Chapter 8: Two Doors

Nobody moved.

Crew was still braced over me on the narrow bed.

My T-shirt was rucked up to my ribs.

My hair was everywhere.

Corey looked at the window, open to the night.

Then at Crew.

Then at me.

"Rule two," he said. "Right."

"She asked," Crew said.

"I'm sure she did."

"Get out," I said. "Both of you. Now."

Corey turned and walked down the hall.

Crew sat up slowly and ran a hand through his hair.

"I'll go out the way I came."

"No. You'll go out the back door like a person."

I followed them down the stairs barefoot because I didn't trust either of them alone.

My mother's bedroom door was shut.

My stepfather was snoring.

Corey went straight through the kitchen and out into the backyard.

Crew went after him.

I stood in the doorway in my T-shirt with the cold coming in around my ankles.

They faced each other on the wet grass by the swing set my stepfather never took down.

"Out of everybody," Corey said in a fierce whisper. "Out of every girl on that campus."

"You don't get a vote."

"She's my sister."

"She's not your sister. You spent nine years telling her that."

Corey shoved him.

Crew rocked back one step and came forward again with his hands at his sides.

"Do it," he said. "Hit me. I'm on probation. Then she won't even need the video."

"You think I won't?"

"I think you've been looking at her since the truck."

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