Page 20

Dallas

I think Colson’s losing it—like, really losing it.

“You’ve never invited me to go out with you and your friends.”

“What are you talking about?” He sounds slightly offended. “I’ve been saying you should skip school with us for two fucking weeks.”

I shoot him a side-eye before I turn back to my game. I thought he would leave me alone once he saw that I’m back to playing Witcher 3 —as far as anyone else knows…

My mom and Scott are visiting Scott’s mother, Evie’s grandmother, and will be gone until Sunday morning. My mom spent an inordinate amount of time telling us about food in the refrigerator and repeating where they would be and for how long, as if we’ve never stayed home alone before and don’t know how to use phones.

Maybe it sounds terrible, but I’m glad they’ll be gone for a couple of nights. Every time I talk to my mom or Scott, I’m reminded that they’re not the same people anymore, and nothing will ever be the same. I thought that this would be an opportunity to get some space and clear my head— play my “new” PlayStation games and disassociate some more. But, instead, Colson came banging on my door again.

He’s only inviting me out because he thinks that if I’m with him, then nothing bad will happen to me. Hanging out up at the old railroad bridge with a bunch of his friends sounds boring, but I also want to make him happy. Colson can be annoying as fuck, especially when he’s being overbearing and getting all up in my business, but he’s so much better when he’s happy. We are so much better when he’s happy. I also kind of hate that my own happiness hinges on other people being happy.

Speaking of which, Colson’s still in my room, staring down at me expectantly.

“Who’s going to be there?” I squint up at him.

A wave of relief washes over his face, taking my question as confirmation that I’ve accepted his invitation. If I refused, he’d probably blame me for ruining his night anyway.

“Mason, Aiden, Alex,” he rattles off the usual three, “Josh, Rory, Bryce, and a few other girls.”

Good, at least I won’t be the only girl with a bunch of his soccer friends, even if I am the only freshman.

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, and I’m still 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.

“Alright, Colson’s going, so obviously Mason is going,” Layla declares. “Aiden?”

“Does anyone know what Aiden’s ever doing?” Logan mutters before flicking her cigarette ash out the window.

“Alex?” Layla continues.

My eyes dart in her direction at the mention of his name, but Layla’s looking across the console at Jordy, who’s focused on the road.

“You still don’t know?” Layla says in an accusatory tone.

Jordy lets out a huff. “He’s just being…Alex. Whatever, it’s just prom. If all goes well, maybe I’ll just blow this popsicle stand with him in a week.”

“Go well, how? He’s leaving for the Marines.”

“Their families can live on base, can’t they?”

Layla casts her a skeptical glance. “You’re planning on getting knocked up by Alex?”

“Maybe,” Jordy muses, “with his eyes and cheekbones, he’ll make pretty babies.” She glances over at Layla. “He’s also really good in bed.”

My stomach drops. Is she still talking about my Alex? Why would Jordy know what Alex is like in bed? Is she his ex-girlfriend…or his current girlfriend? Is he still sleeping with her?

“I’ve heard him switch to Spanish when he fights, does he do it when he fucks, too?” Logan snickers from the backseat.

“How ‘bout it, Jordy?” Layla teases.

I want to throw up. I hate how they’re talking about Alex right now. He’s so much more than whatever this bullshit is. At least to me…

I wish they would all stop talking, change the subject— anything .

“ No, ” Jordy rolls her eyes. “It’d be hot, though.”

“Why’d you all break up, again?” Bryce asks.

Maybe they aren’t still together…

“Stupid stuff,” Jordy replies with a shake of her head.

“It doesn’t matter, they don’t let you live on base unless you’re married anyway,” Bryce points out.

Logan takes a drag off her cigarette. “I can’t see Alex marrying anyone. ”

“Jor,” Layla glances over the console, “you and I both know that Alex would not go for that shit.”

“Maybe not if he knew about it,” Jordy mumbles mischievously.

My heart starts hammering, but I stay still and try to remain inconspicuous.

“ What? ” Bryce shrieks. “I did not just hear that!”

“Never going to happen,” Layla laughs.

“Why not?” Jordy argues.

“Because he’s a fuckboy! And fuckboys are careful to remain fuckboys.”

“He is not!” Jordy retorts. “ Mason is a fuckboy,” she counters with a chuckle.

“Aren’t they all?” Logan snickers from behind me.

“Bryce should know,” Layla grins over her shoulder. “She’s the one who’s been working on Colson all year.”

“You mean he’s been working on her, ” Logan giggles.

“ Guys, ” Bryce kicks the back of Layla’s seat.

A heavy silence descends as soon as they remember that I’m squished in the middle of the backseat while they discuss whether my brother meets the requirements to be considered a fuckboy. Oh, joy. But when I glance at Tyler, she’s gazing out the window in silence. She’s the only one who hasn’t uttered a single word the entire ride.

Finally, we reach the old railroad bridge that looks out over Hellbranch Creek. The trains don’t run on it anymore, so now it’s just an overlook with a few trails and a rusted metal barricade blocking the splintered and dilapidated track. A couple of vehicles are already parked in the clearing with a few silhouettes standing around a burn barrel with a fire going. When I climb out of the Suburban, I recognize Josh and Rory’s faces in the flicker of the flames and then Alex climbs out of his SUV, followed by Aiden.

“Listen up!” Mason’s voice thunders, quieting the group. “Since we only have a week left until graduation, some of us thought it only appropriate that we get nostalgic and come up here to play one of our favorite games—” he pauses with a glint in his eye, “one of Col’s favorite games.”

At that, everyone starts snickering and giggling to one another, leaving me totally oblivious.

“Everyone knows the rules of Manhunt,” Mason continues. “I’ll tell you whether you’re a hunter or a fugitive, and after that, it’s every man for himself.”

“Or woman, ” Layla smirks at him.

“Nah,” Mason retorts, “we’re taking you for ourselves, too.”

Laughter skitters through the group as Mason starts making his way around the circle, whispering assignments into each person’s ear. I watch him for a few seconds, but then my eyes come to an abrupt halt on Alex, his face now visible in the glow of the flames. He doesn’t break eye contact even as Mason gives him his order.

“Run and hide,” Alex murmurs as he brushes past me. Then he pulls his black hood over his head. “ I’ll find you, ” he mouths.

In an instant, the shadows absorb him and he vanishes into the pitch-black forest.

“ Fugitive, ” Mason whispers in my ear as he continues around the circle.

As soon as he whispers in Bryce’s ear, she turns and grabs my wrist. “Come on,” she hisses with excitement, taking off toward the tree line with the rest of the girls.

“Dallas,” Colson’s deep voice stops me in my tracks, “are you good?”

I nod with as much reassurance as I can muster. “I’m fine.”

“I promise I’ll stay with her,” Bryce chimes in reassuringly, holding Colson’s eyes for a few moments before he finally nods and lets us go.

Once we set foot in the woods, Jordy and Layla break away from the group, taking off in a different direction. I follow Bryce as she leads me and Logan deeper into the woods. I think we’re on a trail because I’m not tripping over brush.

“Is this like Hide-N-Seek?” I ask, trying to keep my eyes on the path.

“Sort of,” Bryce replies as she suppresses a smile.

I feel Logan close behind me at my shoulder. “You know what happens if they catch you,” she murmurs salaciously.

I turn over my shoulder to meet her dark eyes.

“ They fuck you, ” she mouths insidiously.

“ What? ” I hiss, my eyes darting around the forest and feeling more claustrophobic by the second.

Bryce shoots Logan a warning look. “Don’t worry, no one’s going to mess with you.” She tries to sound reassuring, but I’m not sure even she believes that.

We pick up the pace until Bryce veers off toward a decaying shack. It’s small, almost like a chicken coop, but it’s set partially into the ground like a storm cellar. Half a door still hangs on the rusted-out hinges and it looks empty, making it a pretty stellar hiding place. The only problem is that after Logan ducks inside, followed by Bryce, there’s no room for me. There’s a scream in the distance, followed by laughter, and Bryce curses under her breath. As much as I don’t want to run around these woods by myself, I also don’t want to be found by one of these goons.

“It’s OK,” I whisper, glancing behind me, “you stay, I’ll be fine.”

Before Bryce can object, I flash a smile as her life probably flashes before her eyes, and turn to sprint back through the trees. The shouts and laughter get fainter the further I flee into the woods. I don’t want to go too far, so I slow down and decide to walk perpendicular to the sound.

The last time one of us went tramping through the woods, it didn’t go so well.

Eventually, the trees start to thin out and I come to what looks like a shed, streaked with peeling black paint. Maybe there used to be a farm up here and these are its ruins. I listen for voices or footsteps and, hearing nothing, I start creeping along the exterior toward the door. But I don’t get far before a sound stops me in my tracks.

Then another.

Slowly, I swivel my head and lean in, peering through a knot in the weathered planks of wood.

Half the roof collapsed long ago, leaving a gaping hole in the ceiling that lets in enough light to see three figures. Mason is sitting on the edge of a cracked workbench next to a pile of scrap wood and there’s a girl with long blonde hair standing between his legs. It looks like Tyler with the teal eyes, who was in Jordy’s car with us, but the rest of her body is blocked by another figure standing close behind her. And he’s really tall…

“We should fuck the good girl right out of her.”

My jaw drops and I stop breathing. I’d know that deep baritone voice anywhere.

“She’s not good,” Mason sneers. “She’s dark as hell.” Then he cradles her chin in his hand, tips her head back, and leans in close. “ La Strega… ” he rumbles in an Italian accent.

What does that even mean?

“Oh yeah, that’s why he likes you.” My brother leers over Tyler’s shoulder, then wraps her hair around his fist. “No one would ever guess that Nix is such a freak.”

Tyler lets out a muffled cry as Colson clenches her scalp, to which the boys let out a rumble of satisfied laughs.

“You like that, Ty?” Mason runs his hands up and down her neck. “You want Col to watch me fuck you in the dirt?”

My heart’s pounding so loud that I’m sure they can hear me on the other side of the wall. Are they hurting her? I can’t see her face. We’re playing a game, what the hell are they doing? Should I…do something?

“I think she’s trying to impress you,” Colson says to Mason, “is it working?”

“Hell yeah, it’s working.” Mason leans down and covers her mouth with a long, deep kiss. Then he pulls back, hovering over her face menacingly. “Who keeps you safe?”

Tyler fidgets against Colson’s hand at the back of her head. “Y-you,” she stammers.

Slowly, Mason nods back at her. “Are you my woman now?”

“Yes…yes…” Tyler gasps, nodding eagerly as her flannel shirt slides off her shoulders to expose her thin white tank top.

Mason nods and Colson immediately steps back and wraps his arm around her waist, walking them both backward. Moments later, he sinks to the floor, collapsing onto a pile of dusty hay as he pulls Tyler down onto his lap.

Facing away from him, she straddles Colson’s torso, her hair still twisted around his fist. Mason hops off the bench and strolls toward them, unbuckling his belt as he goes. I’m terrified, paralyzed with dread.

Until I look at Tyler.

I can see most of her face now. Her hungry teal eyes look impossibly fluorescent and she’s watching Mason like she’d devour him if Colson wasn’t holding her back by her hair. Then I watch with abject horror as Colson shoves his hand down the front of his pants, pulls his cock out, and starts jerking it at Tyler’s back.

Oh my god, I’m going to vomit.

But I can’t look away as the train wreck only intensifies. Mason comes to a halt in front of Tyler, his jeans hanging loose on his hips, and reaches down the front of them. She watches intently as he pulls his cock out and sinks it deep into her throat. Colson keeps hold of her hair, bobbing her head back and forth to the sound of Mason’s moans as he thrusts into her mouth.

Suddenly, there's a snap and I whip around, trying to decipher any shapes in shadows.

Then I see him.

From about 10 yards away, a faceless figure in a black hoodie stares back at me from around the side of a thick tree. After a few seconds, he slowly swings around the trunk and then pauses, glancing at the shed and then back to me. I think it's Alex, but then comes the sickening realization that they all have dark hoodies on.

He's too short to be Aiden, and Colson and Mason are… busy in the shed next to me. But there are more of them, and in the dark they all look the same. It could be Josh...or Rory....

He's wearing black track pants, like the ones Colson wears with his soccer uniform. Was Alex wearing those tonight? It's no use, because even if he was, all of them have the same kind.

He steps into the dead leaves. And as soon as he does, I whip around and take off through the trees. Pure adrenaline propels me through the brush and over the forest floor scattered with branches and roots. I should've worn pants instead of shorts; each stride stings as the thorns and razor-sharp leaves slash across my calves and thighs. As if he can’t see my pale skin glowing in the darkness anyway.

Soon, I come to a drop-off at the edge of a ravine. I shouldn’t be going out this far.

Bad things happen when you go out too far.

I don’t hear any footsteps behind me, so I veer to the right and slide down a gentle slope. The scar in the hillside should offer me some cover to catch my breath. I duck into the eroded indentation and try to slow my heartrate, only for it to skyrocket again when I hear footsteps approach from above.

For some reason I don’t think it’s Alex. If it was, I wouldn’t have this sinking feeling in my gut right now and I wouldn’t be so afraid of him finding me.

Because Alex wouldn’t hurt me.

His shoes crunch on the deadfall above me, knocking dirt over the edge of the drop-off onto my shoulder.

Don't look down...please, don't look down...

“ Daaaaallas …” croons a voice I don’t recognize.

The adrenaline turns to nausea and my heart feels like it’s pounding so hard it’ll split right out of my chest. But I don’t move, because there’s still a chance he doesn’t know where I am. Barely breathing, I tilt my head ever so slightly to look up. Then my jaw tightens when I see a loop of thin, neon orange nylon cord hanging just over the ledge.

If they catch you…

My muscles tense in preparation to flee when there’s a thud, and then a curse followed by shuffling in the leaves. I take the opportunity to launch myself away from the hillside and along the bottom of the ravine. I can’t run further into the forest, or else I’ll never find my way out. Instead, I keep running until I can’t hear anyone behind me and I can scramble back up the hill.

I’m finally running back in the direction I came when someone blindsides me, knocking me right off my feet and whisking me across the dirt. My back hits a tree and I gasp, about to scream, when a hand flies over my mouth.

“ Shhh ...” whispers a familiar voice. “I told you I'd find you, Angelína .”

I grab Alex’s wrist and empty the air from my lungs with a sigh of relief.

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” he smiles.

“No room for my giant ass in the outhouse,” I grumble.

“Just as well,” Alex narrows his eyes, “because you’re in so much trouble.”

“Why?” I scoff.

He slowly runs his fingers through my hair at the base of my skull. “For sending pictures like that.” His tone turns menacing as he tightens his fist, making me wince. “Who else did you send them to?”

“No one.” It comes out like a plea, high-pitched and airy.

“You sure, Dal?” he growls against the side of my cheek.

“ Y-yes. ”

Alex loosens his grip and lets his hand drop down my back and over the curve of my ass. “You’re not treating me like your brother,” then he gives it a harsh squeeze, making me flinch, “so, I’m not going to act like your brother.”

I try to tamp down the smile aching to come out. I don’t even know why I’m trying to hide it because he sees it immediately. Just then, another scream echoes through the woods nearby, followed by more laughter. Alex releases me and starts backtracking, motioning for me to follow. Soon, a long shape materializes in the trees. It’s a car—an old car.

“Come on, Dal, before the werewolves catch you,” he teases as he jerks open the rusted door on the boxy sedan rotting into the earth.

I don’t ask questions, only climb into the backseat over the cracked leather upholstery. He follows behind, ripping a shred of the sagging, gauzy ceiling fabric out of his way as he goes. Then he slams the door, abruptly plunging us both into silence.

I can barely see out the windows, covered in a film of forest grime and cracks stretching across the glass like spiderwebs. Weeds jut up through the rotting floorboards and remnants of old animal nests lay scattered over the front seats. I glance around my feet, hoping there’s not a raccoon still taking up residence in here.

“This is a way better hiding place,” I admit.

Alex settles back against the seat. “Someone has to look out for you, since Bryce wasn’t up for the challenge.”

“She’s nice, though.”

“Mm-hmm,” he looks me up and down, “how was the ride up here?”

I should just say it was fine, but I hesitate too long.

“What?” he asks.

“Jordy was talking about you,” I blurt out. “She said that—” I stop myself, suddenly wondering if I should say anything at all.

Alex rolls his head across the back of the seat, peering at me skeptically. “What did she say?”

It feels a lot like tattling, but I think I should tell him because it seemed so…icky. It’s nothing to joke about, at least to me. But, then again, maybe I have different expectations. I just watched my brother and his best friend double-team the quiet girl from the ride up here.

“She said she wanted to leave Dire Ridge with you, when you join the Marines.” He listens, seemingly unfazed as I stammer through. “And she might get pregnant without you knowing about it.”

That one leaves a sour taste on my tongue akin to battery acid.

“That’s rich,” Alex chuckles.

“Is she still your girlfriend?” I ask apprehensively.

But Alex doesn’t miss a beat. “No.”

“Does she know that?”

He studies me for a few seconds before his face softens. “You know what I was going to do tonight, Dallas?”

I shake my head.

“I came here because of Col, but I was going to leave as soon as I could because I was going to come find you. And I did, didn’t I? ”

“I don’t belong here,” I mumble. “Colson was just too afraid to leave me at home. I’ll never be one of you.” Then I look away with a bitter laugh. “ Colson’s little sister… ”

“You want to be one of us? I can show you how.”

“Yeah, OK, ” I say with a roll of my eyes. “I already tried your way out there, and I don’t want to meet up with any more of you in the dark.”

“Come here.”

“Where?”

Alex pats his thighs. “Have a seat.”

I stare back at him apprehensively, but he just waits for me to comply. The back seat feels huge all of a sudden, probably because this car is a freaking tuna boat. Slowly, I start scooting toward him and then grab the back of the front seat to lift myself up. I feel his hands on my waist, guiding me onto his lap as I lower myself down and settle back against his chest.

“OK, what now?” I clip, not ready to let my guard down.

Alex brushes my thick hair off my shoulder and back. “Don’t act like you’re in a hurry. I already know what a little hellion you are.”

“Where are your glasses?” I ask, trying to sound as condescending as possible. “I thought you said you have chronic dry-eye at night.”

Alex reaches into his hoodie pocket, marked with the Adidas emblem, and pulls out a glasses case—the same one I gave him. Seconds later, he’s sliding his thick black frames up the bridge of his nose.

“Better?” he asks, dropping the case onto the seat.

Yes, it is, because I really like how they look on him. It makes him look more like… me. But I hate the feeling I get deep in my belly as soon as he puts them on. He’s so fucking cute, and all I can do is avert my eyes again and hope he doesn’t notice.

“You know we all have marks?” he asks as he produces a knife and flips the black metal blade open at my thigh, “Our soccer numbers are in the same place on our ribs.” My eyes round as he toggles it back and forth. “Aiden gave me mine, I gave Aiden his, Col gave Mase his, and Mase gave Col his.” He runs the handle over my bare skin, pausing at my hip. “It’s like a tattoo, and it only counts if one of us gives it to you.”

Is he serious? Did they really do that? Did they really cut their numbers into each other? And is he talking about doing the same to me?

My eyes glued to the knife, I don’t notice when he reaches up and grabs the zipper of my hoodie. I flinch as he slowly starts pulling it down. He must feel my heartbeat right through my back and see every single goosebump pop on my skin as he slides it off my shoulders.

Alex wraps his arm around my stomach, squeezing me tighter against his chest. My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. All I can do is watch his hand, and the knife, as he runs the handle up my stomach to my sternum.

“It doesn’t have to be your ribs,” he murmurs against my cheek. “You’ll bleed just about anywhere.”

To my horror, Alex rotates the knife and carefully slips the blade between the thin strap of my tank top and my collarbone, letting the razor edge rest there in torturous silence.

“No, don’t—” I finally find my voice, but it only comes out as an airy squeak.

“You wanted this.”

Did I, though? I don’t want anyone cutting me with a knife!

Suddenly, he jerks his arm and I let out a shriek. In one motion, he slices through the elastic strap of my top with a snap. I grab his arm, digging my nails in as he squeezes me tighter.

“ Shhhh… ” he hisses in my ear.

I set my jaw and inhale deeply, trying to decide whether this feeling pulsing in my gut is fear or something far more terrifying and complicated. Slowly, he moves his knife across my chest and I freeze again as he slips the blade beneath my other strap. He hesitates, then just like before, jerks the blade away from my shoulder, eliciting another yelp before slicing through the strap.

The corners of my shirt dog-ear at the top of my chest, leaving my collarbones completely bare. Terrified, I wait for Alex to follow through with what he started. But instead, he flips the knife closed with a click.

I realize my flesh is still intact and, after a few moments, gather enough nerve to look over my shoulder. And as soon as I do, Alex’s mouth stretches into the widest grin I’ve ever seen.

“Is that it?” I gasp, “Is that what you meant by cutting me?”

Alex taps his forehead against my temple. “Come on, Dal, I’m not a fucking monster.” Then he runs his hand over my bare shoulder. “Where’s that cute bra I told you to wear?”

“I changed my mind. This shirt has one built in.”

Had one built in…

But Alex doesn’t say anything, I only feel his chest rising and falling beneath me and his warm cheek against mine. The silence is deafening and his intoxicating scent is making me throb in places I wish it wouldn’t. He runs his hands over my stomach and up my torso at an agonizing pace, but he doesn’t go any higher than my ribcage.

“I won’t touch you,” he murmurs in my ear.

I go dizzy for a moment at the sound of his voice as his fingertips knead the flesh just beneath my tits, but he keeps his promise and doesn’t go any higher.

“Look at me,” he breathes into the side of my face.

But I can’t, because I’m going crazy from his touch and I’m afraid I’m going to do something I shouldn’t.

“Dallas,” he says again, “look at me.”

I give a slight shake of my head, focusing on the spiderweb crack stretching like tentacles across the window. A moment later, Alex grasps my chin in the crook of his thumb and, firmly but gently, rotates my face to his.

“ No me alejes… ”

My face relaxes and I just stare back at him in confusion.

“ Ey, no me alejes, ” he repeats, none of the words making sense to me.

But, for some reason, it’s oddly comforting.

“ Carino, ” he repeats it, this time slower. “ No. Me. Alejes. ”

“What's that mean?” I finally ask.

“I can teach you if you just look at me. And then I bet you’ll love me looking at you.”

I take a deep breath. “ No me... ” I pause, trying to remember what he said.

“ No me alejes, ” he repeats slowly.

“ No me alejes, ” I try to emulate his voice.

“ Carino, ” he adds.

“ Carino. ”

I probably sound like an idiot, but Alex is right. The more I talk to him, the more I want him to keep looking at me, so much so that I twist around and climb over his legs until I’m facing him.

“What does it mean?” I ask again, still not letting him off the hook.

“Don’t push me away,” he says slowly before leaning into my ear, “ Darling. ”

A wave of butterflies rushes through my stomach as he runs his hands back and forth over the small of my back.

Then his eyes darken ever so slightly. “I’m your teacher now.”

I clench his shoulders when I feel his lips on my neck and the tight suction as he leaves kisses all over my skin. I pull him close, my hips moving dangerously over his lap. But, seconds later, I pull away, my heart beating erratically.

“Can I see it?” I ask, still afraid of what I might or might not do.

“See what?”

“Your number.”

Alex pulls the neck of his sweatshirt wide before yanking it over his head, then drops it on the seat. He does the same with his t-shirt, revealing his taut muscles beneath. He glances down at his left pec, motioning to the white scars. The number 23 is unmistakable, popping against his tan skin.

“Does it hurt?” I ask, lifting my fingers to touch it, but retracting them back into a fist.

“Why don’t you find out?”

I glance up at him dubiously before slowly brushing my fingertips over the raised skin.

“ RRRGGGHHH! ” Alex lets out a painful yell and pitches forward.

I jump back, letting out a shrill scream as I pull my fists to my chest in terror. But before I can fall off his lap, he grabs me and wraps his arms around my body. And when I finally open my eyes again, his shoulders are shaking with laughter.

“I’m sorry, Dal,” he creaks out between breaths.

My fright turns to anger. “Alex fucking Barrera!” I shout as I try to wriggle out of his grip.

But it’s no use. He’s bigger, and stronger, and as soon as I feel his bare chest against mine, I sink into his arms, the warmth washing over me like a blanket.

“Go on, Dal,” he teases, “tell me how much you hate me.”

I can only glare back at his glimmering brown eyes.

“You can’t do it, can you?” he smirks.

Alex is such an arrogant asshole. But instead of admonishing him, I pause, and then in a split-second decision, I press my lips to his. Maybe it’s to catch him off-guard, maybe it’s to distract from his mean trick, or maybe I’m just trying to chase that same high from the movie theatre or the empty classroom at school.

My glasses click against his as I kiss him, trying to emulate his movements— the way he showed me. A shiver scurries up my body as he runs his hands up my back. He starts kissing me harder, and soon, my fingers trail from his chest down to his stomach. I let my hand fall, aimlessly fingering his waist while my muscles tremble with a toxic mixture of fear and lust.

I just want to see what he feels like…

My apprehension falters just long enough and I slowly run my hand up and down the front of his pants. As soon as I do, his head falls back onto the seat and he sucks a breath through his teeth.

“ Fuuuck… ” Alex lets out an airy groan toward the roof of the car.

The sound of his voice nearly makes me go cross-eyed as a searing tingle works its way through my stomach and between my thighs. I trail my lips along his neck, letting my tongue brush over his skin to sneak a taste of him. But before I can go any further, he grabs my waist and pulls me to the side.

I grab his neck to keep from falling over, but he catches me and lowers me to my back. He slowly sinks down between my legs, my core pulsing when I feel his weight on top of me. I want to stay here forever, hidden beneath him and wrapped in his sweet scent. Maybe this is what Tyler felt like inside that broken-down shed with Mason and my brother…

“Is this OK?” Alex asks, combing his fingers through my hair.

“Yeah,” I nod as he dips down and sweeps his tongue between my lips.

The more I kiss him, the more his hips start to move. My breaths get shallower and I start to move with him, chasing a high building deep in my core. And then, suddenly, the car door flies open.

I let out a gasp and curl in on myself. Alex jerks his head up and throws one arm around the back of my head, pulling me to his chest and blocking me with his body.

“Sorry for interrupting,” sneers a familiar voice.

Aiden.

I peek up at Aiden’s upside-down face staring back at me. To my horror, he crouches down and plants his elbows on the cracked leather just above my head, so close that I can smell the woodsmoke on him from the fire.

“What is it?” Alex asks, his face only inches from Aiden’s.

Strangely enough, he doesn’t sound at all concerned that Aiden is here. And Aiden doesn’t seem surprised to find me underneath of Alex. All I can do is stare up at the undersides of their chins as they carry on a conversation like I’m not here.

“Bryce is freaking out,” Aiden chuckles. “She thinks she lost Ole Dally in the woods, and that just won’t do if she’s trying to impress big, bad Coley. But I sent her the other way,” he glances down at me with amusement, “clearly, my allegiance lies elsewhere.”

Alex nods pensively. “How long?”

“Five minutes,” Aiden warns, “then I’m letting the dogs loose.” He rises and grabs the top of the creaky car door with a smarmy grin. “ Have fun, Dally. ”

Aiden slams the door and his fuzzy silhouette moves to the back of the car. But he doesn’t leave; he stops at the back bumper and then the car sinks down as he jumps up and takes a seat on the trunk. I start to reach for the back of the seat to pull myself upright when Alex grabs my wrist, giving me a start.

“He said five minutes,” he lifts my hand away from the seat, “I just want to keep you a little longer.”

Slowly, I sink back down beneath him. “Why isn’t he leaving?”

“Be glad he’s here. Bryce isn’t the only one he’s watching for.”

I don’t question him further, because I like the feeling of hiding with him, wrapped in his arms, inhaling his scent, and tasting the salt of his sweat on my tongue. He draws me back in with his intoxicating touch and all I want to do is melt into him until I can’t tell where I end and he begins.

He takes his time, and so do I, running my fingers through his hair, along his neck, over his shoulders, and down his back like I’m committing him to memory. And maybe I am, because I don’t know when he’ll come back or if I’ll get to feel him like this again.

“Why do you call me those names?” I ask between kisses, “What does Mari…Maripo… ”

“ Mariposita, ” he smiles. “My little butterfly,” he whispers, sending chills down my neck.

But I still have more questions. “Then why do you call me Angelína, too?”

“Because,” he gives me a pointed look, “you’re Angelína when you’re being a little hellion.”

My jaw drops and I don’t know whether to feel insulted or flattered.

“Start locking your window, Dallas,” Alex murmurs into my mouth.

“Why?”

“Because next time, you better be sure you want me to come in.”

Halfway back to the overlook, I realize Aiden is following at a distance. Alex holds my hand as we trudge through the woods, not letting go until the fire from the burn barrel flickers through the trees. When I step into the light, I see that more or less everyone has returned from the game, although I don’t know if there were any winners or losers.

Maybe they don’t talk about that part.

“Where have you been?” Jordy’s voice catches me off-guard, with both her bitchy tone and the fact that she’s even speaking to me.

“I found her,” says a deep voice from behind me.

It’s Aiden, and his venomous tone elicits a momentary look of fear in Jordy’s eyes before she quickly turns away.

“Where were you?” Colson calls from the hood of his car.

“Hiding,” I shrug as if he should already know. “Did I win?”

“Hide-N-Seek champion,” Aiden snickers, brushing past my shoulder. “She even got the jump on Alex.”

“Nuh-uh!” Colson laughs.

My heart starts racing. What the hell is he doing?

“Ole Dally popped out of nowhere,” Aiden continues, “almost scared the pants right off him.”

Before Colson or Alex can respond, Bryce bursts out of the trees with Logan following close behind. As soon as she sees me, her shoulders fall and she lets out a sigh of relief.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, Dallas!” she calls, rushing toward me. “Are you alright?”

“It’s OK,” I try to reassure her, “I was just hiding.”

It’s not a total lie.

“You lost my sister?” Colson booms.

The circle goes quiet and Bryce freezes, looking like she’s seen a ghost. Her eyes dart back and forth between Colson and me, trying to think of what to say. I guess, technically, she did lose me, but I’m also not a puppy, I’ve been in the woods plenty of times. Colson continues staring at her with his signature deadass look, but I notice the tiny smile playing behind his eyes that doesn’t register with anyone else.

I can see through him so easily, why can’t they?

“Colson, you’re such a dick,” I mutter loud enough for everyone else to hear.

Josh lets out a whoop of laughter. “ Damn , Dally!”

Colson finally cracks a smile. Bryce is overcome with relief and takes it as an invitation to finally approach Colson like he’s Zeus sitting on his throne of clouds instead of my douchebag brother on the hood of his racecar.

He’s not a douchebag. I can’t even call him that in my head without feeling bad. The guilt I’ve developed over the past month is crippling.

“ Shit, what happened to you?” Josh looks past Alex at a figure stepping into the light.

Rory appears in the circle, a swollen pink welt on his cheekbone. There’s also a fresh cut on his bottom lip.

“He ran his ass straight into a tree,” Alex answers for him. “It gets real dark out there, doesn’t it?”

Rory doesn’t answer immediately, just looks away and pretends not to notice the severe look Alex is giving him. I smile to myself, secretly enjoying Rory’s busted-up face. I’m still pissed at him for making fun of my Squishmallows. Who the hell is he to judge what I like?

Moron. Maybe I’ll squeeze an Xbox out of him next year.

I lean against the trunk of Colson’s Civic with a sigh. I’m exhausted. The adrenaline’s worn off and now I just want to go home. I glance around to see if anyone else has the same idea, but it’s hard to tell. A few feet from me, Bryce and Logan exchange looks over their shoulders and snicker to themselves. I glance over to see what they’re looking at and catch sight of Tyler and Mason in his Avalanche.

I don’t know what to think about Tyler. I feel like I’ve seen three different people inhabiting her body throughout the night. She was so demure, bordering on timid on the ride up here, and then she stayed with the girls until the game started. Now, she’s hidden in the shadows, straddling Mason in the driver’s seat of his Avalanche, with his hands tucked halfway up her shorts.

She strokes the side of his face with the backs of her fingertips while they speak just inches from each other’s faces. Every so often, she leans in and kisses him. They’d look really sweet if I hadn’t just witnessed her deep throating him in a rotting shed while my brother jerked off to it. Granted, Bryce would never know it, either. She’s pressed between Colson and the door of his car, his one arm slung around her neck while she stares up at him in awe.

I still have so many questions, but I don’t actually want to ask any of them. Scratch that—I’d die before asking any of them.

Instead, I decide to claim a spot in Colson’s car before anyone else can. I only hope he won’t kick me out and I can ride back down with him instead of enduring another awkward drive squashed between all the girls comparing how good my brother and his friends are in bed. But when I round the bumper, my shoulder slams straight into a body that appears out of nowhere.

Before I can jump back, a hand seizes my bicep. And when I look up, Rory is holding me firm at his side while his eyes remain straight ahead. I try to jerk away, but he squeezes me so tight that I think my arm is about to snap.

“You know he’s leaving, right?”

“Who?”

“Your shadow over there,” Rory nods to Alex at his SUV. “Do you save your real nudes for him?”

My stomach drops.

Shit. He knows. But how does he know?

“So?” I scoff, trying to sound unperturbed.

“And Col’s leaving,” he continues. “He won’t be here to save you when you play too close to the fire.”

“He’s only going 30 minutes away,” I sneer up at Rory.

“You think he’ll come back here, after all that’s happened? Do you even know why Col brought you up here?”

I roll my eyes with disinterest. “Because he thinks I don’t get out enough?”

Rory’s mouth curls and his gaze drops to me. “He didn’t tell you what Bowen Garrison said at Evie’s funeral, did he?”

My stomach turns at the mention of it, and then again when I recall Colson shaking his phone in my face later that night while I refused to look at it. The first night I called Alex.

“You know why Col split Bowen’s head open on a tombstone right in front of everybody?” I don’t respond, just hoping he’ll shut up and go away. “Because you’re next,” he murmurs. “Bowen’s coming for you.”

“Why would he want to kill me?” I reply dismissively. “I don’t even know him.”

“Oh, Dally,” Rory coos, dragging his eyes up and down my body, “he doesn’t want to kill you.”

His words are a punch to the gut, but he’s still not done.

“I’m not the one you’ll have to worry about when all of us leave and you’re the only one left here with the wolf right outside your door.”

And with that, Rory’s gone, disappearing into the shadows just as quickly as he came.