I'm Not Dying with You Tonight: Parts II–III

by Kimberly Jones, Gilly Segal
When violence breaks out at a football game, two teenage girls become unlikely allies as they attempt to make their way home.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part I, Parts II–III, Parts IV–V
30 words 18 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. dampen
    lessen in force or effect
    The room’s dark, illuminated only by the faint reddish glow of the emergency exit sign, and the distance from here to the football field dampens the noise of the fight.
  2. contraband
    goods whose trade or possession is prohibited by law
    Some student trying to charge a contraband phone on the down low, maybe grabbing the phone but forgetting the cord.
  3. irony
    incongruity between what might be expected and what occurs
    The man has no sense of irony. I’m not allowed to work at a restaurant that’s a twenty-minute walk from my house because it’s too far away to keep an eye on me, but he’s got no problem leaving me alone for the entire weekend so he can go fishing.
  4. materialize
    come into being; become reality
    The hipster sandwich shop job hasn’t materialized yet.
  5. squelch
    suppress or crush completely
    A flutter of grateful excitement kicks up in my belly, but I squelch it.
  6. pulsate
    move with or as if with a regular alternating motion
    A swarm of bodies pulsates around the field, people reeling and staggering, flooding forward, swaying back, swirling endlessly.
  7. gurney
    a metal stretcher with wheels
    Two paramedics slam open the doors, jump down, pulling the gurney after them.
  8. overwhelming
    very intense
    It’s too noisy. Too overwhelming.
  9. teeming
    abundantly filled with especially living things
    The lot that’s currently choked by cop cars and fire engines and ambulances, teeming with police and first responders.
  10. shroud
    cover as if with a burial garment
    A figure comes jogging toward us, shrouded in darkness, feet slapping the pavement, getting closer.
  11. blanch
    turn pale, as if in fear
    I blanch. “What? We’re not going through there.”
  12. nondenominational
    not restricted to a particular religious group or sect
    Here, churches are almost as common as mailboxes: Baptist, African Methodist Episcopal, Seventh Day Adventist, nondenominational.
  13. pulpit
    a platform raised to give prominence to the person on it
    “We are only as good as the five people around us,” Marcus says, up in his pulpit now.
  14. demise
    the event of departure from life
    But I’m telling you, that cat is gonna be your demise.
  15. skulk
    lie in wait or behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
    A bunch of guys skulking around at night in a fenced-off lot should be keeping quiet, shouldn’t they?
  16. sashay
    walk with a lofty proud gait, often to impress others
    Lena sashays over to me and links her arm through mine.
  17. goad
    provoke as by constant criticism
    That sounds nice, like he’s looking out for us, but from the mockery in his tone, he’s goading Lena’s cousin.
  18. covert
    secret or hidden
    She sneaks a glance behind her, and I have to admit the girl’s got some covert skills, because she’s faster even than I might’ve been.
  19. suppress
    control and refrain from showing
    Campbell suppresses a giggle.
  20. understatement
    something said in a restrained way for ironic contrast
    That feels like an understatement.
  21. naive
    inexperienced
    “Is it always like this?” I ask, aware that I sound a little awed, but not caring enough to attempt a mask of cool. Lena already thinks I’m totally naive.
  22. staccato
    marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds
    I can’t hear the clicks over the noise of the street, but I imagine they’re staccato and anxious.
  23. transfixed
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    He’s as transfixed by the fight as I am.
  24. perpetrator
    someone who commits wrongdoing
    You get hurt running toward danger—the perpetrators always walk away and the innocents get dead.
  25. retaliate
    take revenge for a perceived wrong
    He retaliates by giving the sheets of wood a huge shove.
  26. brandish
    exhibit aggressively
    Mr. Wells brandishes his bat.
  27. bristle
    react in an offended or angry manner
    “We will board up these windows. Campbell, you go in the back and wait there. And this girl—”
    Lena bristles, and I jump in, “My friend. Lena.”
  28. solemnly
    in a serious and dignified manner
    She nods solemnly. “You got my word.”
  29. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    God, who would’ve thought Mr. Wells with his sweater vests and his polite, precise demeanor had such a feral creature in him?
  30. feral
    wild and menacing
    God, who would’ve thought Mr. Wells with his sweater vests and his polite, precise demeanor had such a feral creature in him?
Created on Sat May 22 14:11:19 EDT 2021 (updated Tue May 25 13:21:02 EDT 2021)

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