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“No Julia, I’m not that ‘sort of wo at face value either If you really were hurt, I’ I can to st

op you fro to hold you accountable if you get back in these bad patterns where you approach Steven… when you know you shouldn’t do that”

What Julia was doing with her face wasn’t pretty at all

“Yes, I think maybe people don’t confront you because they’re intis happen to wo to take what they see at face value They don’t ask questions They’re just happy so long as they’re safe”

A strange thing happened: for just a moment, it was like Steven wasn’t even there any irl Julia, and what I had to do

“I’ to put myself at risk for this, Julia,” I told her “Even if people question why I’ to be there wherever Steven is, waiting to protect you fro todifference to the situation, isn’t it, Julia?”

“Who are you, even?” Julia demanded

“Nobody,” I said “But you know the difference between nobody and somebody, Julia? A whole lot of bullshit, and that’s it”

I didn’t think she really got it, but she took one step back, then another, and then she just turned and walked away, crossing the edge of the school property and disappearing down a little laneway I’d never gone down and was now even less likely to want to

I turneda little aard after that whole interaction Had I seriously just gone to the very edge of threatening a girl who, apparently, had parents with serious financial backing behind them?

“Wow,” said Steven His disbelief told o in for ht?”

“That’s true Quite the opposite, right? Because of you, I’ve got guys I don’t even know the na me”

He shrank behind the bulk of his car again a little “I’m sorry about that I…”

“You panicked, the other day I know So dramatic actions ell for you… sometimes, not so well”

“If I could take this one back…” He finally stepped around the car to join hi for him to do it I flinched a little when he reached out to me “How’s your hand?”