Page 103 of When The Noise Stops

"Lila!" Ronny shot out of her chair.

I screamed and jumped up.

"You DID!"

"Come here, you menace."

I took off running.

Ronny chased me around the table.

"YOU CAN'T CATCH ME! YOUR LEGS ARE LITTLE!"

"I'm going to beat your ass!"

I ran behind Knox.

He didn't even get up.

"Grizz, protect your woman!"

"Nope."

My mouth fell open.

"You're supposed to be my man!"

"You earned this."

Traitor.

Ronny came around one side.

I went around the other.

Everybody was laughing now.

I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.

BOOM.

My body stopped mid-stride.

The backyard disappeared for half a second.

I could smell gunpowder.

See Archie's face.

Feel the hot blood.

My heart kicked hard.

I looked around.

Fence.

Table.