Part 94 (2/2)

with a purple felt-tip pen. ”Listen, just in case I miss and drive this

into your brain, can I have your record collection?” Then she giggled,

held the potato behind Emma's ear, and plunged.

It was a toss-up as to who was more queasy.

”G.o.d.” Marianne tucked her head between her knees. ”At least my parents

don't have to worry about me becoming a drug addict. Shooting up must

be disgusting.”

Emma slid bonelessly out of the chair. ”You didn't say I'd feel it.”

As her stomach roiled, she concentrated on keeping very still and

breathing. ”Oh gross. You didn't say I'd hear it.”

”I didn't. But then Marcia and I had swiped a bottle of bourbon from

Daddy's bar. I guess we weren't feeling or hearing anything.”

She lifted her head, focused. There was blood, just a drop of it on

Emma's earlobe, but it made her think of the slasher movie she and her

cousin had seen over the summer.

”We've got to do the other one.”

Emma just closed her eyes. ”Oh Christ.”

”You can't go around with one ear pierced. We've come this far, Emma.”

Her hands were clammy as she clipped the needle free of the thread and

prepared it for round two. ”I've got the hard part. Just lie there.”

Gritting her teeth, Marianne aimed and fired. Emma only groaned and

slid the rest of the way to the floor.

”It's over. Now you have to clean them with peroxide so they don't get

infected. And keep your hair over them so none of the sisters notice

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