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I don't go home after school.
I go straight to the shop.
Park my bike at the rack out front. Smooth my dress. Run my fingers through my hair. Switch from my prescription sunglasses to my regular glasses.
Brendon is in there somewhere.
I can handle looking him in the eyes.
Really, I can.
The bell rings as I pull the door open.
At once, the room quiets.
Conversations cease.
Tattoo guns stop buzzing.
Footsteps move into the lobby.
There's Ryan.
Walker.
Brendon. He's in the back. Leaning against the wall. Looking straight through me.
&nb
sp; Leighton's blue eyes find mine. She tilts her head to one side. Mouths are you okay?
I nod a yes, even though it doesn't feel accurate.
"I just wanted to... uh..." I play with my backpack strap. "Give this back." I set Brendon's keys on the counter.
Leighton turns toward the brooding tattoo artist. "You want to grab those now, Brendon?"
"Yeah." His voice is even. Like he doesn't hate me. Like he doesn't feel anything toward me.
"Did you guys sign the paperwork?" I bite my lip. He hates me. I know it.
"Yeah. We did," he says.
"That's great. Congratulations."
He pushes off the wall. Takes a dozen steps toward the counter. Slides his keys into his pocket without looking at me.
It's like I don't exist.
His coldness is contagious. It sucks all the warmth from the room.
Walker steps forward. "Hey, Kay. You coming to our celebration?"
"Huh?" There's a celebration?
"For signing the paperwork. It's tonight. I know just the thing. It will be fun." He looks back to Brendon with a smile. "For all of us."
"You really step up when Dean isn't here," Ryan says.
