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           "IdecidedaslongasIwasgoingtohell,Imightaswelldoitthoroughly."

           Iwaitedforhimtosaysomethingthatmadesense.Thesecondstickedby.

           "YouknowIdon’thaveanyideawhatyoumean,"Ieventuallypointedout.

           "Iknow."Hesmiledagain,andthenhechangedthesubject."Ithinkyourfriendsareangrywithmeforstealingyou."

           "They’llsurvive."Icouldfeeltheirstaresboringintomyback.

           "Imaynotgiveyouback,though,"hesaidwithawickedglintinhiseyes.

           Igulped.

           Helaughed."Youlookworried."

           "No,"Isaid,but,ridiculously,myvoicebroke."Surprised,actually...whatbroughtallthison?"

           "Itoldyou-Igottiredoftryingtostayawayfromyou.SoI’mgivingup."Hewasstillsmiling,buthisochereyeswereserious.

           "Givingup?"Irepeatedinconfusion.

           "Yes-givinguptryingtobegood.I’mjustgoingtodowhatIwantnow,andletthechipsfallwheretheymay."Hissmilefadedasheexplained,andahardedgecreptintohisvoice.

           "Youlostmeagain."

           Thebreathtakingcrookedsmilereappeared.

           "IalwayssaytoomuchwhenI’mtalkingtoyou-that’soneoftheproblems."

           "Don’tworry-Idon’tunderstandanyofit,"Isaidwryly.

           "I’mcountingonthat."

           "So,inplainEnglish,arewefriendsnow?"

           "Friends..."hemused,dubious.

           "Ornot,"Imuttered.

           Hegrinned."Well,wecantry,Isuppose.ButI’mwarningyounowthatI’mnotagoodfriendforyou."Behindhissmile,thewarningwasreal.

           "Yousaythatalot,"Inoted,tryingtoignorethesuddentremblinginmystomachandkeepmyvoiceeven.