Page 79 of As You Walk On

When Aleah turns away, Jayla smirks. “You’re staying, right,” she says to Makayla.

It’s not a question. More like an ultimatum disguised as a request.

Makayla’s mouth opens like she might say something. Truthfully? Her silence earlier said it all. She’s not going anywhere.

“Let’s go,” I mumble.

A second later, Luca’s at my side. River’s anxious, quick steps are loud behind us. Aleah’s annoyed sigh reaches me before we’re at the end of the walkway. I don’t glance back to see if Makayla’s followed. Being disappointed by others has become tonight’s theme.

“What now?” Aleah asks while we stand in the street.

Cars and SUVs line the road. A young moon sits like a hook ready to catch all the stars in the blue obsidian sky. River walks a straight line, one foot shakily in front of the other like an intoxicated gymnast practicing a balance beam routine. Luca keeps glancing back to Chloe’s house. Like Makayla’s going to spontaneously appear.

Sorry, buddy, there are no K-pop duets in your future.

“How are we getting grub?” Aleah inquires. “How are we gettinganywhere?”

“My sister’s car’s too small to fit all of us,” laments River.

Aleah’s phone lights up. “I can’t call my... uncle.” She gives me a look. We pretend her brief pause meant nothing.

For now, we’ve called a truce. At least, I have.

“Makayla was my ride,” whispers Luca. His fingers pull at the ends of his hair. I catch his wrist to stop him, grinning.

“We’ll figure it out.”

Makayla’s keys bite into my palm. Grand theft auto wouldn’t make a positive impression on my Duke application. With my other hand, I swipe until I find the rarely used rideshare app on my phone. Dad made me download it. He keeps an emergency credit card on file.In case you’re ever stuck somewhere and I’m unavailable, he’d said.

This constitutes an emergency, right? I’m stuck. Sort of. Dad’s incapacitated. Okay,sleeping, but it counts.

Three cars are in the area. I almost hit Request, but my thumb slips as the sky catches on fire.

Pow! Pow! BOOM!

Crackling thunder echoes above our heads. Bursts of blues and reds and oranges. Stars combusting, turning to thin clouds of smoke. Down the road, fireworks streak over a house that rivals the Campbells’ property in size.

“Wow,” River says in a long, awed breath.

The four of us stand shoulder to shoulder to watch.Go big or go home, Prospect’s unofficial motto. I’m impressed.

“I need to get closer,” Aleah insists, phone in hand.

She jogs downhill before I can comment. River chases her. I don’t budge. The view’s decent from here.

Luca’s shoulder is still pressed to mine. Our hands orbit each other by our sides. We watch River and Aleah film each other. Whoop loudly like they’re at Thunder Over Louisville. Like this display is all for them.

“Hey,” Luca whispers. His index finger curls around mine. I don’t pull away. Flashes of lightning shine off his eyes as I pivot to face him. A smile dances from the corner of my lips when he stammers, “Um, I’m really trying to act chill, but tonight’s been a lot and—”

He cuts himself off.

I lean up on my tiptoes, anxious for him to finish. Yes, tonight is a lot. Has it all been bad, though?

Havewebeen bad?

(Is there even a “we” on the table? Do I want a “we”?)

Luca’s eyes scan my face in a wild pattern. His breaths come faster. Mine do too. He bites, then releases, his lip, like he thought better of it. Like he’s overthinking everything the same way I am.

---