Ned trailed after them, catching Helen’s eye and whispering, “She never drinks. If she goes through with this, she’s just going to end up sick.”
Helen let out a long sigh. “Let her. She’s had so much on her plate lately. Sometimes you just have to let it out. Bonnie hasn’t really let herself cry in forever. Even when she does, she hides it so nobody notices, like she’s scared to show any weakness. If she gets a little drunk, maybe she’ll finally let it all go. And once she’s cried it out, maybe tomorrow she’ll have the guts to face everything again.”
“I’ll stay with her. However much it takes, I’m not leaving.”
Ned offered a few worried reminders, then saw Bonnie finish paying. He went over, grabbed the two heavy grocery bags from her, and headed out the door.
Bonnie and Helen lagged behind. As they stepped outside, they didn’t notice the group of girls that suddenly burst out from the shadows to surround them.
The girl at the front looked young, dressed in a white puffer coat. She pointed right at Bonnie, her voice full of attitude. “You’re Bonnie, aren’t you? We’ve been waiting for you all night. Finally showed up.”
Bonnie glanced at the paper bags these girls were clutching, noticing Hannah’s face printed on the sides. There was even a rolled-up poster poking out.

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