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and Hollis lived next door to each other and walked to school together every day.

It was the only reason someone like had become his friend in the first place.

Hollis was fine, but was cool . She cut her hair herself and made her own clothes and jewelry. She had big brown eyes, wide sharp shoulders, and cheeks that flushed pink in any season.

She was the school photographer, so knew everyone. She dated guys from student council, guys on sports teams, guys who did mathletes, guys who smoked weed and thought they were cool, no social group seemed off-limits.

She was the kind of girl who could sit down at any lunch table and no one would look at her sideways.

Watanabe could do it all.

But instead, she was there. Right beside Hollis, always.