She didn’t know how long they made out for, only that it was a long time, but still not long enough because she never wanted it to stop, ever, ever, ever. She became aware that someone was calling to them, and that Sasha and Julian were talking.
David broke off their kiss and looked up. Allie looked over in a fog, but it was too dark to see much. She didn’t care anyway. She wanted to keep making out. She clung to David. They were boyfriend and girlfriend now. They were together.
“It’s on, David,” Julian whispered. “Act like you don’t know about his dad.”
Sasha stood up, waving. “Kyle, I’m waiting for you!”
CHAPTER 37
Allie Garvey
Hey!” Kyle came down the hill, a tall, dark figure in a light T-shirt. He was with a yellow dog, wagging its tail.
“Kyle, what kept you?” Sasha called to him. “You’re super late!”
“So what?” Kyle called back, laughing.
“Son, have you been drinking?” Sasha put her hands on her hips, like she was angry.
“Totally!” Kyle reached Sasha, and Sasha gave him a big hug.
“Hi, Kyle!” David called out, shifting away from Allie.
“Kyle, you don’t have to . . .” Allie said, but she couldn’t finish the sentence. She felt so dizzy, she couldn’t even hold her head up. She couldn’t think, numb and wasted. She was totally trashed, just like she’d wanted to be.
“Whoa, Sasha?” David said, laughing, and Allie looked over to see that Sasha was kissing Kyle now, not Julian.
Julian flicked on a flashlight and shone it on Sasha and Kyle. “He has to play the game, remember?” His tone darkened. “We played the game, now he has to.”
“I’m not playing your stupid game, dude.” Kyle let go of Sasha, his eyes narrowing. “Get that light outta my face.”
Julian moved the flashlight. “Sasha, tell him he has to play. That was the deal.”
“Oh, right. You have to play, Kyle.” Sasha let Kyle go, sitting down, and Kyle eased down next to her. The dog nestled beside him, chewing a stick.
“Kyle,” Allie started to say, but her head rolled off to the side. She clung to David. Her thoughts kept sliding sideways. Her mouth felt soft and fuzzy. She could barely keep her eyes open.
David clapped. “Julian’s right. You have to play, Kyle. We played, so you have to play.”
“We left the bullet in yesterday.” Julian passed the gun to Kyle. “Take it and spin the cylinder, but don’t look at it. That’s how you play.”
“Whatever, dude, I know this is a joke. I know it’s not loaded.” Kyle took the gun, spun the cylinder, and closed it, rolling his eyes. He put the gun to his temple and squeezed the trigger.
Orange flame burst from the gun. The sound was loud as an explosion. Kyle slumped over sideways, his head misshapen and dark. His hair and T-shirt were drenched with blood. His body lay perfectly still, a gruesome, motionless shadow. The dog sprang aside, barking.
Allie screamed in horror.
Everything happened at once. David grabbed Allie by the wrist. He yanked her to her feet. She kept screaming. She could barely stand. David was yelling but suddenly Allie couldn’t hear anything. She reeled, almost falling.
Someone picked up the flashlight, maybe Julian. Someone picked up the bottles, maybe David. They were shadows. Allie couldn’t see. Her eyes blurred with tears. She didn’t know what was happening.
Sasha was crying, too, covering her mouth. Julian grabbed Sasha, pulling her to him. The dog barked at Kyle.
David pulled Allie away. They ran crashing through the woods. Allie burst into tears.
Julian took the lead. Allie began to be able to hear again, faintly. Somebody was saying oh my God, oh my God over and over. It was her. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt sick to her stomach. David kept her running.
Julian charged ahead but Sasha passed him, bolting between trees. David pulled Allie forward, faster than she could go, his legs longer, his stride wider. Branches and leaves scratched her arms and legs. Rain fell harder, splashing cold on her head and bare shoulders.
“Hurry, Allie!” David said. “Run!”
Julian’s chest heaved. “I got the flashlight!”
“I got the bottles!” David panted. “Everybody go home! Don’t tell anybody!”
“Right!” Julian called out, frantic. “Go, go, go!”
Allie ran breathless, crying, horrified. “Call 911—”
“No, he’s dead!” Sasha spat out, edging away. “Go home!”
Julian darted ahead. “Go to your room, don’t say anything! Don’t tell anybody! Don’t say anything!”
Sasha ran off through the woods.
“David, bro!” Julian clapped David on the shoulder. “Get rid of the bottles!”
“I will!” David squeezed Allie’s