HazelGreenandGoodPart11

水静风

a second, moved. sharply, neutral. "Sorry," quietly. more, quick, casual, heel, hallway. behind. slowly. "Oh god," breathed.

% y/ _% a$ m% D  h. @' AI a hair, a necessary. "Fuck," I muttered. a breathless. "Oh
( f/ G6 Z7 k6 L6 ^3 Z9 F0 F; a3 L
. p! F5 X; Z# z, J/ c." again, time.
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- f% R* t; L9 M, }! bI then, ass. Christ, I can't him. relationship, I heard, saw, me?
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"Shit." I her. "I'm sorry, Emily." me, red, a look. "Why?"
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I disappeared. head. "We ago, Ty. Don't bad, okay? Awkward?" a shrug. "Absolutely, don't bad." me, light.

"You sure?" I quietly, a douche. I didn't well, I they'd a a ago, doesn't didn't hurt. Emily. I shoes, Emily's thighs... yeah, I'd myself. Somethings, on. held. "Absolutely." softly. "Don't night." I a nodded. "I you're him, fine." me, cheek. "Come on, I here."

. I7 i" w3 }# V/ R$ [I cheek, a it. "Whatever want, beautiful." brightly, a blind.

I it.
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) u6 G8 W( i! L& a"You're tonight?" nodded. "Yeah, isn't change," said, me. "I've tonight, Captain."
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; }% H: O. g$ k6 OI her. "Is so?" a wink. "You ass."
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I a laugh. "Jesus, Em," I choked, laughing. again. "Did this, a while?"
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* O- z% b: G$ q; n( P! R3 _( `I eyebrow. "Do out?" a shrug. "We you're something."

I it. I tired, sure, I her. "I a something, I think." smiled. "I idea."
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5 \8 Y& w5 d- `2 m! r! o% F' t1 NI hall. "And that?" me, hers, a squeeze. "Lets tourists."
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I snorted. "I a tourist." laughed. "Lets street. around, things, watch, selfies, thing." I again.

, F' }% ^* d) w"That great, actually," I a grin. "Lets it, beautiful." I gently. "An date." me, sparkling. "An date," agreed. later, I drained.

3 ^) |! Z; ]$ _. \9 NI'd Todd, faced, existed, Jim's wife, who, I not, , I. it... gross, gross.

I'd "traveling chair" it, handicapped.
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- t6 }, w4 N1 h$ h! f4 RShe's old. She's a wheelchair. I'm ninety, one's matters.

Anyway, I she'd her, she, night. a 10:15 pm, out. Christ. I it.

I restaurant, Alex, Dean, bar. a hand. fashioneds.

: \7 ?; r! q# o% a' k: }  V"Well, survived," I approached.
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1 g, ~0 K( \: t3 X7 }"Jesus." I head. "This I don't leave." a laugh. up. "Double bourbon. Rocks." eyebrow. "Double, huh? night?"

2 t( c0 U! L2 k; P, p; @I a sip. down. I started.

"Did I uncle?" coughed.

"Both you?" wide. nodded. "I didn't incest."
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2 j" {5 W% p/ y4 |. V8 `& @$ t" H2 ?! sI snorted. "Yeah, a night." drink. "Yeah, you've a night," said, sarcasm. paused, lips. "What mean?"
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; d/ t$ c4 q8 o* ^I briefly, was. happen. great.
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"I that's go."
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"Oh no," said, us. "Tell

, Alex." giddily. "Spare details." a glare, I wasn't well. wasn't wasn't, clearly. He'd speech. dangerous. me. now, I saw, heard, I bathroom, days.

# K: s: R$ Z$ A# N4 Y, OI didn't doubt. I'd days, roughly, I I'd Emily, I'd days, wasn't much. Emily.

"I men's ago." bar, slowly, wide, dropped. "Dude..."
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"I bathroom, locked," said, drink. "So I waited. behind, out?" drink. "My é fucker, he's thighs."
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"Dude, fuck," breathed. rapidly. "You bare? Seriously?"

I a place. I he'd girlfriend, into, I upset? easy, space, me, Emily.
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; R% r9 T0 U' [7 D7 x# n( xI didn't them. I a slowly, I had. I didn't me. Whatever, I'm point.
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"You're pissed, I slowly, drink. "Fine, pissed. a want." I up. "But it. warning."
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I Brad. "Drop it, you're Em." I said, quiet, low, a a person, a Alex. shut, me. "So true?" head. "You up?"

( m# y  n6 A- S4 r0 A/ L"What think?" I snapped. "Now it, alright? a... I, I don't her, understood?" nodded. eyes. "Why point." him. "Alex, fuck, man?"
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"No, seriously," continued.
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) I; f+ N! \2 z"Alex." said, warning.

0 L7 \6 L  }0 g( H9 }0 e/ R7 o"He's I existed." a laugh. drink.

; d9 p6 k/ H8 {  k/ ]I nose. "That's true." I wasn't conversation, didn't Emily, I him. earlier, fine. it. snorted. "It true."
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, i1 [1 Z* H% O+ z' I0 U  XI him. "It isn't."
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"It is." snorted. "You is?" group.

"I I don't that." I muttered, drink.
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2 R, U, S! g5 i3 n$ X. ?! J"He's relationships cars," said.
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I he'd slowly, away. hadn't shift. "What?" him. "Come on. reputation."
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Dean's immediately. head. tightened. "Alex." calm.

Unfortunately, completely. "No, seriously," continued. "I've two," Dean, "and Kara. years." winced. "Jesus Christ, Alex," breath. them. "What?"
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* K# W$ |6 W! \& o. _I carefully. bar. "That's enough." silence, bar. first, face, step, Emily, corridor. relaxed, said, a wire.
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/ H1 L/ c$ j1 q) g" m" E& B"Hey," us, space. a her.
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/ A0 ]5 Z) q0 lEmily's a paused, briefly, Alex. again, time. silence, containment.
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"We've guys." said, Dean. me, touching, I body. faces, time. throat. "Yeah, uh... talking."
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"About what?" asked, curious. enough.

7 n0 \3 S1 t7 r! g, U/ MEmily's Alex, now.
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# [9 ^& }* ~$ y"Yeah," lightly, casually. "What about?" Yeah, I'm about. didn't exist. "We're is. a a That's all." a shrug, didn't casual. defensive, he'd done. a glance.
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* N3 \- q4 K: L5 v. ?0 l- b"I mean, on," added, now, targeted. "It's a secret. he's exactly... gets."
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Kara's immediately. a expression. "Alex, now?"
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"I'm question," back. once. "No, you're not." him. again, I it, wasn't honesty. wasn't anymore. messier. filter.
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! [6 L" O- L% M& Q/ zEmily's a tighten.
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"What problem?" asked.
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/ }& U" f$ K- c/ C7 SA short, nose. "Nothing."

+ h" u: o" s: T"Alex," started, "don't here, okay? later." a face, now, me, Emily, disbelief, couldn't temper. nose, controlled, Emily. then, a wasn't anymore. uglier, bitterness, he'd out.

"No, actually, what?" said. alert.
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"Don't." I him. a laugh, humorless, drink. pointed, to. "If bathrooms, that's business," said. "We're anymore." silent, gradually, white. erased, clean, remaining. I twice, I up, bar. horrified, red, top. completely. visible, her. didn't notice, didn't care. "But it's anywhere," added. it. hot, immediate, violent. "What say?" low, controlled, I them. me, didn't stop. couldn't, wouldn't, landed.
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" F, Y9 B* W, ^$ J"I'm serious," said.

* J' z" n$ i* ]3 x: C" V4 a"Alex," sharply.

* D" O. |+ ~% r"No," Emily. her, worse. worse. "Everybody is. doesn't

3 Z' Q2 x# \* p1 N- n# T1 v4 Y: s0 vrelationships," continued. "Fuck em, right?"
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& P% V) Y* o0 D# L3 i$ @! E"Alex, up," said, all. a short, laugh. "Why? nobody's it?"

2 ~+ y' y; s+ T) \, B- j$ N"Because you're asshole," flatly. hadn't spoken. "Come on, Emily. I'm break," said. head. "And pregnancy." a moment, incredulous. "What problem?" asked. again, time, happen. eyes. a second, spoke. physical, overhead. laughed, short, slowly, couldn't himself.

"You is?" asked. beat, Emily. lifted, whiskey.
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"She's problem," said.

0 B2 V9 H8 I8 M* @4 @! SEmily's immediately, face. ""
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"No," in, intended, hadn't way. now, me, again. movement, shifted, he'd disappeared. wasn't anymore. wasn't accusation.

"Because you're this," her. him. "What about?"
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"I'm him." me, again.

/ p9 Y) B' |6 p# g+ `& @"Alex, stop," warned.
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4 K6 [6 m- M$ ?" V7 O5 i1 S0 K5 h"No." Emily. "Somebody it," insisted. I a forward. "Say what, exactly?" I asked, low. me, he'd snapped. "That you're her." silent. "That you're heart."

I lock. blinked.

% ~% P- T! r6 u# {) G3 h"What?" again. Humorless, disbelieving. "Come on, Emily." twisted. "You material?" fists. "He can't a he's done. He's line, alone."
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"Jesus Christ!" shouted.

"What fuck..." breathed, he'd a head.
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( g5 i  ~( x% z* F7 G"Okay, we're shit," snapped.
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0 y! P  B# D: s7 j: lEmily, hand, humiliated, whole. changed, cold. I entirely. talking. reacting. me, immediately. changed. "Oh no," breath. a later, me. "Oh, fuck." anymore. me. hesitation. casually, awkwardly, deliberately, a a room, off. "Quinn," said, firm.
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6 Z1 H! Q; G+ y6 S3 _; |I didn't respond. a Dean. instantly. Alex, him, instead, Alex's it. didn't provoking.
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1 V8 r$ [$ E' [8 M+ A0 g" L"Absolutely not," flatly. unstable, a breaks. us, then, unbelievably, laughed. "See?" said. briefly. "Alex..."

"He isn't disagreeing." hurt. a again, Emily. "Look him."
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"Shut up," immediately. him. now, mattered. "He's a , Emily." physical. "He'll you. That's M.O. guys." sides, controlled. again, to. "Quinn."
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I didn't anymore. head, focus, Emily. wasn't else. wasn't angry, yelling. there, it. going, had, he'd it. "Don't yourself," her. shoulder. "Stop." looking. "Don't belt."
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0 g' Q8 v/ t: D1 G+ W: Q1 fI Brad's shoulder, firm, grounding, urgent. "Quinn."

5 e0 J. U+ k9 A, A7 k2 H: LI didn't anymore. Emily.

5 C7 Q2 h5 c5 b  q3 @# mI it. loud. dramatic. a flicker. didn't embarrassment disbelief. fear. Alex, causing. humiliation.
5 A; N" X1 u' B" e$ F- v! R/ d: ~
.

. z8 o0 ^( F4 h3 H' c: C4 EI eyes, shock. doubt. I I was. maybe, us, I'd right. I'd her. I'd leave. I I was. night. A sharp, chest, breathe. attention. "Buddy, don'"
0 P% H5 H! y# Y( h* H" j/ `$ I
"Brad," I flatly.

"Don't." now, completely, serious. "Don't stupid."
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"He's a ," Emily.
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9 P4 L  d# y$ {, S1 z3 M; L) H, J' R"Alex, god, up," snapped. breath, glass, hollow. Emily. much. word.
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"Somebody her," said.
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, W; A. l* T' @"Yeah, unconscious," immediately. a exhale, time, me. sight, it, stupid.
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& W/ O, u+ v6 \8 P3 g; B( Z"Quinn," said.

1 D4 f+ Q& F) D- `! M6 SI him. him. immediately, surrender, couldn't stop. "Easy. Careful." low, explosives, added, "I a a hotel." carefully. "You to, witnesses."
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I a nod.

  G, y3 e3 l5 }2 r8 R9 @7 MBrad's instantly, suspicions. "Okay," slowly. "Okay." anyway. sudden, clarity: I wasn't anymore. wasn't problem. that, second, sharp, second, I Emily's eyes.
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. just... off. didn't once, unsteady, it. away, room, voices, tension, mattered.
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.
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" G: H* |7 i: ^  p! HI her, facing.

) u1 O" [  G. ]) z+ x$ J2 d6 ]9 h"Emily," I quietly. immediately. unsettled, said, hadn't a yet.
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5 G- m  N2 Q1 \7 N2 Q" [6 @"I..." there, ignore.
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6 P+ u, g' d$ m4 h9 @I formal, night, arms, afternoon, her, world, belonged. a were. I I again, breathe.

I it. I long. properly, happened. I her, away.

3 H7 Y' Z4 y; Q( HEmily's wasn't anymore, else, room, it, ignore. wasn't now, all.

I hard. wasn't I felt. I wrong. I stayed. I

. right. a truck, I I knees. I wasn't this. her. much. wasn't I consequence. I to. sides.

9 q; J+ `9 y: l# X& f( WI a forward. immediately, I didn't it. time. a

I heart, I I I wouldn't. I her, a head, I myself. I'd of. I her, feel. I her.
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/ Z# o8 C; ?7 S* ^9 Z5 ]0 hI a back, another. controlled, I wasn't I paying.

4 d7 V. G% F; o6 C" [I didn't yet. slightly, else, hadn't for. stop.
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Almost, I didn't, I stayed, I wasn't I wouldn't much, worse, didn't break.
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: U2 b- B3 B. ]8 x! T6 {+ O8 [I first.
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I Kara, tight, controlled. "Make safely," I quietly, I felt. "I go." complicated, concern, frustration, understanding together, anyway.

"Okay," carefully. "Don't me, Ty."
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I nodded, exit, steps. me, I movement, something, breath, name, together. I walked, I me, room, I'd air, Emily's a said. I dinner, a me, hers.

  F* I' |6 Q4 x6 e6 P. e* d7 WI didn't stop, didn't back.
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; L9 V; x& l2 Z, H4 y0 bI I things. I worse. wasn't truth. simpler: name, I would've stopped. I would've back. hesitation. thought. would've voice. I couldn't shake. Alex. room. everyone. I myself.
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$ Z( t$ w2 e' ^2 S' w% hI her. wasn't anymore. wasn't thinking. fact.
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I'd I'd happier. job. life. I'd I control. that... loud...
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) l/ v( b7 [, Z1 k# ^2 C9 TI couldn't she'd room.

# I: J7 ~! R8 D) [) \Uncertainty. Confusion. didn't next. wasn't everything. should've wasn't him. me. I wasn't her. steady. clean. didn't it. wouldn't moving. why.

. T' a2 E$ g3 U1 b, gwhy. I contained. I distance. I a long. I didn't things, I did, I deeply.

% h& i* ^6 i$ ?% \. l; G: \I'd years. didn't I'd loud. And, I had, wasn't a just... away.

I days. didn't me. that. didn't automatically I her.

0 J9 t( X6 j  kAlex's I not, I didn't closely. I them, I couldn't it. I her?

7 }9 E; r- B5 ?! l; ~& ^I zones, I to, I up. I'd desert.
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! W# f2 k) A* N  [( d1 g8 YI years, people's lives, couldn't comprehend.

I a rank, a career, a long, all. here. a girlfriend, a family. love. Emily's seams. I Alex: annoying, smug, Alex... I I didn't have. wasn't a pilot. wasn't military. didn't a violence, adrenaline, distance. was...
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+ t/ [3 Q% G% i6 Z" r. teacher. way. A place. a didn't a crash. that, with. paper. didn't plan. life, future. me?

I a I wasn't I'd in.

A I couldn't predict.
3 _$ T+ A: _5 m3 A; P: H
A time. a I of, I a me.

I a walking, brain.

0 R9 t  ]5 @: B" t6 E, BI floor, meaning. loudly. a wouldn't hour. twice.

Good.
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+ T4 D3 ?+ [: T; B6 i% mI I earlier, Mia, exhale. up. "What I you?"
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"Double bourbon, neat," I automatically, myself. "Actually, rocks." I card.

/ ]6 e) S; `. a" \& q5 l"Tab?" I nodded. up. "You active?" I card. USAA, a away. I nodded.

"Air Force," I offered.
4 s( d" [7 ?( I) t4 O) l- z; G
"Retired Army, Rodriguez."

4 g9 {  H$ z* e% ?  g' [! NI a a out. "Captain Quinn." nodded, register.
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0 d. M6 v% r# r( m' V' PI I waited. happened. a a anything. I hadn't a completely.

I forward, bar. a second, I her. seconds.
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/ ~, F$ c5 c) G" l( n$ aEmily's anyway. confusion. hide. didn't I doing, should. tightened. I chest.

"Jesus," I breath. me, down. "This one's me, sir."

5 w2 B7 _7 E0 }5 U' `8 b2 ZI Kenny. "Thanks, man." a bar.

8 H8 `5 _* I0 J- L1 xI a I it. grounding. comforting. Just... a second.
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I I time. didn't. floor, loudly. A me. I to.
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6 I  e% S2 B3 `9 ^! O) j$ GI drink. first. I nose, time, I I breathing. didn't work.

Emily's noise. restaurant, it. she'd day. she'd wasn't there, did. problem. simple, I proven, everyone, I wasn't.
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  w; t. h" Q' I( {I a bar, glass.
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"Another?" Kenny's quietly.

I drink, I'd I realized. I once. "Yeah, thanks." comment.
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. N8 h: F/ P1 L9 fI wasn't drunk. close, I anyway. wasn't night. me, breathing. flashing. laughing. clacking. wasn't itself.
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% ~" ^5 T2 @. X) I! g( p* ^I wasn't it.

I I body, a a a anything. pocket.
4 ~* v9 v+ _4 w9 l/ [
6 k1 C8 x9 C- V5 o& g% nI didn't again. attention.

" o; U! W9 l6 Y8 E4 I5 W, X& `/ ?I slowly, I I didn't it.

' B7 m' R9 e& H( ~  m. ^1 Kð: you?

4 c+ _4 V6 z0 X" p8 |3 z5 j- z( Y/ uð: Ty, you? immediately.

! H' O; u7 F4 G) vI I should've, nothing, sharper. me. again.
5 d% e, d! v  S9 A6 n/ T
$ C) L; ]9 e9 t3 [1 r2 b* HI didn't away, a real. her. back, it. I'd restaurant, time. phone. I decide.
' z' v+ q" r0 u. E0 D) v- a
ð: Please. it. a bourbon. I briefly. again. I'd else. earlier. I steady. I safe. a I answered.
3 j+ w$ `3 f) S$ N9 I' r* {; t- R
: a drink. sent, immediately. ð: bar?
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I didn't matter, it. I I space, it.

" C+ a0 z; P% [+ I+ [Honestly, I and/or up.

A through. ð: I won't anyone. ð: Brad. ð: Dean. ð: Kara. everything, chest, twitched. I it.

Calm. I hadn't I audience.

I me, sighed.

: Mia. couldn't a second. ð: way.

I words. a decision. I didn't that.
0 n5 c# m4 e% `1 A2 D1 c
tonight, her. I a coward. coming.
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% G/ @2 g0 q+ Z; ~& r: `I I again. past, counter. I a swallow. now. better, important. I wasn't anymore.
4 ]9 l' \$ k7 U
I Emily, terrifying. entrance. groups. Couples. Tourists. necks. her. I watch, it. hotel, wasn't town. automatically.
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I felt. that, I I I obvious. coming. me, me, herself, I wouldn't anymore.

% u1 g( |( d; z. P; F. Y: A# d**********

2 ]  o; Z- D/ U% E; gEmily: others. I heels, Alex. now, him, a situation. side, time. world. Alex... calm, satisfied, a smug. to. chest. I fully. "How you." cleanly, cold, cutting, hard. hadn't back. ""
8 w+ V( X# T( o
"Shut up, Alex," I teeth. place. moving.

Alex's slightly. ""
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- y2 E) K. B: V' \) P* q8 n( q# B"No," I again, sweat. "We helpful." tightened.

  Y4 a; M. d# G( d/ h0 K" GI didn't stop. "We ago," I said, gaze. "Two. Years." nose. "I'm you." laugh, instead. "No." I once. "You're hurt." flickered. I I to.
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2 M) I/ u! O# h: O"You're I've on. You're a isn't you," I continued. "And I that, Alex. I didn't become." tightened. "I'm I heart," I said, a second, true. "I am."
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8 B4 `5 @% m7 ?; E  a, D, ?Kim's tightened, top. Kara's slightly, now. didn't wouldn't move. a I permission.
% i6 D; M( U, I( ]: A; V. z8 Z
I inhaled, myself. "But I don't that," I said. Alex's flickered. "And I'm out," I added. "But I out, now." I him.
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"I Tyler, Alex." immediately, Alex's tightened. I didn't interrupt. "I him," I said, now. "I have." sides. "That isn't you, had," I continued. "But truth."

; W/ T- Y, @/ `& XI a breath. "I'm earlier. heard, you." I again. "And doesn't matter, Alex. doesn't I'm a a choice, irresponsible eyes." I head.

$ l, n+ Z$ d8 a" L9 ~3 S. X' o- l& u% H"If I Ty, business."
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I bitterly. "I this. I happy, me." I head. "That's I you, Alex. I happy. me." softened, anger, time. I slightly. "But you're not, you're stew, fine. you," I quietly, "but him." a couldn't hearing.

I wasn't done. "Because I god," I added, dropping, "if again, I'm it." a sound, now. muttered, "Jesus Christ," a prayer. me. once, didn't a reply. he'd I me.

+ A# m5 }8 k1 f0 a3 m" }# N1 _I didn't recover.

I turned, bag, walking. me, called, "Where going?"

! x$ ^6 A- X9 J! Y% b% OI didn't down. "To a
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( h3 M3 [# ^, `9 H."
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"Been years," said. "Good luck, Em!"

! l: J" w9 F' U0 S* n, WI beyond, floor. a second, I there. pounding. said, leave.

I fury, changed, instantly. I hurt, away. chest.
$ m" t4 F8 u7 [' O& _
9 S8 R2 e1 J7 }8 pGod, it. he'd face. I loud. idiot.
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I walking. first, I I was. direction, endless. hand.

4 u; i% v" f& h2 XEm: you?

2 Q" o+ z$ V  n4 K% T0 g2 a3 g; LEm:
3 z& q% D2 w$ ~
2 u1 \, J! ^* ^5 y: F& ]* XTy, you?

I walking. machines. drinks. machine, face.
9 y/ }5 k0 \: T1 ]1 _3 j# B
I another.
5 t1 e7 R) J% _0 q/ D5 D
) Q2 R% Q9 {* w! z2 ?* v5 h7 c! K4 ^Em:

Please. came.

Ty: a drink.

9 Z# M; h' q0 K+ U/ A% W2 VI back.
$ j3 I- z' q* ]6 H
% d) V- _7 V1 H9 Q: IEm: bar? appeared.
1 a* D: R4 y$ O; H
2 B3 x& U; `1 T3 I# K2 A/ `Disappeared. again. it. answer.

, T8 J  M% m( N5 o- u"Come on, handsome. Don't this." I myself.
9 d! _& ^! |* P
. s# t0 g5 K3 f/ W2 KEm:

I won't
: \7 L  J) d- s$ L% r) Q1 V
Em:

8 I0 X* u+ {& @- XEm:

' ?! s; [7 a) a( qEm:
  Y0 m; ?& j+ Z9 L
7 h, Q4 Z- S0 u% `! W& c& XA later:
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" R1 ~. |& V$ ]  o% c; V  YTy:

I up, hall.
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! g7 D) P1 F5 S0 ]Em:

I purse. I needed, I was, importantly, I happened. hadn't me.

# K( I& u% t9 Y3 d; O4 x& qHe'd

. morning. wasn't enough. he'd me. somehow, everything, we'd had, he'd I world, wasn't keeping. tightened. I ran? pilots, commanders, I'd him.
/ N- u* ^! N! h
I I floor.
4 X, K2 L+ E; C
+ D& D9 x0 V" T5 e"Idiot," I muttered. A me. I apologetically moving. accusation. said.
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. I'd Quinn. once, a second. this? a little. us? Absolutely. We'd other's minutes. overwhelming. him? me? issue, I old, I I him, realized.
( [2 I, `6 \% W9 ]5 w" [2 t
I credit. didn't care. responsibilities saw. days, he'd there. man, teenager, boy. needs. tattoos, confidence, a ego. I Mia, clear. wasn't me. me. Which, ironically, us.
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I entrance,,and slightly, I nervous, I again. there, alone. him, a answers. thing. I sighed. himself.
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