didn't re

I didn't rec

of foundation could erase, lips bitten raw from days of silen

f someone else. Someone is trying to claw her

short, sleeveless, and backless. A far cry from the soft pastels I usually

p enough to draw blood. My purse matched, tiny, glit

effortless curls. It had taken twenty minutes to get them to look like I didn't try. That was

he final touch, a subtle red gloss that shi

ce called from the hallway. "I

ed the

tepping back.

ore of a twitch than an

She paused. "You

lowed.

being the girl who waited for love and kindnes

Lana down the hallway. The hou

me to be careful. No one to ask whe

decision to stop fe

in my chest. Outside, the city lights glittered like stars that had fallen just for me. Maybe

the heels and the lip glos

t gone a

dn't want

toni

nd heartbeat in my chest, lights flashing in multicol

hem. The

idn't burn

fed

rm brushing against mine. "Told you

lips. Something about walking beside her, head high, hips sw

be jus

took one look at us and handed over two glasses li

r," Lana said, clinking

dr

Like a punishment I

ugged at my arm. "I see a fine on

e attention of a tall guy with too many tattoos and not enough rh

with a glass of wine in ha

s. My eyes followed Lana, smiling faintly as she threw her head back in lau

one came

es glassy with booze and something else I didn't w

close, too familiar. "You're

mach t

back. "Not

on, don't

st the sticky floor, heart racing not from fear but from rage. N

drink

didn't count. Wine that bled down m

lullaby, and the room stopped spinn

a, blinking through the

gu

ng out with Mr. Tattooed Stranger. I didn

ed min

walke

nd stinging all at once. My dress clung to me tighter,

better o

Just me and the world and the sound of

signs. Past strangers who didn't know my name or my

ce...

mil

e. Not happy.

eached the z

red, but I d

lking. One ste

dlights b

as comi

didn't

n't s

low as it grew closer, like maybe if I stood still l

ain would vanish

t want

re

ant to feel an

like

so e

r horn

thing slo