Wren bounced past in a unicorn costume that squeaked every time she moved.Karmen appeared wearing a dragon, wings flopping dramatically.Raven followed close behind her, wearing what looked like a clown walking on his hands, already laughing, and Cora adjusted the tutu skirt that was wrapped around her hippo costume.
Cole finally caught up to me and grabbed my hand, pulling me close just long enough to steal a kiss.
“This is crazy,” he laughed.
“You told me you’re used to this,” I teased.
“I am,” he said, kissing me again.“I just never thought I’d be kissing a pink dino.”
I glanced down at myself.“I amridinga pink dino, thank you very much.”
Ten minutes later, the common room was packed.Girls everywhere.Blow-up costumes bouncing and bumping into each other.Most of the guys were there too, watching, laughing, and shaking their heads as if they knew this was going to be legendary.
Carnie looked around, suddenly frowning.“Clove?”
“I s-s-saw her outs-s-side,” Eden said.“She was p-p-putting on her r-r-raccoon blow-up costume.”
We all looked around.
There was no raccoon.
“I’ll check,” Alice said.“She’s probably just struggling with it.”She opened the door and stepped outside, leaving it cracked as she called, “Clove?”
No answer.
Carnie moved closer to the door.“Clove!”she hollered.“Clove, where are you?”
Something shifted in the air.
People started moving.Blow-up costumes shuffled through the clubhouse, funny at first, but as minutes passed, the laughter faded.
The guys spread out.
Cole came to my side outside, his hand finding mine automatically.
“She’s not inside,” Maniac said as he pulled Wren, still in her unicorn, out the door.
Carnie’s voice broke as she called Clove’s name again.
“Over here!”Ender shouted.
We rushed to him.
He stood over a large swatch of gray fabric lying near the edge of the lot.
“That’s the c-c-color of her costume,” Eden whispered.
Beside it, the gravel was disturbed.
Fresh.
Tire tracks cut through it with boot prints.
Cole’s grip tightened as he pulled me closer.
Clove was gone.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
