Okay," I Said, Clasping Her

Look, Rose. You Don't Have To Keep Up With The Hard-to-get Thing. You Already Got Me.

I'm Sure. But It Doesn't Work With Me. For One Thing, You Won't Look Me In The Eye. As For The Other...i Don't Know. I Can Just Tell.

Then, As One Hand Tightened On Me And His Other Ran Gently Over My Hair, I Noticed Something. He Didn't Smell Right.

He Has No Right To Threaten My Boyfriends. I'm Eighteen. An Adult. I Don't Need His Help. I Can Threaten My Boyfriends Myself.

Hey, Have You Ever Heard Of The Alchemists? " "sure, " He Said. "of Course You Have. " "why? Did You Run Into Them? " "kind Of. " "what'd You Do? " "why Do You Think I Did Anything? " He Laughed. "alchemists Only Show Up When Trouble Happens, And You Bring Trouble Wherever You Go. Be Careful, Though. They're Religious Nuts." "that's Kind Of Extreme," I Said. "just Don't Let Them Convert You." He Winked. "i Like You Being The Sinner You Are.