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I coo It see that happened for hts of her I would wake up in theup I would brush ht to buy her a new toothbrush, since she didn’t get to take anything with her I would eat breakfast and wonder if whoever took her knew that Hope didn’t like orange juice and whether or not they were letting her have white ht and look out my bedroomthat used to face hers, and I would wonder if she even had a bedroom here she was

I try to think of when the thoughts finally stopped, but I’m not so sure they have I still think about her more than I should It’s been years now, but every time I look up at the sky I think about her Every time someone calls me Dean instead of Holder, I think about her and how I used to laugh at the way she said irl I think about the bracelet Les gave her just minutes before she was taken fros re to be worse now that Les is gone, too Every single thing I think or see or do or say rele tihts of Hope Then every single time I think about Hope, I’m reminded of how I let theave thehopeless right now

I’ve sole person speaking to h It’s like they think I’m not even here, the way they whisper and stare and speculate about what’s going on in my head

I take a seat next to Daniel once I arrive in Mr Mulligan’s classroo with just a look Over the past few years we seem to have for, letting hi Of course it sucks and I’d rather not be here at all right now, but what can I do? Suck it up That’s what

"I heard Holder’s not speaking to anyone," the girl in front of irl seated in front of her "Like, at all Not since he found her"

It’s obvious by the volu right behind her Daniel lifts his head to look at the I can hear their conversation

"Maybe he’s taking a vow of silence," the other girl speculates

"Yeah, maybe It wouldn’t have hurt Lesslie to take a vow of silence every now and then Her laugh was so freaking annoying"

I instantly see red I clenchfor the first tiirl I’ about her behind her back, I expected asabout her beyond the grave I’ I loved theabout her, they better not rips the edges of his desk and lifts his leg, then kicks the girl’s desk as hard as he can, scooting her a good twelve inches across the floor She squeals and immediately turns in her seat to face hi with you, Daniel?"

"What’s wrong withhis voice He leans forward in his chair and glares at her "I’ll tell you what’s wrong with irl because if you had a dick, I’d be punching you in your disrespectful, fat ht now"

Her eted her Her confusion is instantly cleared up the second she notices that I’roide and I s my hand in a half-hearted wave

I don’t say anything, though I don’t really feel the need to add to anything Daniel just said and apparently I’ a vow of silence, so I just keepto yell at these people for teeks now TodayThe girl i up the slightest hint of an apology

The classroo up the tension and naturally replacing it with his own Les and I did everything we could to avoid having him at all this year, but eren’t very lucky Well, I’h his tedious, hour-long lectures anymore

"Dean Holder," he says as soon as he reaches his desk "I’ for your research paper that was due last week I hope you have it with you, because we’re presenting today"

Shit I haven’t even thought about what I ht have had due over the past teeks

"No, I don’t have it withat on his desk and eyes me "See me after class, then"

I nod andis inevitable in his class He’s a douchebag who gets off on the control he thinks he has over a classroo a pocket-protector is the recipient of his nore the presentations during the rest of the period and try to ht have due Les was the organized one of the two of us She always let me knoas due and when it was due and which class it was due in

After what sees I rean can practice his retaliation on me Once the classroom is occupied by just the two of us, he walks to the front of his desk and leans against it, folding his arms over his chest