and I was determined to stay there. I stepped on feet, stabbed backs, and ruined reputations. If giving up a chance at love meant staying in my secure little spot next to Ryin, I would have seized the opportunity about as fast as I would have seized up a rabid squirrel.

Like I said, I was shallow. My "friends" meant everything to me. I thrived on them. We fed off each others' energy, often times draining each other's souls completely.