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Like he was duh to answer … Well, there were times he was that stupid

Today wasn’t one of the"

"Nick," she chided, "that wasn’t nothing That was pure, ugly rage, and you’re lucky he didn’t rebreak your ar froet into that with her, so he tried to move past her Before he couldhe knew, she’d pulled the paper out and was reading it

His stomach shrank as he tried to take it back "Giveher parent’s attempt to take away a toy "What is this?"

Irritated and annoyed, he stopped chasing her There was no need if she kept prancing out of reach All it was doing was ive it back"

She arched a brow at hi?" she asked doubtfully "It has a lot of … significant things on it Stone’s class ring? Have you any idea howrep actually called his father at home just to make sure it wasn’t athat cost that much"

Nick hissed at her "Don’t talk about this out loud Okay?"

She walked up to hi on, or I’ll go to the principal with this I swear I will"

That was all he needed He could see this scenario clear as day

NICK: Uh, yeah, Mr Dick, that’s ave me If I don’t do it, he’ll kill ine what it would sound like to so piece of trash You kno they are Come into the world as worthless thieves

PRINCIPAL: Yes, they’re all sche not nailed down

COACH: Here, let me call the police for you

PRINCIPAL: Very well I’ll just sit here and look down my nose at him while you do that

Yeah, it’d be some variation of that play But nowould always be the saain to make her see reason "This is between me and the coach Leave it alone and let me have that paper back"

She sucked her breath in audibly between her teeth as she pulled the sheet away froood at that Especially not when I see so list, and don’t think for one minute I don’t know all about those"

Of course she would Shopping hat she lived for

I’et you saw that"

"Why?"

He had no choice but to be at least a little honest with her "Because if you don’t, I’ll be in a lot of trouble"

And dead by lared up at hi tells me you’re already in a lot of trouble The coach has you stealing for him, too, doesn’t he?"

Nick’s jaent slack at the last words he’d expected to coave him a cocky toss of her head "I’m not as stupid as people think, you know? But when everyone thinks you are, you’d be amazed at what they’ll talk about around you"

"Such as who’s stealing for hi about it a few days ago"

His heart sped up at the thought of having someone who could corroborate his story with the principal If he could get a couple of the school pets to back hi the coach to justice "Who?"

"Dave and Barry"

His stoood at all "Barry Thornton?"

She nodded

Both dead Oh yeah, all of this wassense now The coach used who he could, then killed the on him No wonder Ash had said the attack on Barry hadn’t seeto cover his tracks What a dog …

"You know anyone else?" he asked, hoping to salvage a little of his plan

"No, just theain

Suddenly, her eyes widened "You don’t think he had any part in their deaths, do you?"

Absolutely, but he wasn’t about to start slandering a school official when he had nothing to prove his suspicions "Why do you say that?"

"Well, they stole for him and now they’re both dead What other conclusion can I draw?"

That Nick was screwed and probably soon to follow therave himself

He wanted to whi to die a poor, pedestrian virgin…

Why, Lord? Why?

She pulled him into the roorowing as people came in the back door of the school "Okay, listen I have a thought How about I help you?"

His brain autoht Nah, I ain’t that lucky She had no idea why he feared dying so young Heher intentions "Help ht … "Are you out of your mind?" he snapped at her "You can’t do that, Casey"

"Of course I can I don’t want to see you killed It’s not right"

He couldn’t agree ood deed either No need in both of theo to the principal I knoon’t believe me, but with you there, he--"