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"The guy is a walking suppository," Shannie once coe "His nickname on campus is Rupunzel He's brilliant, but take him off campus, away from his ivory tower, and he wouldn't have the faintest idea of what life is about"

Diane politely disue's co Instead I waited, bidingin his direction I waited for an opportunity to have a private ith Rupunzel I figured it was time the fair professor had a lesson in real life My chance came as he meandered to the buffet table in the s I stepped behind him as he refilled his plate As he turned, I threw an elbow, knocking his overloaded plate into his chest

"Watch where you're walking," Rupunzel snapped, atte to wipe pasta sauce from his jacket The buffoon didn't realize that I'd purposely elbowed him

"Sorry," I reached for a napkin "Let h" He swatted at ainst the kitchen cabinets "Where do you get off insulting Mrs Ortolan like that? You fat tub of shit, she just buried her daughter" I raised a fist "I think you owe Mrs Ortolan an apology Don't you agree?" Fear filled his eyes "Don't you agree?" I repeated

Rupunzel nodded yes

"I'lad you understand" I slapped Rupunzel's face He watched me as I ran a dishtowel under cold water "Clean up your mess" I threw the towel at hi back

Somehow Diane,lighter h old picture albuht Diane handed e from Shannie's journal written in the Marylandher si it, I kneas right to leave Beyford I couldn't live with the constant, concretized reminders of the past and of my emotional cowardice If I'd only spoken up! Life would've been so different I'm sure of it

"I wish you would have returned led from her wrists It was December twenty-ninth, Shannie's birthday

"I had a lot on my mind, I wanted to be alone, I needed to think"

"I understand, but you can't shoulder…"