The Scorpio Races

by Maggie Stiefvater

It is the first day of November and so, today, someone will die.

She is my mare and my best friend, and I keep waiting for something bad to happen to her, because I love her too much.

I heard Gabe say once that Mutt Malvern had bigger tits than Peg. Which I suppose is probably true but I remember being very shocked at my brother saying something so crass and unfair, because what say does a girl have in how big her chest gets? I

Something about his expression and his wind-torn hair makes my heart go thump thump stop.

I’m a bit ashamed to recall that I told Brian that if he died and kept me from my cinnamon twist, I’d spit on his grave.

Yet! I don’t think I’ve heard such a fine word before.

I say, “I will not be your weakness, Sean Kendrick.” Now he looks at me. He says, very softly, “It’s late for that, Puck.”

“I’m going to go talk to them,” Gabe says. His righteous anger is a welcome thing to see, even if I don’t think it will help. Sometimes it helps just to have it shared with another person.