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Oh. My. Gods. - Weebly

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“No. Even I didn’t know until I was thirteen.” He stares straight<br />

ahead. “By then we weren’t speaking.”<br />

Wow. Instinctively, I inch a little closer so our arms almost brush<br />

with each step. “Still, I don’t understand how that’s a weakness.”<br />

“Sometimes his blood controls me. Like last week when I had to<br />

carry you home—”<br />

“I didn’t ask you to do that.”<br />

“I know. That’s what I’m saying. I had to. I couldn’t help it. It’s not<br />

your fault—or mine.” His fists clench. “I hate being weak.”<br />

“Weak?” I give him a sideways glare. “You’re crazy. Any compulsion<br />

to help people—voluntary or not—is a strength. It’s noble.”<br />

“You don’t under—”<br />

“There’s nothing to understand, Griffin. You help people. That’s<br />

the bottom line. There are a lot of people in the world who don’t<br />

help anyone but themselves. And a lot more who wish they could<br />

do something—anything—to help someone in need, but can’t or<br />

won’t. The fact that you have to help people doesn’t diminish the<br />

fact that you do help them.”<br />

We walk quietly for a few seconds. I give him time to let what I’m<br />

saying sink it—if he’s felt this way his whole life then it might be<br />

hard to accept. And it might explain why he’s such a jerk half the<br />

time. A little rebellion against his heroic blood.<br />

Not that this excuses his behavior.<br />

As we pass the finish line of our sixth lap, he says, “I guess I<br />

never looked at it that way.”<br />

“Well,” I say, speeding up to a full run, “you should.”<br />

He falls silent for a few seconds before blurting, “I broke up with<br />

Adara yesterday.”<br />

188

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