“Get it away! Get it away from me!”
Lizzie rushed forward, down a narrow embankment into a small clearing and burst out laughing right there and then.
Cynthia was backed against a tree trunk, sobbing hysterically. Two massive iguanas had her cornered. They weren’t doing anything aggressive, just sitting there watching her with those prehistoric eyes. But Cynthia looked absolutely terrified.
Lizzie couldn’t help it. She laughed.
Cynthia’s head snapped up. Mascara ran down her face in black streaks. “This isn’t funny! Help me! I was looking for better signal for my phone when these two assholes showed up.”
“Oh, I don’t think they like being called assholes.” Lizzie leaned against a tree. “Are you still feeling as brave as you did when you splashed me with your car?”
“Lizzie, please.”
“Please what? Help you? Why should I?”
“Because they’re going to attack me!”
“They’re iguanas, Cynthia. They’re herbivores. They eat plants.”
One of the iguanas took a step forward. Cynthia shrieked and pressed harder against the tree.
“They are probably diseased! Please. I’m begging you.”
Lizzie let her sweat for another minute and watched Cynthia’s face go red and blotchy from crying. Then she noticed something else. The way Cynthia was standing with one leg crossed over another. And then she saw the dark stain spreading down the front of her white shorts.
Oh.
Cynthia had peed herself.
Their eyes met. Cynthia realized Lizzie had noticed. Fresh tears spilled down her face.
“Fine.” Lizzie walked toward the iguanas, clapping her hands. “Come on. Shoo. Get out of here.”
The iguanas regarded her with magnificent indifference for a moment. Then they slowly turned and ambled away.
Cynthia slid down the tree trunk until she was sitting in the dirt, still crying. She pulled her knees up to her chest, trying to hide the wet stain on her shorts.
“You tell anyone about this,” Cynthia’s voice came out choked, “and I’ll ruin you. I swear to god, Lizzie. I’ll make your life hell.”
Lizzie looked at her. Cynthia Shaw, who never had a hair out of place, who sailed through college on her parents’ money and her pretty face, was sitting in the dirt with mascara running down her cheeks and piss on her shorts, threatening Lizzie like she still had any power here. It was sad, really.
“I won’t tell anyone,” Lizzie said.
Cynthia stared at her, searching for the catch.
“I mean it. This stays between us.”
Cynthia scrambled to her feet and ran before Lizzie could say anything else.
Lizzie walked back to the beach. The party was winding down now. People were drifting toward the camping area, couples walking hand in hand, groups of friends laughing and stumbling through the sand.
She found her tent in the section reserved for staff. It was small but adequate. Sleeping bag, pillow, battery-powered lantern. She changed into sleep clothes and crawled inside.
The night was warm and humid. Perfect weather. She could hear waves in the distance, the occasional burst of laughter from someone still partying. Lizzie closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
***
The first rumble of thunder came around two AM waking Lizzie up. The sound was distant but unmistakable. She checked her phone and saw it. A severe weather alert.
