ht onI wanted to yank the covers over o back to sleep until the next day

I never liked birthdays It just see that you’re one day closer to death

My own birth had caused my father to disappear When I started school, I was always that girl The one who got excluded from the other kids’ birthday celebrations My one out to celebrate a birthday My cousin died after giving birth Birthdays were bad news in my family Every year, it seemed like yet another reminder that no one loved ed my existence, let alone my birthday

Buzz!