Page 82 of Soul So Dark

And Alex will be there.

I’m suddenly reminded of the empty classroom, where Alex scared the shit out of me. An image of his dark silhouette flashes through my mind after that door slammed shut, and then his face when he took off his hood, his brown eyes the most intense I’ve ever seen. And then I remember what happened after that, and how, by the end, I didn’t want to leave that room.

I almost chickened out sending him those pictures last night, pretending I meant to send them to Maddie. But I was still so angry at him for messing with me again that I took them and fired them off before I could change my mind. I even left the cafeteria today before the bell rang so I didn’t have to see him. But now…

“Come on, Texas Ranger!” Colson booms from downstairs as I’m pulling on my hoodie.

I spin around, patting my pockets as I take inventory of everything I need, which is not much. Glasses, phone, Chapstick. I loop a scrunchie around my wrist just in case, but don’t bother taking anything else because Colson’s driving and if he wants to get food, I’ll just make him pay for me.

Colson doesn’t drive straight to the old railroad bridge. Instead, he turns into a neighborhood where the houses are scattered throughout towering, mature trees. Soon, he pulls down a driveway and stops in the turnaround of a mid-century ranch situated near the creek bank. There are a couple of other vehicles parked in front of the house with people milling about.

I don’t ask questions, I just get out of the Civic when Colson does. And as soon as we do, Bryce comes jogging toward us.

“Hi, Dallas!” she greets me.

“Hi,” I give a polite wave as I round the trunk of the car.

I’ve never spoken to Bryce, who has never given any indication that she knows I exist, but she appears to recognize me now. My eyes dart around the driveway as she talks to Colson, catching sight of Mason and Aiden next to Mason’s truck. Then I see someone come out of the house dressed in a black sweatshirt with the hood pulled up. He strolls down the brick walkway to Mason’s truck and joins the other two. I keep watch out of the corner of my eye, until finally he turns my way and I see two familiar dark eyes.

This is Alex’s house.

I stay still, shrouded in my own black hoodie, blending into the side of Colson’s Civic while I watch Alex from across the driveway. After a few minutes, he gazes off into the trees before letting his eyes wander in my direction. His eyes gloss over me at first, and then he jerks his head ever so slightly when he realizes I’m standing right across the driveway.

I feel my lips tighten as I try not to smile. I wish I could look angry, but the adrenaline won’t let me. Alex locks eyes with me, and as much as I want to look away, I don’t. Instead, I hold his gaze longer than I ever have. Eventually, the corners of his mouth curl, sending a shiver down my entire body.

“Ride with us!” Bryce exclaims, giving me a start as she links her arm in mine and begins pulling me toward an old blue Suburban parked nearby.

I turn to Colson just in time to see him finish mouthing something to Bryce, who shoots him a tight-lipped smile and nods vigorously. If I know Colson, it was probably something along the lines of,I’ll kill you if you let my sister out of your sight.

Typical.

Once we arrive at the Suburban, a girl with long, straight blonde hair whips around and looks me up and down. “Who’s this?” she asks, her voice dripping with contempt.

Oh, God…

I recognize her immediately. She’s the senior I have Psychology with who was so nasty to Macy—and me. And she’s one of the girls I saw in the restroom my first day back at school, talking about Evie. And, more importantly, she’s the one I saw sitting on Alex’s lap in the cafeteria.

“Calm down,” Bryce huffs. “This is Colson’s little sister, Dallas.”

“Oh!” she chirps, her demeanor changing on a dime. “You’re a freshman, right?”

I immediately regret agreeing to this. I should’ve just dealt with Colson’s sulking. I respond with a nod and one of those forced smiles you give someone when you pass them in the hall and don’t want to seem rude. I decide it’s best to say as little as possible.

Bryce motions to the blonde girl. “This is Jordy,” then points to another girl in the passenger seat with long light brown hair, “that’s Layla,” and to another in the backseat with short dark hair, “that’s Logan,” then she finally points to a girl with wavy blonde hair, “and that’s Tyler.”

I recognize Tyler immediately. She’s the girl who’s always with Sydney in the library. The one with teal eyes.

I climb into the second row between Tyler and Bryce, hoping it isn’t too far of a drive to wherever we’re going.

“Lovely night for a bonfire up at the haunted bridge, wouldn’t you say?” Layla sighs over her shoulder.

“I don’t know about you all,” Logan pipes up from the third row, “but running around the woods in the dark beats dinner at Arabella’s and pictures at the clock tower any day.”

“Prom’s not ‘til tomorrow, andI’mstill going,” Bryce laughs.

“So, Col is going, after all?” Layla asks with a hint of excitement.

“Of course, he is,” Logan answers for her like it was a dumb question to begin with.