Five weeks. Ally and I had been together for five weeks. In that time I had kissed her, like, a thousand times. Held her hand, like, a hundred. Watched her chew on the inside of her cheek while concentrating, wrap her hair around her finger when she didn’t know what to say, dribble ice cream on her shirt while laughing with her mouth full.And I wasn’t bored. Of any of it.Every time we hung out, it was just the two of us. And every time we hung out, I didn’t want it to end. Even if we were just lying on my bed watching a movie, my arm around her with her head on my chest—even that went by too quick. I’d spent the last few weeks of summer not wishing I was down the shore but just sort of floating.And now, it all had to end. Because tomorrow, school was going to start. And there would be no more long afternoons of just me and Ally. Tomorrow the shit storm would begin.Or maybe tonight. Because tonight was Connor Shale’s back-to-school party. Ally pulled her mom’s car to a stop behind Jessica Cox’s Sebring Convertible, which I only knew was hers because she’d chosen the unfortunate vanity plate that read j coxxx. We both looked up at the window walls of Connor’s house. There were already tons of people inside, and the glass vibrated from the reverb coming off the speakers.“We don’t have to go in,” I said.“No. We really don’t,” she replied.We’d talked about it a million times—whether or not to go to this party. Neither of us had spoken to Hammond or Chloe since LBI. Ham and I had been at soccer practice together every day for two weeks, but basically ignored each other. Ally had explained that she and Ham had seen Chloe and me that night in town, and assumed we were together. She’d told me it was what I’d said, when she’d mentioned it, that confirmed we’d hooked up. For all we knew, Hammond still just suspected it. He may or may not have spoken to Chloe. Who knew? All I knew was that I wasn’t in contact with a single one of my old friends.And that I didn’t much care. All I cared about was Ally.“But we do,” Ally said, unbuckling her seat belt. “I mean, it’s better to get it over with, right? Before school starts?”“Do you not remember what happened here last year?” I asked.A shadow passed over her face as she looked back at the front door. I could see it playing out before her eyes. How Faith and Shannen had attacked her. How I hadn’t defended her. How she’d left the place near tears.“Ice cream?” she suggested suddenly, plugging the seat belt back in.“Sounds good.”I was just about to snap my own seat belt tight when my door was flung open and I was yanked out onto the grass. Ally screamed. I looked up to find Hammond standing over me, his arms down at his sides like a boxer’s, his hands curled into fists.So I guess we knew how Hammond was feeling.“Hammond! What the hell!” Ally shouted, getting out of the car.“Get up,” Hammond spat.I pushed myself up awkwardly and shoved him as hard as I could. “What the fuck are you—”Slam. His fist hit my cheek so hard I was flung sideways. My eye popped, gushing blinking stars across my vision. I held on to Ally’s car for dear life, blood seeping down my face. My jaw felt crooked and when I tried to move it, tiny slivers of pain crackled toward my temple.“Hammond!” Ally shouted, her voice cracking. “What’s the matter with you?”He ignored her and got right in my face. I could smell scotch on his breath. His eyes looked possessed.“That,” he said, spitting all over my cheek as he shoved a finger into my chest, “was for knocking up my girlfriend.”

acknowledgments

Even though I spend most of my day alone in front of a computer, typing my fingertips off, I always feel like I have a squad of cheerleaders behind me, keeping me going. I’d like to thank the following people for always having my back, especially where these books are concerned: Emily Meehan, Sarah Burnes, Justin Chanda, Julia Maguire, Logan Garrison, Paul Crichton, Lucille Rettino, Elke Villa, Krista Vossen, and Jenica Nasworthy.To all the librarians, teachers, readers, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, bloggers, and fellow authors who supported She’s So Dead to Us, my heart swells with gratitude. There are too many ever-changing screen names, handles, and nicknames to mention here, but you know who you are. A very special thanks to Laura Leonard, Courtney Sheinmel, Elizabeth Scott, Jenny Han, Sara Shepard, Gayle Forman, Susane Colasanti, Heidi R. Kling, Kay Cassidy, David Levithan, Jen Calonita, Caroline Aversano, and Christi Aldelizzi for everything you’ve done and continue to do to help me get the word out about these books.HUGE thanks to Jaimee Mulholland, Molly Brown, Anna Hickey, and Geralyn Hickey for helping me make certain bits authentic.And, as always, thank you to my family and friends for tolerating my craziness, listening to my rants, and telling me, always, how fabulous you think I am (especially on those days I don’t agree): Matt, Mom, Erin, Ian, Wendy, Shira, Ally, Meredith, Sona, Liesa, Jessica, Courtney, Aimee, Manisha, Lynn, and Lanie. . . . I may not see all of you as often as I wish I could, but I always know you’re with me, and that’s enough.And, of course, special thanks to Brady and the little one to come, for lighting up my life.

Table of Contents

Cover

Description

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Chapter 1: Ally

Chapter 2: Ally

Chapter 3: Jake

Chapter 4: Jake

Chapter 5: Ally

Chapter 6: Ally

Chapter 7: Jake

Chapter 8: Ally

Chapter 9: Jake

Chapter 10: Ally

Chapter 11: Ally

Chapter 12: Jake

Chapter 13: Ally

Chapter 14: Ally

Chapter 15: Jake

Chapter 16: Ally

Chapter 17: Ally

Chapter 18: Ally

Chapter 19: Jake

Chapter 20: Ally

Chapter 21: Ally

Chapter 22: Jake

Chapter 23: Ally

Chapter 24: Ally

Chapter 25: Jake

Chapter 26: Jake

Chapter 27: Jake

Chapter 28: Ally

Chapter 29: Jake

Chapter 30: Ally

Chapter 31: Ally

Chapter 32: Jake

Chapter 33: Ally

Chapter 34: Jake

Chapter 35: Ally

Chapter 36: Jake

Chapter 37: Ally

Chapter 38: Jake

Chapter 39: Ally

Chapter 40: Jake

Chapter 41: Ally

Chapter 42: Ally

Chapter 43: Ally

Chapter 44: Jake

Chapter 45: Jake

Chapter 46: Ally

Chapter 47: Ally

Chapter 48: Ally

Chapter 49: Jake

Chapter 50: Ally

Chapter 51: Jake

Chapter 52: Jake

Chapter 53: Ally

Chapter 54: Jake

Chapter 55: Jake

Chapter 56: Jake

Chapter 57: Jake

Chapter 58: Ally

Chapter 59: Ally

Chapter 60: Jake

Chapter 61: Jake

Chapter 62: Ally

Chapter 63: Jake

Chapter 64: Ally

Chapter 65: Jake

Acknowledgments

Back Cover