they were real. Kyle had been little, but he knew what his father had done. He tried not to remember, but he couldn’t help it. The thoughts kept coming back, and Kyle would sneak a drink from the bottle he hid by the recycling. It had helped him sleep. It had helped him keep the memories away.
Kyle reached the trees around the basketball courts. He found himself falling to his knees. His hands covered his face. His knees hit hard dirt. His forehead buried in pine needles. Buddy came over panting hard, his tail wagging.
Kyle started to cry, his body wracked with hoarse, choking sobs.
He had lied, but he couldn’t forget.
Ever.
CHAPTER 36
Allie Garvey
The sun sank behind the houses and trees, painting the twilight sky a weirdly hot pink. Allie spotted David waiting for her at the head of the trail, and it made her forget about everything else. He looked so tall and strong, wearing a white polo shirt and gym shorts with slides, and no red bandanna. His hair was tucked behind his ears. She couldn’t believe that a boy like David liked her. She felt lost, confused, and alone, except when she was next to him. She hoped he’d hold her hand again and try to kiss her. She felt her lips almost tingling.
“Hi.” Allie reached him, and David took her hand, the way she’d hoped. Her stress floated away as soon as he wrapped his palm around hers. She’d never liked any boy as much as she liked him. She didn’t know how you knew for sure, but she had to believe this was her first love.
“Hey, you.” David grinned crookedly, and they held hands as they walked together into the woods. “Like your dress.”
I even love his voice. “Thanks. Sorry I’m late.”
“No worries. Glad you decided to come.”
“I wanted to see you,” Allie heard herself say with a giggle. She didn’t even know where that had come from. Beside him, she felt like she was on a cloud.
“Hey, now.” David grinned again.
“I wish they wouldn’t play the prank, though.”
“Don’t worry about it. I doubt very much that Kyle will come.”
“I hope he doesn’t.”
“Sasha’s not as hot as she thinks.” David lowered his voice like he was confiding in her, which gave Allie a thrill.
“You don’t think so?”
“No.”
“I don’t think Kyle will come, either.” Allie squeezed David’s hand, telling herself to go with the flow. It felt so good to forget everything at home. She could swear her lips were tingling. She pressed them together.
“Where’d you tell your parents you were going?”
“Um, my dad’s out,” Allie answered, faltering. She didn’t want to think about her father right now. She didn’t want to think about her parents at all. “How about you?”
“Julian’s.” David moved a branch aside for her, and Allie spotted the bent tree ahead. It was dark underneath, and its leaves blocked what was left of the daylight. Julian’s white polo shirt and Sasha’s blond hair made bright spots in the dimness. They were sitting together, drinking.
“Kyle’s not there,” Allie said, relieved. Now she didn’t have to worry. She could focus on David. She couldn’t wait to make out with him. She felt so sexy and pretty and flirty. She didn’t feel like herself at all.
“See, I told you.” David smiled at her, and they approached the bent tree together.
“Just in time!” Sasha rose, hoisting two large Evian bottles full of red liquid. “Gatorade and vodka, coming right up! Liter bottles!” She thrust a bottle at Allie. “Here, Allie, have some fun for a change.”
“Don’t mind if I do!” Allie grabbed the heavy bottle, tilted it back, and chugged the alcohol. It tasted sweeter, but she didn’t care. She knew she shouldn’t drink, but she didn’t care about that, either.
“Whoa, somebody wants to party!” Sasha cheered. “You go, girl!”
Allie drank another big gulp, then another. She felt the lukewarm alcohol rushing down her throat. She swallowed it as fast as she could. She wanted to get wasted. She wanted to get trashed.
“Allie?” David said, laughing. “Slow down, girl. Leave some for me.”
“Do it!” Sasha clapped. “Go, go, go, Allie.”
“Chug!” Julian joined in, clapping.
“Woo-hoo!” Allie stopped drinking, swallowing her last gulp. She’d downed a full third and hoisted the bottle high, showing off. “Ta-da!”
“Way to go!” Sasha grinned, a pretty white smile in the murky gloom under the tree.
“My turn.” David reached for the bottle.
“Go for it.” Allie passed it to him, sitting down.
“Come here, you.” David sat down with the bottle and put his long arm