Kate, Sheesh, Slow Down

“Good lord, girl. We’ve talked this whole thing to death. You know you’re the only one. Your mom and aunt couldn’t keep a secret if their lives depended on

“Every time you come to class you just sit there in a ball! Your arms are always crossed, your legs are shaking, and you have this blank stare. Everybody else is scared to approach you because they don’t know what's going on.”

“I want you to come with me to his place and talk to him. Do whatever it is to stop him from becoming his old self which he was dangerous.”

“Jenna Santiago can't protect her identity can she? We know her secret so she should just keep on walking.” After I said that, Jenny scowled and walked away.

“Don't you think I deserve a kiss for my efforts?” he asked. I removed his finger from my

“Me! Hah! Well at least I won’t be stuck in this fucking town for the rest of my life! At least I have a plan, at least I won’t turn up like our parents! Amy you’re so-”

Ma shouted at Chloe. “ Why haven’t you called in a week!?” I have been worried sick if something happened to my baby girl!”

“Well from over here it sure as hell looks like you do.” He puts his head down and looks up at me from the corner of his eye. A seductive grin flashes across his face. “Tell me, Lexi. Where do you like to be kissed?”

“I am sure, now go and do it before you get in trouble for arguing with me!” exclaimed Mom.

“ I’m not sure this is good idea,” my cousin murmured, “ Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”

Finally, as I closed the flimsy paperback cover of the book and setting it on my lap, I tentatively opened the front cover again and peeked at the number. My heart clenched and I banged my hands against the book in frustration, grabbing my phone from behind me. Before I could lose my nerve I keyed in the number and held the phone to my ear. “Hello?” a voice that even sleepiness couldn’t make sound bad asked. My mind went blank. “Hello?” the voice repeated, becoming more awake with every second. My breathing quickened and before I could stop myself I suddenly said, “Uhm, Hi it’s that girl from the Whole Foods, uhm thank you for the book I uhm...I liked it.” My eyes squeezed shut and I cursed myself for sounding so little and helpless. “Well I’m glad. What was the best part?” the sounds of blankets whispering against each other and I shifted myself, throwing my legs over the side of my armchair and tilting my head back, grabbing a piece of my hair and twirling it around my finger. “Well, I know he’s a really important character to Lyra, but Malachi is simply not right for her! He’s so..rough and condescending and I just can’t stand him!” I continued on for a while, not realizing I was ranting until I glanced at the clock on my counter and realized the it was two in the morning. My

Her mother raised her eyebrows so high, they disappeared into her bangs. “You just let a stranger walk you home? You could have been hurt.”

“Hahaha” Olivia turns and sees Stacy laughing. “I’ll tell you right now, this school is horrible and you 're going to hate it,” says Stacy. Olivia stares at Stacy

“Do you boys know how bad it is to be sneaking around the school without permission?”

Sophie worried her bottom lip. “Look, I, uh, really hope things go well with your mom. She’s pretty cool. Very, ah, spry. Once threatened me with a gun and everything. I don’t think she likes me very much…”