Before
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Music pulsed around me as I walked through the party. I had to find Oliver. I hadn't seen him at all when I got here, but I did see Dakota.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb4FlM8ruN
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She was still pissed at me, that much was clear.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cQeLnjbxx
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I found him upstairs, a cup in his hand. He saw me and grinned, then his nose turned up.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEzYl6H66L
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"Leah, what is that smell?"392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgwsZwAgtl
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I flushed and took the cup from him, drinking deeply. "Dakota is still mad. She threw her beer in my face."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2WNA0PPm9
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He scowled and grabbed my elbow. "Come on, I'll get you cleaned up. You can change your shirt if you want to."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmbEqahtuH
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I nodded. "She needs to see what she's doing is wrong," I said as he guided me to his room. When he shut the door, I sat on his bed. "But I don't want to be the one to do it. She needs to take responsibility for what she's done."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU75yiZQFQ
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While Oliver dug through his closet for a shirt, he said, "You're looking out for her. Who was it that you saw her with?"392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBejuCVDAB
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"Mr. Grey," I said, my stomach tight.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxHXYHzlnW
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Ollie whistled as he threw a black top at me. "Nice catch."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iRVtAv2j4
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"Oliver!" I laughed. "That's terrible. He's a teacher."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFnienWofB
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"But he's hot," he responded, grinning.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYvL43w7F2
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"You're gross," I said as I put on the shirt he'd given me. "This isn't a joking matter. She could get expelled, and he could be fired, if anyone ever found out."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKH8511NLk
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"Then tell her that," he said. He brushed a hand through his dark hair. "She needs to know what could happen, and she also needs to know that you're on her side."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgeRMTI0xp
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"Of course I'm on her side," I replied. "Aren't you? You're her friend too."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrkYgNewNH
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He put up his hands. "Relax, Leah. I want you to understand the situation. How detrimental it could be if you came forward with this information."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8s1h79yjl
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I knew he was right.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8xoPplXzj
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**
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I'd had a few beers before I found Dakota again, just to take the edge off before I spoke with her. When I touched her shoulder, she turned and her eyes widened.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXNjmOGwCE
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"What do you want?" she snapped. "Are you here to run my life for me?"392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LbZGBj9V1
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"Dakota, listen to me," I started. "Please."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGdtFRXuLz
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"No." She pulled away from me, her eyes wild. "I don't have anything to say to you. This is my life. I make my own decisions, not you. Stay away from me, Leah."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0Z3W1y9Yi
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She tore away from me, then she was gone.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKbjM6Cu46
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I followed her, out the front door, and into the driveway. When she got in her car and started the engine, my heart thudded in my chest.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazh0Hdk6XB
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I pulled out my phone and called her, but it went to voicemail. When her car disappeared, I called Oliver.392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7NWhERizC
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"Hey," he shouted over the music. "Where are you?"392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYh6OOHFbw
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"Outside. Dakota left. Ollie, she's been drinking. I have to go after her."392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKPSnGsuUV
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"Leah, wait!"392Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Hw0PwIU7W
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But I barely heard him as I got in my own car. I needed to get to her before she hurt someone, unaware that fate had other ideas.
