“I’ll go and talk to her. See what’s up, but she is still a teenager. It was probably girl stuff.”

“I wanted to thank you,” Preacher said.

“For what?”

“The girl you sent me on Bishop’s party night. She was amazing.”

“I didn’t send you a girl.”

“What?”

“I didn’t send any girl to your room.”

“There was one waiting for me.”

“Then I guess you got lucky. The boys and I only took care of you having a good time, keeping you plied with drink, and to have fun. We didn’t organize any girl.”

“Well, I wonder who the fuck that was then,” Preacher said.

“Do you know what she looks like? I’m sure one of the guys or girls will know.”

Preacher shook his head. “Nah, it’s all a little vague. The fact I fucked her is a miracle.”

“You were pretty wasted. There is no doubt about that, but you deserved it. I had my fun that night as well. Finished it with screwing Rebecca. Not my highest moment, but still.”

Preacher laughed. “I still can’t believe you two managed to make a kid like Robin. How that girl is sane is beyond me.”

“I guess two wrongs really do make a right, because there is nothing right about Rebecca and me.”

He burst out laughing.

****

Robin sucked at lying.

Wherever she went, she was sure people could see she was nothing more than a lying whore. That’s what she was, right? A horrible person.

Closing her locker, she stared at the grey surface, wondering if she would be able to bash her head in multiple times.

“Hey, baby,” Bishop said, touching her waist and kissing her neck.

She quickly pulled away, not wanting his touch.

He looked at her, again, like she was weird, which she was. How else could she describe the way she was being?

“What is going on?” Bishop asked.

“Nothing. Nothing is going on. I’m just really busy.”

“We’re supposed to be hanging out tonight. Hello, did you forget?”

“Don’t you have that assignment to do for your dad?” Bishop had called her up after his first day of getting to know someone called Thomas. Preacher had trusted him with a mission to find out what was going on with all things Thomas and to report back to him. He’d been doing this for a couple of weekends now.

“I know, and you’re supposed to be coming with me. You know, make me look stable, and help me out. You promised. You have this way about you that draws people in, Robin. Don’t bail on me.”

She stared at her best friend and felt close to tears. Averting her gaze, she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

Without waiting for an answer, she walked out of the school and headed toward town.

Bishop didn’t bother to follow her, and she was so grateful he didn’t. She didn’t want to talk to him or have anything to do with him right now.