If I have to tell him what's going on with Prichard, I will. I'm not proud of it, but pride is a very slippery slope where love is involved. Marx. Love. I don't use the L word lightly. I don't go around telling people I love pizza or chocolate or Riverdale. I like those things. Love, I save for the most important stuff.But I am hopelessly, tragically in love with Penn Scully.

Because Knight refuses to win the game. Penn is trying to kill Las Juntas' chance to win so he can save me, but Knight doesn't let him because he knows he deserves it.

You think she's gonna stick around after the jock glory wears off? When y'all go to college? You think she's worth your future? Your team's future? My future?'Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes.

I'm turning my back on Vaughn and Knight without saying goodbye because I know they won't let me go. They'll promise to protect me and fight my battles at school, and a part of me still wants that to happen.

Luna, my neighbor, is the one who usually saves the injured birds, frogs, cats, stray dogs, and there was even a deer once.

His scent messes with my head. I want to reach out and caress his face. Kiss his wounds better. Beg for forgiveness. Curse him. Push him away. Cry on his shoulder for what we've done. For how it ended. For what we became afterward. Because I'm full of crap, and he is totally empty.

Sucks to be you.' There's no menance in my voice. She shrugs.'So why are you here?''Because it sucks to be me, too.'Because it sucks less when we're together even though I should hate you.

I envelop her. Even when Daria is growling like an injured animal in my ear. Even when the sea glass necklace, her see glass necklace, burns a hole in my back pocket, right next to her pompom string, demanding to go back to its rightful owner. Even when a scream rips from her throat, and I need to cover it with my palm. I hold her.

I hug her tighter because she is squirming again, desperate to run away, and I can't let her.And when she breaks within my arms, I glue her back, tuck her in bed, and kiss her forehead, not letting go until she is sound asleep.