Every Little Piece - By Kate Ashton Page 0,21

dark corner. But I didn’t see them.

“I don’t know.”

But I knew. Seth loved to drive. When he was mad or drunk it was impossible to wrangle the wheel from him. If he was both mad and drunk it could be lethal. I raced upstairs weaving in between the drunk couples. One girl was crying at the top, black mascara streaming down her cheeks. They all shot me dirty looks, but I didn’t care. What mattered was finding Seth. I prayed to God he was in a bedroom. I wanted him alive. I opened every door and peered inside. I called his name. I got a bunch of angry shouts to shut the door. Someone was puking in the bathroom. I whipped open the door, but it wasn’t Seth or Carly. I stumbled back down the stairs.

“Where’s Kama?” I asked Brin. Panic rushed through me, and my adrenaline spiked. My hands were shaking.

“Downstairs shooting pool with Justine, I think.”

I pressed my lips together more determined than ever. This wasn’t my fault. We’d had a fight, and it wasn’t even that big.

“I’ll go grab Kama. Are you okay to drive?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’ve barely had any.”

She gave me a hard stare. “This conversation isn’t over though. I want to know what happened out there with Seth. You two are the one sure thing in my life. It offers me hope that someday I’ll find the right guy.”

“I promise. We’ll talk. Later.”

She headed to the basement stairs, and I stumbled through the living room to the front door. Kama wouldn’t have a problem with me driving the Beast. It was a clunker and the exhaust sounded like a freight train. She couldn’t stand it so handed over the keys whenever possible. I’d go crazy sitting in the passenger seat anyway. I needed to keep busy. I needed to feel productive.

I stepped outside and a rush of warm air blew my hair into my eyes. I swiped it back behind my ears. It smelled like rain. I usually loved this kind of night, but I was worried about the driving conditions for the next thirty minutes. I easily picked out the Beast among all the Jettas, Civics, and minivans borrowed from parents. I half-walked half-sprinted to the car.

“Hey, wait up!”

“We’re coming!”

We all arrived at the car, breathless. Kama stood in front of me. “You promise you’re okay to drive?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

She narrowed her eyes as if she didn’t believe me.

I put up both hands. “Since the one beer when we first arrived, I’ve had a few sips. But why don’t you both stay here and enjoy the party. You don’t need to get involved in my drama.”

Kama waved her hand. “The party’s kinda boring. And you know me,” she winked, “I love drama.”

“Brin? You want to stay?” I asked.

Kama made a kissing sound. “Sure you want to leave Carter behind?”

Hesitation flashed across her face. “No way. We’re in this together. We’ll find Seth, kick Carly’s butt, then get ready for our little run through town.”

I’d forgotten all about our lost bet. Right now, the wager we’d made over a game of pool seemed like last week. It seemed inconsequential in the bigger scheme of things. After we found Seth, we’d force them to streak down Main Street with us. Maybe Seth and I could even sneak off later, somewhere private to talk.

The Beast started up with a roar as the first raindrops splattered the windshield.

“I checked the weather. This is just a passing shower.” Kama tapped her smart phone.

I gripped the wheel and focused on the road. Signs flashed by, and I knew exactly where to go. It was where everyone goes to make out. Seth and I had visited there and steamed up a couple windows over the past few years. Another reminder of all the times I’d led him on and never put out. I couldn’t wait to talk to Brin later. She’d tell me truth. If I was just a big tease for not wanting to go all the way.

I wound through the towns to the shore, pushing the speed limit. A driving force in my chest feared for Seth’s life. He was mad, and reckless when it came to driving. I wanted to see his car up on the bluff even if it was rocking back and forth. I needed this for my own state of mind. The rain beat the windshield in driving sheets. The car lights barely penetrated the sudden darkness, so I slowed down.

“So much for weather