The Boy Who Died

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d you look hot

m does show off my legs. They're not nearly as good as they were during my theater days-the dancing in musicals helped, but standing up for that long was a huge contributor too. I'm taller than the average woman at 5'8, so my whole life ha

The game finished an hour ago with our victory, apparently, and Heather has spent the whole time since then getting ready-and getting

ath

ye is covered in complex shadow, and the other has a bare sweep of red. "Marcie

ut the dress," I mumble as

ther reminder that Heather is going to have a ton of friends at this party, and I'

e drops her usual high, fast tone, somet

, now I'm the baby. "No

on my shoulders. "Do you want to wear something e

"Neither. I wa

head. "You're m

We're not in midd

s don't let friends turn into hermits when s

ader. She's going to make me confident enough to walk out that door if it kills her

arms your skin right up so no one can tell you stayed inside all summer. And like, fuck, you might not be a perfect hourglass, but a fabric like this makes t

f more of my chest than usual, and I guess my collarbone does look good. I do look

new g

recognize Marcie in this? Especially if you let me do

me and heave a long sigh. "A

her

*

d spilling into the street. Someone sprints past us, shirtless, carrying a banner with a horrifying approximation of the alligator mascot and screaming wordlessly. I shrink out of t

reminds me. "Mysteri

vinced her not to paint my nails so I can chew on them without poisoning myself. The late-summer heat sticks to my skin, and I want to cra

zes my hand and drags

ss of some awful song pounds into my skull, and eight people touch me before

quarterback king of a

at, and the frat boy ac

ht in front of him. "Fucking sorry, dud

pen door, letting loose another wav

music as she pulls me inside. "Tight en

es well, I'll never

letting go of my hand to run over to a sma

er. She swore she'd introduce me to

embedded in conversation. "Oh, before I forget, this is my ro

e awk

and shoots whatever's inside, then grimaces. "God, you've g

ve. I've already for

oice booms acr

e turns wi

tt appears behind her and scoops her up. They spin for a

He bows dramatica

and on a squirming Heather's ass. I blink a few tim

s?" I ask. I didn't used to b

I think Alex, cups he

rs!"

another one gushes. "Can you im

ng tables end-to-end, covered in bottles of liquor. The drinks Justin mentioned. On my meds, I get drunk a lot faster than most people. One glass of wine with dinne

guy just keeps walking. I stare after him for a few seconds. He's bleach-pale, like he's never seen

artoon character!" I shout

o my path to the drinks. Yeah, blurring the edge