tell. He becomes a blur as I push through the crowd. I stumble into the hot living room, my heart racing, but it’s not far enough so I head outside. Mike’s communal backyard is small and the crowd around the beer pong table is thick. About thirty feet away, the grass descends into evergreen woods. Beyond the first few trees all is blackness.
I long to run there. To hide in the forest. My bones buzz with repressed anger, and I almost believe I have the energy to do it. Run blindly. Madly.
Instead, I down the last of my drink, and shadows shift on the grass by my feet. For a second, I fear Jared’s come over to rub my face in his presence, but it’s another guy.
“You’re Lisa’s cousin?” A few freckles decorate his nose, and he has nice, broad shoulders. A bit jockish for my taste, but I’m weird like that, or so my friends would have me believe. He leans against the wall next to me, close enough to give off that flirting vibe.
Also close enough that I can smell beer on his breath. But hey, I’ve got beer breath, too, so who am I to judge? Besides, he’s a guy who’s not Jared, and he’s paying attention to me. I’m not above seeing the possibilities here.
“Yeah. I’m Claire.”
“Zach.” He peers into my empty cup. “Need another?”
Oh yeah, I have a feeling I do. “Sure.”
The kitchen’s cleared out, and I let Zach make me another drink. He doesn’t skimp on the vodka, either. Usually alcohol makes me giggly, but I must be too confused for giggles tonight. My head swims a bit, that’s all.
“So how long are you guys staying here?” Zach asks.
Behind him, Jared sits on the sofa, surrounded on both sides by girls. One of them is Hannah. He glances my way and we both catch each other looking. Then I turn away before he can read anything into my expression.
“A month or so.” How do you make small talk again? I seem to have forgotten. “So do you live around here, or are you hanging out at school all break?”
“Both. I live right here.” He points to the floor. “And I’m taking a couple summer classes.”
I nod. In the silent gap, I hear Jared telling some story about what life was like touring with Purple Waters. Hannah’s laughing like an idiot.
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