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repeat it. I hear the Priest’s into kiddy porn, Danny said. Despite the cold air Alicia’s cheeks heated up. But the weed buzz creeping up her spine and gripping the back of her head dulled her anger and suddenly she felt anxious, short of breath. Danny stood there grabbing his crotch and leering. Jessica continued talking, her face contorting, her voice like sandpaper. She asked Alicia if she had any smokes. Alicia stumbled for words anddrew a toothy grin from Justin, rocking back and forth on his heels. Look, Danny said, she’s all fucked up. Yeah, Justin said, all fucked up. Relieved to the point of peeing herself, Alicia saw the blue-lit bus approaching and readied her fare. Danny swung his head around and also saw it coming. He jumped to the curb and waved his arm for the bus to pass. It whooshed by without slowing down and continued to the next stop. Danny and Justin screeched with laughter. Another bus wasn’t due for an hour.
    Enough of this shit, Alicia thought. She’d just walk to the variety store at the corner, withdraw money from the ATM there and cab it to Joe’s. She started down the street, moving quickly, but Jessica caught up to her, the boys in tow. Leave me alone, Alicia told her. Don’t be mad, Jessica said. I didn’t do nothing. I love you. We’re sisters. Where you going now? To the store? Buy me some smokes. Alicia continued walking. But Jessica kept on her heels, stumbling as they neared the corner. Danny and Justin hung back, still laughing.
    Alicia entered the store and took out her bank card. Jessica came in behind her but stopped to look at the magazines. Alicia just wanted to take out some cash, hail a cab, and get to Joe’s. She withdrew her money and exited the store, leaving Jessica at the magazines. The two boys waited outside with their hands in their pockets.
    When Alicia hurried by them Danny said, I’d like to come in your face, baby. This stopped Alicia cold. She turned around, walked up to Danny, still laughing, and slapped him across the face. She slapped him so hard her hand stung when she dropped it to her side. Danny did nothing at first. His chin quivered and his lips twitched and tears welled in his eyes. But he didn’t cry. He cocked his fist and punched her in the mouth with a crack. She dropped to her knees, her eyes glazed. Then Justin appeared before her, smiling, bowing, and reached out his hand— not to assist her, but to balance himself as he flung his leg and kicked her in the face, pitching her backwards. Hot salty blood gushed from her sinuses, filling her mouth. Someone grabbed her legs and then she felt her arms and her hair being pulled. They dragged her into an alley and threw her against a dumpster. They stretched her out on her back, spread-eagled, and she could see the sky above her, cold and star-filled.
    Justin jumped up and down above her, his boots landing on her head, but she didn’t lose consciousness. She kept her gaze focused on the sky and the stars. Her jacket came off—Look, the fucking ho is only wearing a bra!—and then her bra fell away, baring her breasts to the cold air. A hot mouth descended on one of the nipples and for a moment it almost felt good, not sexual, but comforting, human. Then teeth clamped down on the nipple and the stars grew brighter in the sky and Alicia felt herself lifting off the ground, away from her body, away, until she seemed to float above a doll of herself, plastic and silent, eyes shining in the smashed face. Justin’s trousers came down. Danny let him go first.
    Sirens sent the trio scrambling out of the alley. Jessica’s turned her ankle, but daring not to stop, she limped behind the others. The sirens passed. Alicia stirred. Blood poured from her mouth. She tongued chips of broken teeth behind her torn lower lip. She had no idea how badly hurt she was. She looked at her bloody breast, and then saw the bra twisted up beside her. She pulled up her