Page 20 of What’s Left of Us

I paused at the doorway to their basement. Atlas and his friends were probably down there, playing video games in his room. I couldn’t hear anything. Too suspiciously quiet for three boys.

I considered going down to join them, but I was inexplicably nervous. Atlas had been my best friend way longer than he’d known Ryan. I was pretty sure he didn’t even know the other guy. And still, a sourness in my stomach warned he didn’t want me to bother them.

Whatever. Let them play their stupid games.

I lifted my chin and marched to the backyard, ready to sunbathe and finally get an invite into Nat and Phoebe’s club. Instead, I barely made it onto the back porch when they came barreling toward me.

“I’m telling Mom!” Phoebe shouted over her shoulder.

I blinked in surprise as they reached me. They were both soaked, their hair and bikinis drenched through.

“What—”

Before I could ask the question, the answer came from around the corner of the house. Three boys with water guns, spraying each other and laughing like hyenas.

“You’re idiots!” Phoebe screamed at them.

“Come on, let’s just go inside.” Nat looped her elbow through Phoebe’s and tugged her toward the sliding door. Then, to me, she added, “They’re being jerks, Vi. You should come inside.”

She was right, of course. The boys were riled up and I had no interest in joining this game, particularly because I doubted they’d have a water gun for me. If I knew what was good for me, I would’ve turned right around and followed them inside. It would’ve earned me a few points with Nat too. A solidarity of sorts.

Instead, I remained on the porch as the girls disappeared inside. I watched the boys for nearly a minute, shifting on my feet as I decided my next move. They hadn’t even noticed me, too busy in their quest to drench each other. When I finally edged my way to the porch steps, only Ryan’s friend remained in the backyard.

While Atlas and Ryan had vanished around the side of the house, this guy was tinkering with his gun. As soon as he saw me though, he lowered it and grinned. He was cute. Not nearly as tall as Atlas, but taller than Ryan. His blonde hair looked almost brown when wet, and he had a bit of a gap between his front teeth. It was cute.

“Hey there. What’s your name?” He was flirting with me. It was obvious enough in his tone, in the look on his face, that I didn’t doubt it for a second.

“Violet.” I held the towel tighter at my chest. Suddenly, I felt embarrassed about my bikini. I didn’t have boobs yet, not like Nat and Phoebe did. I probably looked boyish, and this guy would be disappointed the second he saw my flat chest.

“Pretty.”

I didn’t know if he meant my name or me, but I liked the way he smiled at me.

“I’m Chase,” he said, and I realized I should have asked. If I wasn’t so awkward, I would have.

I couldn’t think of anything to say, but he kept staring at me, like he expected me to contribute something. Luckily, Atlas and Ryan reappeared seconds later, their guns freshly refilled with water. They screamed in delight as they sprayed toward Chase, a bit too far away to hit him.

“Sorry,” he said, looking back at me. The wide grin on his face said he wasn’t sorry at all. “Nothing personal. Just need a shield.”

“What—”

Chase lurched forward, crossing the space between us in a matter of steps. I looked to Atlas, who by now had lowered his gun to stare at me, and by the time I looked back, Chase was in front of me. I yelped, leaning backward. He grabbed me with both hands, throwing me over his shoulder like I was a sack of flour.

The towel slipped away and fell to the ground. Chase held me in place. His hand was on my butt. I repeat, this older boy who I had never met had his hand on my butt.

I let out a surprised laugh. A squeal. I didn’t even know whether I liked the fact he was touching me. I was too shocked to process anything.

With me propped over his shoulder, Chase took off through the yard. He held his empty water gun in the opposite hand and, quite literally, used me as a shield as he barreled past the other boys. Water sprayed against us, and Ryan let out another hyena laugh.

I clung to Chase’s back as he ran, careful not to touch his butt, even as he was fully groping mine. He only slowed once we reached the side of the house, right next to the water spigot. Then, he slid me off his shoulder, steadying me before releasing me to fill up his water gun.

I stood there like a complete moron, gape-mouthed and silent as he worked.

“You good?” he asked without looking at me.

Before I could respond, Atlas came around the corner. He was alone, and he didn’t have his gun anymore.

“What’re you doing?” he asked. He sounded mad, and it took me a minute to realize he was talking to me.