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.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfDzHciEGT
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She was still pissed at me, that much was clear.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn57VBFDZM
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I found him upstairs, a cup in his hand. He saw me and grinned, then his nose turned up.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ei1OYKGxN
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"Leah, what is that smell?"404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrZ7sTl8ay
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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."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8ymX0ziCA
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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."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPNSFwxPpg
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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."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nxmQAfKoU
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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?"404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsZADToXCA
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"Mr. Grey," I said, my stomach tight.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5CJxSnntx
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Ollie whistled as he threw a black top at me. "Nice catch."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYadjronFDD
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"Oliver!" I laughed. "That's terrible. He's a teacher."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmaZ7g8fzt
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"But he's hot," he responded, grinning.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIpcVTKuG9
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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."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKtIee1uL9
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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."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPuTF0x8xJ
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"Of course I'm on her side," I replied. "Aren't you? You're her friend too."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0GKmW7GWR
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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."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcONf2T0lp8
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I knew he was right.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpHRZ8UyBe
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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.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXzEuF7Gz9
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"What do you want?" she snapped. "Are you here to run my life for me?"404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHTLhggnlL
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"Dakota, listen to me," I started. "Please."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcvBBj0AD4
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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."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BkKa2PdIM
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She tore away from me, then she was gone.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYcw1iZpYM
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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.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy5z8xOOcv
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I pulled out my phone and called her, but it went to voicemail. When her car disappeared, I called Oliver.404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUq8OjGHLS
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"Hey," he shouted over the music. "Where are you?"404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFncL7ixXQ
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"Outside. Dakota left. Ollie, she's been drinking. I have to go after her."404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItOY42Dxe8
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"Leah, wait!"404Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfB6k2AU3V
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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.
