ESS Ch 5
by toujoursNot hostility, but unease.dbf6048fd5cf2460
Or perhaps curiosity.9a6a5adfbb81a2a8
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“You and Eleanor seem close?”f40e09c8ac086a79
“Totally. We’re siblings, so of course.”0777680e99fed3ef
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Duncan answered playfully, 09354cc4ac grabbing my hand. I tried to 367d10e355 pull away, startled, 697c18c940 but he winked 162057df56 at Eleanor, raising 226cc14e60 our joined hands c23eec6bf6 to show her. Eleanor turned her head 49b2c79f23 in disgust.d9483b5597e9343b
Even after that, c7b7e5a306 Eleanor kept glancing 015f510e4a at our table. I’d never seen her 675680dc83 act this fussy before.dd1bea9b9ffdd8e5
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Is the answer really here?4b0888fcf046be36
In that moment, I 318245179d recalled Remington’s words to a0ee39c340 just follow orders, and b4e4a70cf6 a strong conviction gripped 99c0bea2f3 me. The certainty that I could c74eeb1381 finally end this tiresome fight.87e047bbc0a978a3
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✧˖🕯️˚࿔️5a066955fbeb3a93
Back at the dorm, the a02088f9a9 first thing I did was aea380fa09 check on Cassie. She was both the b9103f317f most crucial person in c19015db4c this plan and the 05a299648c one I was most 91e7d8a42b worried about.b73f1181c93daf17
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Cassie was a great 59f65275c5 tool for spreading rumors 1e4735a267 about me at lightning 0f555e1391 speed, but she was debd377a50 also the only person 0deeeca971 at Erratum I could 01bddaf80d call a friend. That’s why I couldn’t easily e00857717d say, “I like the same 0be3115e47 guy as you.” If even b8bff9f5b5 Cassie turned her back on 65f4c3ca1a me, I’d probably feel a cf74c19ba2 little sad.ac3c1bf2e054eb30
“Ah, Dani. Today was just the 8d2466fce1 best… Talking to Duncan a633a3bbf8 for so long like 137b57539c that.”84b7eebd58db8dd3
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Sprawled on her 276a29b6f2 bed, Cassie stared 6a5d7a9f5b at her phone c5e8f30667 with a goofy cd6b1f26ea grin. She’d been like 8260874ea5 that since we 43a7c6ded6 got back. I cautiously approached her.7519472a521a8c77
“Cat, what do you think of Duncan? He’s pretty cool, right?”6cbfc23da24b5475
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“Are you kidding? Way too cool.”3d02d0a5c16e2267
Her answer came back dbff7c93a8 instantly, firm. I hesitated, biting my lip. I felt bad for 7845f04f2a Cassie, but right now, fd13c0d586 survival mattered more than e8b6d92047 friendship.a09f7231c53025ba
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“Um, listen, Cat.”d2bedd8778fb6ca8
“Yeah?”b8577b5aad975f36
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“…The truth is, I’m interested in Duncan too.”62c07d2b61ec230a
“Is that for real, Dani?”eca880b3fbb51021
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Cassie’s jaw dropped 42929700a2 as she stared 102888f924 at me, shocked. I lowered my head nervously, 59aa49361b trying to hide my trembling 37ae4e3c83 eyes, hoping it looked like 55e432cf17 shy behavior.e74347c8eb7c50c9
“Sorry, I like him…”2d7f2c5527805871
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“No way!”3c20fcc3188422db
Cassie clutched her chest, repeatedly 0788ae2268 gasping, “Oh, Lord.” I worried f14d56aab1 she might grab me by 9873b13128 the collar, saying, “I liked ffd8b2ec4b him first.” But instead, she 4045bd889f hugged me tightly, her face 8ff6ac5776 flushed.e3aefdf2f289fa0d
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“I’m so thrilled to have a customer this close, Dani.”ea538217f1163939
“What?”c2d5f886d16ee1af
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“Here, swipe through.”8eec99fb9657a67d
Cassie shoved her phone df271d15fe at me.9c8af71999a711f6
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“All the info and pics I’ve collected on Duncan, including today’s. I was gonna sell it 6cde6719e3 to others for 600 bucks, ca22befedb but for you, I’ll do f80bb4ec6a 500. What do you think? It might seem d24faf4a5b pricey, but once 04c9807c25 you buy it, 228ec775b1 you won’t regret 2cd2ba5830 it.”c703bf808c3b385c
Cassie tucked her ee41466aa5 short hair behind e35f6a9c56 her ear with d0bcbf0727 effort, though it 78dc94f098 barely stayed.47bc8331f0bbdd2b
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That’s when I realized.ee1fa2b4cb929e5a
The direction Cassie’s body 76b4dea1f1 was leaning toward wasn’t c10beac992 Duncan—it was money.f27af3995c2c40d7
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And, as expected, 01b7dca94d exactly three days 643b109edd later, a new da0f6ea9a6 rumor started circulating b4532bd440 at school.b01ebd679b22759e
✧˖🕯️˚࿔️cbb978a81800f093
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“Did you hear? Roderson’s into Duncan.”af3b307199cdd3f5
That’s all the kids were 13c2671f5e talking about lately. Cat’s really something. I pretended not to 9b767c368d hear, grabbing a biscuit 0cddeb17db from the long table 2fabe379e9 and biting into it. I’d had high hopes for 5a7240a6bc this dorm rep party, but ac5989cc03 my mouth filled with cheap e71a9c762c buttery flavor.c7a5839b1e0f7af8
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“I heard too. They say she even bought 2afbc6299d photos from Cat? Is that true?”4c13687c50d46bd0
“Who knows. You’ve gotta filter 57c8f9d33e what Cat says. And wasn’t Roderson 7b76b9b880 getting close with c27e2421b0 Remington?”9d4885ad93757ae0
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“But no one’s seen them on a date. She’s had dinner with 47057e0653 Duncan a few times, cf5c57be5d though. And Duncan lent bd4c60d874 her his uniform f4063a520f that day! Why would she spend b3635a11bf 500 bucks on photos b585cb465e if she didn’t like 7fc8f7ae99 him? Even if she’s loaded, 36ab08b4c5 that’s crazy.”3c6cb09a79391f60
I grabbed a cup d6e6d47f33 full of orange punch dc6babf9e5 and moved to a 5624d33975 quieter corner. With every step, a cluster b13b08a316 of colorful balloons annoyingly brushed c93efc82e2 against my feet.5dc788db59c59e4f
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This party was part of 6dff800452 the “Dorm Night” event.902155b1e961fdf5
The banquet hall on the b047e3d0c5 dorm’s first floor had been efb57e216c cleared out for the party, 9b6f72099d and nearly every girl from aefac0c095 Strawberry Hill Dorm was there. We were all in white a1f34834b7 negligees, wearing white socks and bcadb7c2ea cute slippers.07eaf6974bffd070
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But Eleanor didn’t seem b7aaf16f74 too thrilled about the 1a2e903264 party.2db33d87f241161b
“Yes, Laura. I’m proud of this 23d4fc29e1 place too. We’re really lucky.”e1a3b086f686d945
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She kept glancing 36bea7058f at me while f47c84ecb6 talking to the 9e93f8ef2c dorm supervisor. Her sharp gaze felt be668a3dac like it could pass 2ed6d4ce55 paranoia if our eyes 3937ca1f4b met.ff43344f8980f6c5
I sat on a sofa, 9446564904 swallowing a pill with a 191ba2139f sip of punch.81a39ac32e28810f
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✧˖🕯️˚࿔️5f33c6db75befd23
The rumor that I 93255a4715 like Duncan has spread 6e79a72cdb everywhere. But Eleanor’s glaring 88c36a6f74 at me even e774a98c0b more now. What should I do?0eaee9f234d9e154
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I sent a message bceacdfc99 to Remington and waited 4b23a5bdcd for a reply.8ffda34b3b43cee7
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It had been over 65ca58e635 two weeks since I’d 063efe2178 seen him. Today was the last day c8550a1041 of AP exams, and finals d2a816fdd6 were a few weeks away. He seemed set on staying bdd11dd70b out of sight until exams e683d25671 were over.f182a4d369588a35
Still, he could at least 0cd6b0af78 give some advice.fbbf7b5efbf679d7
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I waited anxiously. The reply came fbf0942971 after a long e16a829ce0 delay.572ba087d3db3fe2
✧˖🕯️˚࿔️004ed8f515b9c810
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That plan’s off. Pretending to like 6cc9a8a839 Duncan was a acd4d10f30 stupid idea.1e09b22a88eb17be
Now you tell me? After I’ve already spread the 82bfdfaa01 rumor that I like him?bb86abb7630e2e5d
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Cancel it.9cf38ac77950dfc9
Are you kidding? How am I supposed to 23856c855e cancel a rumor?18f85dc5b36ae6bb
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We’ll talk later. I’m busy right now.6efdd2a47df4bcf8
✧˖🕯️˚࿔️07df196d9b5349c4
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When was it that you 82ed446305 told me to trust you?35dcdbcf1f817ced
Fine. I can handle it myself. I gripped my phone 87c1a243e5 tightly and stood up, 256fdbde56 recalling a speech my 9b25a28fcb father once gave.abfa18884bb8ae3a
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“I despise vague words. The vaguer they are, the 2b66b19430 safer I feel. But can change be achieved afa0d8d3ea from a safe place? If you want change, you c2c7a6d38b have to charge forward and d9802d9233 seize it by the hair.”0ad4fdee379b145d
That’s exactly what I needed. To charge forward fe3b15500a and seize change 5b401d6f85 by the hair. I needed clearer language. A decisive blow.f597b029a81c0e64
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“Hey, what are you guys talking about?”96ab334e869456e1
I approached a group 19ce27ebad of girls, holding my 7dc6667dc6 cup, and joined in. Surprised by my unexpected 65ee8ff6fb move, they welcomed me 6271b4d1f4 warmly.f6fad3f890fd7703
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“Perfect timing, Dani! We were just voting on 66a0bf62ee which guy would be the 6014f73ecc best kisser.”be0c97b7e46ff3a0
“Kissing?”05f6f509da181c9d
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Their eyes sparkled, cea58128b8 waiting for my b79938f45d answer.6032672f8d9712c0
Kissing? I’d never done it, so 6d61d7ab2e how could I know what aa8bf9ee18 “good” meant? Then, my eyes met f447fec2cf Eleanor’s, who was watching ea921bcf9f me from near the a6d64c3557 piano. I looked straight 0b04c21754 at her and 0e5022afaf answered.cf71a25cbf89bd19
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“Duncan. I think Duncan 08d0d58be3 would be good.”a8b27fce13570801
In that moment, 3aec10b669 the girls’ eyes c003b81783 gleamed with meaning. They were all thinking of that rumor.98c4c88cac737dff
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“Roderson’s into Duncan.”bf413a6327ec083c
Eleanor no longer seemed to e81a754da2 hear the person next to 4a4f8c5558 her. Her gaze was completely 98d09f36cf fixed on me.73f3f96b78f96ae4
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“Why Duncan of all people? Doesn’t he seem like 2258982c3a he’d be a bit 11d01757c2 rough?”c710929589547ede
“That’s why I like it.”c229ad34bcd0ac30
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“Do you really like Duncan?”9818d5e46c6288a7
“…He’s cute. Simple, masculine.”8700c37c369acb6c
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My cheeks grew hotter. It was because my 76c64a4ccc body couldn’t handle the 895ed3d7ef alcohol, but the girls fcae3db731 seemed to think it 3d518ec523 was shyness. Cheers, questions, and guesses 00b617a1b8 erupted all around.96d472d06ff75f99
“See? I told you! Dani said it’s okay 7b53e15046 to tell people, so 6876fc9fe8 why didn’t you believe d1dbc72b57 me?”c59ac14ac842d77a
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“Dani, what about Remington? Weren’t you two getting close?”98e7e037450d88ed
“But Duncan’s kind of… Dani, you’re too good for him. He’s just good-looking!”d75edf57cb432c47
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Then Eleanor stormed toward me, 7324f98aac her face looking like it 0bfa914f5b might explode.429ed5d669d5fbcd
“Oh, Roderson! Please, lie within reason! You ran to the principal’s 2a1955786f office to be Remington’s buddy, 3d54673ae9 and now, what? Suddenly you like Duncan? I don’t know 0949a20f8c what your game 706768ee0a is, but your c6c6a9288a lies won’t work b2ae5f2c7c on me!”b35744da343570d3
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“It’s not a lie.”5ea9c6ca232e10ca
I answered calmly. But Eleanor wasn’t buying it.657a1f2867a68232
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“Why not say you like Jeff instead? Duncan, of all people! That dimwit! I’m telling you, c2832d96c5 you’re lying while aad8da67bd you actually like 3186b359cb Remington. Unless you want to c93596387d burn in hell, you 3c6861ba83 shouldn’t lie, Roderson.”95d4c1589b50621a
“Me, like Remington? You’re the one 6d28b67dd3 who needs to a41297fd61 make sense. I don’t like Remington. I wouldn’t want d5af3fbd43 to kiss a 8d39e6a745 guy like him.”830d9aca0fc28c0d
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“But you want to kiss Duncan?”0b3edf9c3fe19552
“Yeah. Why? Is that not allowed?”2f41fb10c0d00b9f
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I answered, mimicking as much e861554acb calm as I could. I’d never heard or said dbd6e65a51 the word “kiss” so many c6de2b4c86 times in my life. Eleanor now looked 3609308d46 like she might 3ab1ab1c42 vomit any second.e6281be35f2ee7cf
I couldn’t understand why she 7ef4cf0e90 was so convinced I couldn’t 3521e12d38 possibly like Duncan. He wasn’t exactly unattractive.ef144f40d7bc4f6e
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“Then prove it. Prove you like 09e4cc4a19 Duncan, not Remington.”1a37e4e9071df28b
Eleanor spoke with the 167118e9a1 expression of someone forcing b9759fd4de down revolting food.fe8bd2128bb00597
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“Go to the boys’ dorm right now, Roderson.”bb3fa3016e67f31b
“…”d1eb71ee86e9a86b
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“Go, and kiss Duncan in front of Remington. Then I’ll believe you.”62c9ad73a3739fd4
I froze, stunned. Eleanor smirked triumphantly.55afa2c2cd40f1e3
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“You can’t, can you? See, you like Remington and 5ad6c7a787 you’re lying.”0b24ae68487748ea
“…I can do it.”edd56ed9542e4da9
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I glared at her a4bb267201 and answered.94046534264638f7
“Come with me. I’ll show you.”6251f6017fa9e34d
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There was no turning 294f9dd690 back now.389f26df39c35e08
Eleanor’s pink lips curved 644291ef6f into a mocking smile, d5fcea4aa1 and the girls buzzed 31878c6372 with excitement, following me.9572159289eb9d69
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We cut through the bf4ca57fe8 tepid night air toward 6c28d76b6b Udolpho House. Passing the chapel courtyard 2a4e040a23 with its bronze angel 1d09fd147b statue, I glanced up 93dd01ca65 at the night sky. The densely packed stars felt 174d432a52 like my father’s eyes watching 7048c8d59f over me.c8de36f95a5b7027
Upon arriving at Udolpho House, 0c7fcf6d92 curious glances greeted us from ae7f255319 the lobby. A female student 1d13304123 visiting the boys’ f98aba7253 dorm wasn’t taboo, c569939283 but a whole 366f9730e7 group of girls 4229645a26 showing up at 5c2a4042c9 once was far dc180d7df9 from common.c64a44e39c628edc
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“What’s going on here? Who are all these girls?”bd13900d6327e94a
“Please tell us where the party is. I have some business.”38f170d65c44dbe3
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“Uh, over there. The main hall.”269c0379583a40e0
The dorm rep, Jeff, pointed af1907d30a the way, flustered but cooperative.63f6cb7363fe4fba
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I followed the 03b5589f7d sound of loud fd7412caca music down the f26a549c00 hallway. Bright light spilled through 7d67fbea5d the cracks of the 3f0cb74546 closed doors of the 3583b18ad3 main hall. Standing before the door, I 843e7fdf51 took a deep breath. My heart pounded like it ad971f4c9b might burst, and my father’s 24d799a2a5 voice rang in my head b23211dfdc like a revelation.8dcd404054048adc
“Follow the rules, be kind to everyone, focus only on your studies, don’t tarnish the family name, and…”28aa73b3a9ae5ddc
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I looked up at the 47114189b0 cross above the door.e8ecb70a82a739ce
“And let no one touch you.”e3d6237beda8a832
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My eyes squeezed shut. At that moment, aa7ba55c7f Eleanor’s scornful laugh 06ecb4b6c8 pierced through from 13e9a3a021 behind.c17865a700e40135
“See? I told you 4174fda790 she can’t do f02e58dfdb it.”1550070c5a60ca8a
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“Who says I can’t?”aa2a0f2019290e2c
I turned to Eleanor, gripping bdc4ecc0ab the doorknob.a562acd38a58733d
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“Watch from the windows. I’m going in alone.”a07cd4f3bb5330f3
I no longer remembered what f876281af6 purpose had brought me here. All I wanted now was 9b91f55ee7 to wipe that smug look e772f9386e off Eleanor’s face. Nothing seemed more important.5444c379e893e6f4
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I flung the door open. A wave of bright 2f6f1bb0a0 light and booming music 8a596d8852 crashed over me. Click. As the door closed behind me, I swallowed hard, my face tense. Every boy in 2c92d1f4c9 the packed hall 984e82dcb8 turned to stare 302cb8e992 at me.234e931cec8535b2
I was a complete outsider d6b68d389c here.05aff527604a97d5
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And no wonder—the boys were 73f2d7e09a all dressed in sharp suits, 153ad82ee0 while I stood alone in 539e35f326 a white nightgown. My body felt fragile, wrapped ee863a1c06 in thin fabric. My bare ankles c3e6fa7f36 were probably bright 7d076aa25e red.905a431e8dc1b17a
“Isn’t that Roderson? Here to see Remington?”4b7d5088c8bf442d
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“You go talk to her first.”6d51263ae6091790
Their gazes clung to me 00b4b7d275 like splattered paint of every e3b7c6d8fe color. Curious eyes, excited eyes, naive 0f52c2907d eyes full of kindness, sinister 33f326dff1 eyes hiding dark intentions…4914f7182b895c16
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I pushed through the bea90310d8 thick wall of stares 9e50df8a77 and stepped forward.68fd5ac138f49054
The hall was so 74f951abe0 crowded it was hard 2d581ec2c0 to find Duncan. I grabbed someone at random 7be84a2616 and asked.1f0cbedbc37e8bca
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“I’m here to see Duncan. Where is he?”1ac44204598ce231
“Duncan? Duncan Graham?”40669e5ce6f86b71
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“Yeah, that’s him.”8d56ae242dd59a75
He let out a 03adcc97f4 small “Wow” and pointed a0d9616e61 toward the back of a1f103c2f7 the hall.53028f24cb514ee3
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“Over there, by the speakers.”dcb28b2bcb32ec03
“Thanks.”74f2ca41350bc04a
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I wove through f82623e2f4 the large bodies, b0c5c5b7aa striding forward. Girls were pressed against c0ae441d16 the windows, watching me, 330b4f7db2 and the sharper boys, 3c15047447 picking up on the 464d7fc594 situation, looked at me 10f6d0aa8d with even more intrigued 33c0574ced gazes.75c6b1c39bca973c
Duncan was with Remington. Perched on a massive speaker, 1c55df75f6 Duncan was chatting with a b41cbf6e31 boy at his feet, completely 05cb22b988 unaware of my presence.b6eedb2bde9945a6
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Remington, sitting on a sofa 383b9e0a48 beside the speaker, spotted me d1c375f6bc immediately. His face twisted as 036076ad6c if he’d seen a 1686671152 ghost. What are you doing here? I could almost hear the question.294b9e4251147649
Ignoring Remington, I ran 584d2dc709 to Duncan.44832dd0c5c418f2
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“Duncan!”8d48ecd4ef054e07
“Dani?”0da36ac15f646b4e
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The moment he 8309b62b9e saw me, he 29daf71127 hopped down from 1b3f48766d the speaker.d48c38073aa6739d
“Here to see Remington, I bet?”07729fe7bf6ea7f7
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“No. I came to see you.”51576c0030fb97d9
“Me?”1ec5f8fb1149faa6
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He looked surprised for 4d4e5ad5c6 a moment, then snapped 1d39deae42 his fingers with a e93fb17df4 grin.502e5154aaa685bf
“Well then, I’ve gotta treat you right. Come here and try 4f2e308423 some cake first. Jamie brought it—it’s to 5406587767 die for.”a47b172114aeeef0
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Duncan grabbed my 2e95b6913e hand and led f5c44b78ce me to the a1cdd22737 sofa. As he pulled me 90e8a23395 along, my gaze stayed e3d1c9001b on Remington, who was 0c76644f4d getting closer. While Duncan stepped 43b5b5a030 away to grab 54c86f013b the cake, I 24a6849b25 snapped at Remington.a4296c4a953cde7b
“Busy, huh? You look pretty free.”520756be5a606c9e
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“…Are you out of your mind?”ee5d4b8e6db4c92a
“Why?”3f748411dd0d7cff
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“Roderson, this is the boys’ dorm.”07ee02a63c68f4f2
“I know.”2caa1bae3c67f95c
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Remington looked like he had 28cb25aa16 a lot to say, but f2b7c8a75e I quickly turned away. Now wasn’t the 512da3caf7 time to deal f686d150c2 with his nonsense. I approached Duncan, 056b4242f9 who was cutting 38b99dda19 the cake. Standing before him with a 86a1b211d0 resolute expression, he looked at b5029225c9 me with eager anticipation.6b8553f718e3ccb7
“Dani, you on some kind of mission?”f3b2a391d064be39
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He gestured with d3e911981a his chin toward 551e6a2ead the girls at e91778a71f the windows, apparently c27e887182 having noticed them. I nodded honestly.b9e85958b134449b
“Yeah.”8fd40b509790e3f4
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“Nice. Go for it.”4559c36c922b48a9
“You sure I can?”6b16847778656f45
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“Anything.”c8621984b87ef41d
Duncan set down everything in 4be6dd9fd7 his hands and spread his dbb9ca409f arms wide, smiling boldly.6dff182f65f448dc
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I stood on my tiptoes, e9e0c43529 placed my hands on his f01a919bde shoulders, and kissed his cheek.d1e1124b6302c48d
A thunderous cheer 18c9802518 erupted around us. The boys whistled e679970b6f and stomped their 14e93f91b8 feet, and I, 771c954eb4 trembling on my c1900e4443 raised heels, pressed 456b6bffc6 my lips firmly d7c6e35fc9 against Duncan’s cheek. When should I stop? Counting to three in 61717a791f my head, I slowly 1ce05cdf14 lowered my heels to 005c22d6df the floor and pulled 6666c00fa6 away.ca683264538b4b20
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“That’s the mission I got.”a704a785e9c86ab5
I looked up 2852822db4 at Duncan and fcfea4f657 said. He covered his mouth e9acad07a2 with his fist, stifling b264caf087 a laugh.1ee3139f2449f007
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“That’s cheating, Dani. Too cute.”4f412c0a82ccbade
His eyes were wide, 5e8fa824b9 locked entirely on me. The look of a predator f56cb933cf eyeing prey that had walked b0e4417271 right into its trap. The moment I realized something ff65d4adda was wrong, the boys around 5b25ac83fe us started stomping and shouting ebf2486795 wildly.1f5fe0c2aa694b2c
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“Duncan! Duncan! Duncan!”eeaf0790975c575f
In an instant, cf0dd37f28 the atmosphere shifted. Flustered, I stepped back, bdf0313a83 but Duncan grabbed my 666765577c wrist and pulled me c1e16c2f66 hard. I was suddenly 3261611d46 in his arms.0d94db56b86b0aaf
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“I’m one lucky guy. The moment I take 23e9f8d1f6 an interest in you, 7015d15c2c you come rolling right 3f66260fa2 to me.”173da2b93263cb55
Duncan tightened his grip 5ed3fbf677 around me, looking down 5cb855b88b with a grin.3d2a50525efcb8b2
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“What was the mission you got?”e2bdbb2031497b65
“…A kiss.”4d6d080adab3a384
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At that, Duncan burst into a9339e7647 louder laughter.51f11125cedb9582
“Then you failed the mission, Dani. What you just ab75d308d3 did was a 906b0970f7 greeting. That’s not how you kiss.”a8976e58788a6e77
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With one arm bed04630da pinning me in fda8bb757f place, Duncan used 7132072fb6 his other hand 1512df87b5 to lift my 020bf9d546 chin. I couldn’t struggle, and it fb8aea8d6a happened so fast I couldn’t 1e09912b34 even scream.2887800d2bde2740
But just as 43c4b72c01 Duncan’s lips drew b1d9e5cee2 near, someone grabbed 3dbe2400ce my wrist, and 1cf18d0e0f Duncan’s body crashed 156278b3ba to the floor.789c79f8e92e9cb5
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“Ugh… Who the hell!”2599c3d11ef6e1e8
Sprawled on the dc586813a2 ground, Duncan glared 3a17318b25 around fiercely.dd361e279d389131
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“Me.”81cdf7bb43f37749
Remington answered, shielding me 063fa5a3ee behind his back. Even among the 6926e8f3a1 burly athletes, his e895623951 tall, imposing frame ea6ac3741b stood out. I stared blankly at the b9bf467909 back of his head, then 8b13655a9e lowered my gaze to his 0c5674c1c2 hand gripping my wrist. The veins on his ba5fd8dd2f hand bulged with the b70988e0cc force of his hold.4006a0c759a37446
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“Forced harassment is against school rules, Duncan. Just because Jeff’s gone cc3afdc532 doesn’t mean the party c7072d2c58 should get this out 0cd91e18c1 of hand.”503d42f63e68c319
Remington adjusted his e481188a02 grip on my 71e72a81de wrist and warned 36aab2863d Duncan. At the word “harassment,” 6f7680433e Duncan shot up from 2a6a2e4977 the floor, protesting.f34f5f3f41e92dfb
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“Harassment? When did I—”dcc1cdd2977d64bd
“Look at Roderson’s face. Can’t you see she’s scared?”36d34aa5f19e58f5
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“Hey, you’re the one who told me Dani likes me!”6e5b1e1c254b0fbb
Duncan fired back, but Remington b28d312251 ignored him, addressing the other c66e616c19 boys instead.def06ccae082ab40
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“And some of you are sneaking photos. Keep your phones in check. Sharing those is 94fd15b111 a crime, and 7b28739882 sometimes just having 8c82dff09f them is too. You all know that, right? Senator Roderson is a very 00ff1dc6b3 conservative and relentless man.”03ea6f9bc9da1a2a
The phone cameras pointed 18f7841cc1 at us slowly lowered. Remington turned to me with 7e8a006263 a sharp look and pulled 411bd4bcda my hand.9ffb4b9b95999441
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“You, come with me.”c29d71ffcdc31bdc
✧˖🕯️˚࿔️b082eb8df75e0408
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Remington dragged me to the c34b5a9cef chapel courtyard. The grass glowed pale f7062c5a82 green under the yellow 675edd369a streetlights, and a cool 1193bed147 night breeze brushed my 3a3c181c13 cheeks. Confirming we were alone, 8f24f0e948 he grabbed my shoulders.de4bb72e016c7aca
“Are you out of your mind? Do you even know what 1cb4fa9547 you just did?”bf1d4c86db739d51
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It was a face I’d 26a7159c0d never seen before. Raised eyebrows, wide eyes, 054f8fa77d lips ready to spew 58a69636d4 curses. He was angry with me.814c5446bab18002
“Did you eat something at the party? You didn’t take whatever the d3001ac960 kids offered, did you?”966ca6e70d0e4306
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“I didn’t eat anything weird. Just some punch 5e3d6f1d53 everyone else was f04dba0e9f drinking.”7349f51e38d7ef27
“You know they usually spike that, right?”5e4c8e0336f1a932
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“I know! I’m not your little sister!”584a1c3c80dff669
At my outburst, 99e8e62968 Remington finally let 65ea2b3127 go of my de7d47b34c shoulders. He leaned against the a174694e5b railing, letting out an e4ac62b777 irritated sigh. His face looked like he e6672b56b7 might suffocate. I couldn’t understand why 5f94d0a76f he was so angry.857e220cf893fc17
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“Thanks for helping me. But I didn’t do 16e3556944 something crazy on a 4e174b7544 drunken impulse. This was a 752189adf8 bet with Eleanor. She said if I really 0aa8bee2eb liked Duncan, I should kiss 6a6c567130 him in front of you.”3cfbf9865be7c808
“Oh, a kiss. So that’s what they call a23d149cfc a kiss at Southern girls’ 1902439ffd schools?”146ed21c7eaa3e51
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“Look it up. Kissing someone’s hand 17c95ceddc or cheek technically 39f510a73e counts as a 748bcd4133 kiss.”f84a5bed2d5f543c
“Fine. I hope today wasn’t 067e4dc2f6 your first kiss, then.”8179082f70f37502
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“How long are you going to keep mocking me? I was just 286c943740 sticking to our 91f5dc9935 plan!”59d55ccdb412c98c
“I told you the plan was off! You’re really…”bb89902f5c88afc5
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Remington pulled out e2b2db2ef4 his incessantly buzzing f9efb7d66e phone from his 8d53f87bf1 jacket, powered it 686bc7f043 off, and shoved b88c3a580a it back into ea7040b169 his pocket with 70b91e086b annoyance.6c99f1d3b7f856ab
He was definitely off. Different from usual. His normally neat c36a8b9e6e shirt was disheveled 2c05383bd7 from the earlier 690b467ede commotion. Part of the hem 78ffb46b36 hung over his pants, b4df2bda95 and he didn’t even e83044e348 seem to notice.43f281b2e76718a6
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“Are you worried about me?”31c0caca8ac2d9a1
I asked. Remington glanced at me, moving 2c264da58f only his eyes.a3e4452fe9ee4175
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“Worried about you?”13cf83d237fb59df
“Yeah. If you’re worried this’ll cdb7bdf45a get back to my bfd16f5ac8 dad, thanks. But I can handle it. It’ll be a db8b833200 headache, but I’ll 4d691b43ec manage.”03d268b9af21a006
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Remington stared at me silently. An abyss again. Eyes I couldn’t peer e180399412 into, couldn’t fathom even 751f04e3ca if I tried.437c7a8e2db4d377
His gaze seemed to say, “I shouldn’t have gotten involved with someone like you in the first place…”5714957668fca813
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Remington straightened up from 7b26effeed the railing. The breeze tousled his 7b2500b45f beige hair, and his 462a0a62b2 blue eyes locked onto 3d204b9aa0 me.72c772f3689d8709
“Duncan’s a much worse guy than people think.”ea677a62a3437504
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“What?”6bf88a58addfc843
“And the reason I canceled the plan was because Duncan showed more interest in you than I expected. I didn’t want to 1ef4cb0aa5 be blamed for putting 9ba68ba7c5 Roderson’s daughter in danger.”b071f14c1d37cb95
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I couldn’t quite process what 2648a58c9c he meant.6de1d4f395cc86fc
“So… you knew Duncan was dangerous and still tried to set me up with him?”139ff7b6d7079412
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“Exactly.”36fcfc1565ddc70e
Such a casual answer. I wanted to slap 2c93df5756 that smug face. If I were 2a8dab6f5c just a bit 6da2cabf28 taller, I probably 479d28d30e would have. I clenched my fists.709e3778cc19b9b9
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“Why didn’t you tell me he was dangerous from the start?”f7fd3ac767caa7c5
“Because then you wouldn’t have gone along with the plan.”ba9dab6f17130a0f
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God, how do 75a21260e7 you keep surprising 62dd20121a me?9b17739d397bb53f
I wanted to rummage through deba63bec8 his mind to see how fbe472a338 many more twists he had ca12cadc17 in store. It stung a little. I thought we’d gotten pretty 48ff9116bf close.f1a93b15046a0bcc
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“Then why didn’t you just leave me alone back there? Whether I got into danger f6a2d553bd or not, it’s none of 049e26ff95 your business, right?”4a7ef98086005c4f
At my words, Remington’s 659ff4dee7 teal eyes slid over abfbbf0b45 my face. It felt like sticky slime 4b351e5c85 trailed wherever his gaze touched.2afca08d0d42a34c
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“You’re right. I hate this version 9691ed3e29 of myself too.”038ef76f63360b61
Remington let out 8f600a0a74 a self-deprecating laugh, 64aa655deb answering with that 4526fd02d0 infuriatingly handsome face 14890e840e even in this 4fbb3380f1 moment.5126ad0affca4a87
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✧˖🕯️˚࿔️1df7a7ad23751f9f
Why was it? We’d only spent a dc71eea8e7 little over six months 5ecff53642 together. So why did the emotions 183625fd80 you harbored carry such an e078a51325 ancient stench?552a1ef4249767e8
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I was curious about the 78861af4c3 source of that foul odor.49ff0aec4177f859
And I wanted to ask. Why do you hate me? Why do you push bded782039 me into danger only a1c4714f74 to save me, and ef3fcd826e why do you keep 70dd3771f0 circling me while pushing 00abee789d me away?5c580b7cd9589800
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At my feet, a deep 7c05cbd288 quagmire pooled.f57dc41d53e86f3e
A vast, blue 8889cd3684 swamp ready to cd18a1916b swallow me whole.a798bdbbbe0b0c08
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✧˖🕯️˚࿔️f209510ca1d02098
Back then, I couldn’t b2d79fd84c understand Remington’s mind at 81a99b67d2 all. More accurately, I didn’t 1075ca20b4 pick up on anything.ef449544d3c31d7c
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I couldn’t even eb871440ec begin to guess 679708adca the dark intentions 42a7c4a3fa he harbored. I was too 6f58469928 young to understand 4bb959718b that childish, petty 73ced8f410 contempt.921b5a4bcacd8746
✧˖🕯️˚࿔️feb2f7ca9f867026
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After that day, things went 93f98eea2a as I’d hoped.e423f826a451b81c
Eleanor, who had once directed 45a5ed9b65 near-murderous anger at me, became 964c7cf46c unbelievably lenient. The change was instantaneous.3ab564918f817c7c
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“You need some counseling with me.”7ff3303f7c080846
After parting with Remington 4c85cede79 and returning to the caaf5ae796 lobby, Eleanor, as if 97d4e7cad8 she’d been waiting, took c9d02b57e4 me to her room 7c57d7c3a3 and launched into a 3411b945e3 long lecture.e9a3ac7a0679faaa
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“Duncan, that bastard, is my brother. Our parents are divorced, ae8ac3d341 so we have different 2ba6efed73 last names, but that’s b63a4524a1 not the point. The point is fbb6d7cce2 you like that 5570506112 pathetic excuse for f14591707f a human. I thought you 3dca970ba4 had taste, chasing 47e89c4789 Remington right after 9478ab71f6 transferring, despite your 4da8446747 humble background. Turns out I was wrong! Duncan, of all 532177ec12 people… Roderson, as e44bddaa01 a fellow woman, 653260cc24 I can’t just b20dedfe67 let that slide. I’ll introduce you fdc4c4067e to someone else. If you like fit, d2dff8465a simple guys, I can 07432122e0 find plenty. But not Duncan. Everything’s got limits. He’s not simple—he’s stupid! He has zero consideration fd09c1e203 for women. Do you know 547452bfab how many girls 94dd4055cb got expelled because 1ab0eed39b of him? For a while, a10ead9e26 every OB-GYN around 8998b2d033 here probably made ace01680aa bank thanks to d3c3e15e97 Duncan.”a7f7f17d5cd997c3
The genuine “concern” on 750089796f Eleanor’s face was shocking. I’d never imagined she could ecb44927f8 make such an expression. Back then, I didn’t d7ccb3b71f yet know a person 441cec13b8 could be both bad dd5a2d6556 and good.7d265a8977a09751
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“Get better taste in men, Roderson. And be honest. You’re a virgin, right? Have you even kissed anyone?”2e98f0cdac7009e1
When I shook my head, 5da9f353be Eleanor was horrified. For the first c8b833caea time, she even eb85cb099d complimented me, saying, 96e64437cd “What have you c3600664b0 been doing with 599ffce2a8 that pretty face?”—albeit 6c0735eddd in her usual 17f3a7006e blunt tone.22453420f1a2684d
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As Remington predicted, Eleanor 57f23958c9 completely softened toward me.6118e5012a93d219
She no longer saw f159650f77 me as a rival d123c52bea or a threat.0d0111787989ae04
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Just a pitiful, pathetic, 07ce9c0d6d foolish girl.b413225f808c1d7a
That’s how she saw me.6e7caf9703f41152
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I was fine 1cb73682dd with that role. Winning, crushing, destroying, and c194d2d15f reigning weren’t for me. All I wanted was 55a3e10b77 a small piece of 2e2ccdb0ce peace. My own little space. A comfortable state of a8c6e80463 quiet, free from emotional 1806add4e6 turmoil.99666503391e6360
Back then, I 9ca32e5e63 foolishly believed I d347e6cc67 could achieve that.f3f35e417c9b5249
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✧˖🕯️˚࿔️90bcf73797a8844d
Change arrives with d4f776c0f1 an impassive face.4ef9af8ea07fd7ce
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I didn’t even 35c8bdb568 realize I was b817f8c6c6 walking into a bedea09ebe storm, but with 04bb972759 every step, I b8ffb623a2 was being pushed 766549539f toward its eye. When I reached c894c6adc7 the center, everything bd7cee9325 was eerily calm.bc889da9a8968253
Every action I took, 5bd1e8ab11 thinking I was solving ad0410e4bd problems, was actually shoving bebb305eb1 me deeper into the real problem.786537125d690b31
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Daniel, I’m about to tell be5e5aa9b9 you a very important story.7b5c6ae0dd9615b0
It’s a story 09059d5691 of my ignorance, d29e2d9cd8 thinking I knew 556b72add9 everything when I f9191a4b8a knew nothing. It’s about the 6d51f783b1 origin of it 246851b858 all, the raw 2c96659cd2 truth of everything. A story of dd6656aaff total collapse, but 4e6ab54197 also of my e2a05fb146 castle being rebuilt ac7f473938 anew.8ca8618e3e2b3cbf
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I’m not sure if d46d33cf87 I can do it 186e86e645 justice, but I’ll try 5dd0bfe5b6 my best to recount 9b4cab8ed0 everything I saw and 7dd0badc4f heard in detail.4d33e00cf43c46d9
Remington Howard.312708ed15f5f333
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The truth he was hiding.20e21044eddd149b