Stop it, I demanded, my arm pulsing in agony.

Apologize. She cranked it again. Say youre sorry for spreading lies!
I couldnt reply, the pain was so intense. All I could do was reach out and bat her away with my other hand,
accidentally scratching her cheek.
Youre pathetic! She twisted again, and I fell hard on the cold ground.
Erin stood over me, that hair of hers whipping wildly in the breeze. She swung her foot for a sharp kick when I
grabbed her other ankle and she veered backward, almost catching the sharp edge of a granite tombstone.
The next thing I knew we were rolling in the grass. I was shocked by both of us. I never fought like this. Never. And
yet, here was Erin doing whatever she could to maximize damage yanking my black hair, slapping, biting, and
finally digging her nails into the delicate flesh of my forearm.
I reared back in pain and horror as blood gushed out in rivulets, running over my wrists onto the browning grass. Only
later did I realize that her nails had been filed into seriously badass points.
Leaving me bleeding on the grass, Erin got up and brushed herself off without a second glance.
You need help, I whispered, hugging my arm.
Do I? I dont think so. I think youre the one who needs help. She peered at the blood cascading down my wrist and
smiled in satisfaction. You should take care of that. Could get infected.
I held my arm tighter. I felt stunned and dizzy as I wobbled upright. Do not pass out.
Well, see you in school Monday, and remember . . . She did that tick-tocking thing with her finger again. . . . its
School Spirit Day, so wear your orange! We already know youve got plenty of black.
With those final words, she proceeded down the snaking cemetery road, adjusting her jacket and smoothing her hair,
wiping my blood off her fingers onto her jeans. I watched her walk confidently past the gatehouse and greet the
caretaker before stepping into her late-model Mini Cooper. A rev of the engine, a U-ey in the turnaround, and she
flew up the hill, passing by with a kiss blown out her window.
I stared for a minute, and then my knees gave out and I collapsed, overtaken by a sudden bout of nausea. Beads of
sweat popped out along my hairline and I had to grab on to a headstone for support as I resisted sickening gulps of
bile.
Obviously, Matt had said something to Erin about me. But what?
It didnt matter. Erin was right. Those two would never really break up and I bet that come Monday morning theyd be
in the hall, entwined in their standard embrace by her lockers, all thoughts of Lily Graves forgotten.
But I would never see Erin again.
At least, not alive.