AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But you agree. You don’t think this is about the Cottonmouth Club either.”
“I think—” He stopped, and his voice softened. “I think this is an impossible situation. They’re doing the best they can.”
“But you think they’re wrong.”
Auggie’s silence felt like one of those deep-dark places below dreams, but finally he said, “I think whatever is happening, it’s more complicated. I think they’re only focused on one part. What’s been happening, it doesn’t add up to something simple and neat. It’s messy. There are lots of loose threads. I’m not saying they’re wrong, but I think they’re missing some of it. Maybe something important.” He was silent again, and then he said, “Theo, I meant what I said: I’m worried about you.”
I think something’s wrong with me.
The words were on the tip of Theo’s tongue; he was opening his mouth to say them. And then he stopped. The darkness made him dizzy, like his body couldn’t tell up from down. He breathed with artificial slowness, and then he shifted to the edge of the bed and stood. The dizziness went away, and with a kind of abstract dreaminess, he thought, Never mind. It was all fine the whole time.
“We need to talk to Tean and Jem.”
14
Neither Tean nor Jem liked the plan.
“I don’t think John-Henry wants you leaving the house,” Tean said. He pushed his hands through his hair, making it wilder than usual. “In fact, I know he doesn’t, because he specifically told me you weren’t supposed to leave.”
“Too bad,” Theo said. “This is important.”
“Plus—” Jem said, pausing to toss a piece of popcorn into the air and catch it in his mouth. To judge by the chips and cookies spread out on the countertop, he’d conducted a very successful raid on the pantry. “—you’ll probably get yourselves killed.”
“We’ll be careful,” Auggie said.
Jem rolled his eyes and caught more popcorn.
“Let me call John-Henry—” Tean began.
“They’re working tonight,” Theo said. “Don’t bother them.”
“Let them go,” Jem said. “If they die, maybe we’ll get this house.”
Tean shot him a dirty look.
“What?” Jem said with a laugh. “Squatters’ rights.”
“We’re just going to talk to someone,” Auggie said. “Have a conversation. That’s all.”
“The teacher?” Tean asked, standing as Theo moved past him. “John-Henry already tried. He’s not home.”
Theo paused long enough to give him a look. “He’s giving you updates?”
Raising his chin, Tean said, “We’re part of this too.”
“Where is he now?”
Tean hesitated.
“They headed back to Auburn, didn’t they?” Theo said. “To the Cottonmouth Club. Fine. I know where Dalton is, and I’m going to have a chat with him.”
“If you know where he is, you can tell John-Henry—”
“Tean, we’re going.” Theo tried to blunt the sharpness of his words. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but we’re going.”
The only sound was Jem crunching another piece of popcorn.
“Lana should sleep all night,” Auggie said, “but if she wakes up, she’s got some books by the side of her bed that she likes. She might be hungry, too; she didn’t eat.”
