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“I’ll deal with her.” I stop short of guaranteeing that Bristol’s not going to be mad. She won’t be, but the reassurance should come from her. When she’s up to it.
He meets my eyes. “She said you’re not her boss anymore.”
“No, but I’m an adult, and I can get her what she needs.” I want so badly for that to be true on every level that it almost feels right to say it. “What happens in Minecraft when the sun goes down?”
“Zombies come out.” Ben doesn’t miss a beat. “Creepers. Other enemies. If you care about your friends, you have to make sure everybody gets to a safe place, like your house.”
“Who makes that call?”
“Whoever’s in charge of the group.” His eyes flick down to Bristol. “She usually makes the decisions.”
“When the leader’s down, the second-in-command has to step in. That’s you.” Ben’s head comes up, and he squares his shoulders. “I think my apartment is the best place for everybody to be. You’ve been there before. It’s safe and clean, and I can get any kind of food delivered, or anything else you need. What’s your call?”
“You’re right.” He takes a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
15
BRISTOL
The next thingI’m aware of is moving.
It doesn’t bother me. Not more than my throat. That still hurts, but I’m half-asleep, so I have a little distance, at least. The key is to remember not to swallow. Eventually I have to, though, otherwise I’ll drown in my own spit. I do it as carefully as I can. It’s like having a lump in my throat that’s made of pocketknives. Tiny blades, all of them ridiculously sharp.
I must make some sound, because someone pats my thigh. A big, warm hand. “We’re almost there.”
Where? My bedroom? That would be great. I’m so tired, and God, it’s hot.
The movement stops.
“Okay.” Will’s voice is close, and a hundred knots all through my body release. My neck is sore, but the seat underneath me is soft and it smells like a new car and him, so it’s okay. “Grab your backpacks. Guy outside the SUV is the valet for my building. You can stand next to him while I get Bristol out.”
Then Mia, somehow hovering over me. “What if she can’t walk? She fell over in the kitchen.”
“She’s not going to walk. I’m going to carry her.”
“You’re sure you won’t drop her?” Skepticism enters Mia’s voice.
“I carried her to the car in the first place, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, but…you could be tired from driving.”
She must look worried, because Will’s voice softens. “I’m not tired from driving. Go stand with Ben and the valet, and I’ll get Bristol. Remember that elevator you came up in last time you were here?”
“Yes.”
“That’s where we’re going. Elevator. Upstairs. My apartment. I had somebody set out the laptops for you.”
“What about school?”
“I’ll call the school.”
“I was going to go back. I was going to take us both back. My teacher’s probably going to be mad.”
“I’ll explain it to her. She’ll listen to me.”
“Why, because you’re a man?” A genuine question from Mia.
“What would that have to do with anything?”
