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my…uh…stuff.”
    He shrugged. “You’re too much of a catch to let a few minor things bother me.”
    I started walking away with Billy when Darren cleared his throat. I turned around to glare at him. “What?”
    “When will you be home?”
    I shrugged. “Why do you care?”
    He frowned and spoke in his ‘don’t talk back’ tone, “Artemis.”
    I sighed. “Tonight. You and I have things to talk about anyway.”
    He cringed. “What stuff?”
    I smiled. “Things Koda and I were discussing.”
    He growled. “What did he tell you?! And when did you talk to him?”
    I shrugged and turned away, dragging Billy along with me. “Interesting things. Bye
    Darren.”
    Billy walked with me as I skipped like an elementary school girl. “What was that about?”
    I smiled and started walking instead of skipping. “Apparently my dad has been
    withholding information about my past so I have to make him sweat a little.” Darren and I had never been close. He provided for me and I never starved or anything like that, but he had never been emotionally open to me. I’d never felt loved by him. He didn’t act like he loved me. I’d always blamed it on my mother’s disappearance, but maybe it was more than that. I needed to get out of the town and away from Darren as soon as I could.
    We arrived at Billy’s house to find J.D. and Jess sitting on the porch. Billy smiled at
    them. “What’s up guys?”
    Jess and J.D. stared at us in shock for a second before smiling. Jess held up a bottle of whiskey. “We come bearing gifts.”
    Billy licked his lips then looked at me. “You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to.”
    I shrugged. “I’ve never tried it before.”
    Jess laughed. “Oh, girl, you are in for a great night!”
    We walked into the house and sat down around the kitchen table. J.D. grabbed four red
    plastic cups and poured some of the alcohol into each glass. I sniffed the cup and gagged. It was horrible smelling, like rubbing alcohol.
    Billy laughed. “Don’t smell it! Just down it.”
    I stared at the brown liquid. “Down it?”
    J.D. tipped his cup up and gulped down the drink in one swallow. “Woo!” He yelled.
    Jess smiled. “Like that.” She held up her cup towards me. “Ready?”
    I lifted mine up and hit the side against hers. “I guess.” I looked at the liquid one more time then tipped the cup up and swallowed. The liquid burned my throat and I exhaled and set the cup down. “Whoa.”
    Billy poured another round and raised his cup. “Cheers!”
    We all hit cups then downed the alcohol. My stomach felt warm for a moment as the
    liquid settled then the warmth disappeared. J.D. frowned. “You sure you haven’t drunk before?”
    Jess giggled beside me. “I’m a lightweight no matter how much I drink!”
    Billy snorted. “You’re just a lush!”
    Jess rolled her eyes. “You’re a boozer!”
    I could see the difference in Jess already, but I didn’t feel any different. J.D. poured
    another round and we touched cups then downed yet another drink. Billy took out a deck of cards and taught me a drinking game which consisted of taking as many shots as corresponded to the card you pulled. Jess and J.D.’s eyes became glazed over and they started acting drunk. Billy was slurring his words and smiling a lot. I frowned as I realized I didn’t feel any different. I went to the bathroom for the fifth time and as I walked out of the restroom ran into Billy. He wrapped his arms around me and I felt instantly disgusted as his alcohol breath stole my fresh oxygen. He tried to kiss me and I pushed him away heading for the door.
    Billy frowned and followed me. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you having any fun?”
    J.D. scoffed. “No ‘cus we’re drunk and she’s not. Artemis has been holding out on us.”
    I rolled my eyes and smiled at Billy. “I have to see my dad, remember?”
    “Are you coming back tonight?” He asked.
    I shook my head. “No, but you can come over in the morning and