“Argh!” he called out, spots floating in his eyes as he blinked and looked around the patio to see who was watching his humiliation. Thankfully, the party was basically over. The only people left were Ethan and Dylan…but Erica’s bag was still here. Where was she?
Another kick came swiftly, causing him to curl in on himself, to cry out again in pain. He blinked open his eyes, and in the distance, he saw pink. That bright pink bikini. Erica.
“Dude, stop!” Ethan tried to hold Justin back, but the kid was too strong, and Billy felt another kick land, this time right in his ribs.
“Erica!” He wanted her more than he could admit. He wanted her to come here and make this all stop. He saw her move along the dunes, a flash of color in the darkness. She was rushing to him. Thank goodness. His heart fluttered, and though his body was on fire, he knew it would all be over soon. She couldn’t see him lying on the ground like this and ignore him. She had a heart after all.
“Enough!” Ethan said, and Billy looked over his shoulder to see that both Dylan and Ethan had pulled Justin away from him, that they were now standing between them, and Billy was finally able to push himself to stand. Wobbly, but still standing.
He looked back for Erica, for that spot of pink against the inky sky. She was getting closer, and Billy smiled, though he tasted blood. “Erica,” he said again, and started walking toward her. But when he got close, he realized she was not the only figure in the darkness. Before Billy could see who it was, his whole world turned black.
Lucy
“Can you believe the bloody shirt?” Olivia asks. There’s an incredulous tone to her voice, like she’s trying to contain herself. The timbre reminds me of when we were fifteen and won that doubles tournament, when we cheered and yelped and held the trophy high above our heads.
Today is the Fourth of July, and we’re standing side by side on a big blue parade float gliding slowly down Main Street, wearingPelican Island StrongT-shirts that Anjali handed us earlier this morning. Mayor Cho’s white vintage convertible inches forward ahead of us and we wave to the crowds.
“My aunt is losing hermind,” Olivia says. “She’s so grateful this is going to be over soon. Hoping he enters a guilty plea and everyone can avoid a trial.”
“That’s so crazy,” I say, shaking my head. Ever since the news broke that Justin’s blood was on Billy’s shirt, it’s as if the entire town has exhaled, knowing that there’s an explanation for Billy’s death. Most of the extra security has disbanded, and Billy’s parents were seen walking around town for the first time in weeks, eating at Sunday Best and getting bagels at Schmear & Co. No one’s seen or heard from the Vreelands except for Alex, who swears he saw Justin’s dad wiping graffiti off the Hot Diggity window.
All around us, people line the sidewalks as they wave American flags in the air and blast music from enormous speakers. Every so often, apoofof confetti rains down, and I have to tamp down the impulse to pluck stray pieces of gold and red and blue foil from Olivia’s hair. Plumes of smoke from a nearby portable grill waft into the air, and I catch a whiff of burgers and charred corn on the cob.
The Pelican Island Fourth of July parade has always been one of my favorite days of the year. It’s tradition for families to gather along Main Street starting at six in the morning and snag prime watching spots by unfolding chairs and sun umbrellas, coolers full of orange juice and iced coffee, and to wait around, together, singing songs and skipping from one family’s setup to another’s.
Dad and Gil were always in charge of securing spots for all ten of us, laying out two big blankets on the sidewalk and weighing down the corners with tote bags full of sand toys. By the time we joined them, the Godwins would be close by. The Vreelands, too.
But this year, none of us kids will watch on Main Street, because we are allinthe parade. Me with Mayor Cho’s brigade and the rest of them on various Pelican Island Beach Club floats a few blocks behind us.
“There they all are,” Olivia says, pointing toward my parents, huddled up with the Silvers and the Godwins. The group is usually split by sex, the wives hanging out on one blanket and the husbands on another, but today my dad stays close to Mom and the other women while Gil and Mr.Godwin stand side by side. There’s a pained look on Dad’s face, even as he gives me a wave. It’s probably nothing. Just stress. Nothing for me to worry about, even though I can’t help myself.
“Anyway. Do you mind if we try to havefuntoday?” Olivia asks. “I need to let loose.” A smile rips across her face, and she throws her arm around me, leaning her weight on my shoulder, and waves at the crowd. She hasn’t been this close to me since that morning at Scoop DeVille, and the feel of her pressed against me, the smell of her shampoo…It’s enough to make me dizzy. “Come on,” she says. “Give our subjects what they want.”
I bring my hand up and wiggle my fingers at the crowd, which makes Olivia laugh, her hair tickling the soft skin on the inside of my elbow. Without thinking, I sling my arm around her back, press my fingers into her ribs. She inches closer to me so we’re hip to hip, and I swear I hear her inhale sharply, her laughing hitch.
I drop my arm, suddenly self-conscious, and my insides swim. I drew her too close.
Olivia leans over the railing and calls to the crowd, “Happy Independence Day!” like nothing has happened. She didn’t notice anything weird. It’s all in my head. But if that should bring me relief, it doesn’t. Instead a hint of disappointment bubbles up in my chest.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and when I pull it out, I see a text from Erica.Did I just see you and Olivia acting chummy AF?? Are you VIBING??
I look over my shoulder and see Erica on the float behind us looking right at me with her eyebrows raised and a devilish smile on her face. I shake my head, but she shrugs, then looks down at her phone.
A moment later, I get another text.I don’t hate it!!!!
I send her a rolling-eyes emoji and stuff my phone away, refusing to let her nudging burrow into my brain. The next block goesby in a haze of humidity and languid laughter as the float nears the end of the parade, stopping at the Beach Club, where all the participants are invited to an all-town barbecue. When we round the corner and our float comes to a stop, Olivia climbs down first, then extends her hand up to me to help me off the steel stairs.
“Thanks.” I grip her fingers and step down onto the concrete, but someone bumps my shoulder, causing me to fall into Olivia, my other hand bracing against her waist. “Sorry,” I say, my hand still attached to her, pressing against the soft cotton of her skirt, the hint of bone beneath the fabric. She’s warm beneath my touch, and there’s a tightening in my stomach, a strong desire to be completely alone with her right now.
Olivia steps back and smiles as a piece of confetti flutters in the air, settling on the crown of her head. “All good,” she says.
I can’t help myself. I reach out and pluck the tiny piece of confetti from her hair and let it fall to the ground between us.
“I’m sorry I dumped all that stuff on you about school, by the way,” she says suddenly, her voice low. “It’s not your problem.”
“I’m glad you told me,” I say. “It makes me feel close to you.” My cheeks blush instantly. I don’t know why I said that, and the wordcloselingers between us, an offer.
“Are you reading anything good lately?” she asks, and the change of subject gives me pause.
