Page 68 of Stop and Seek
“Um like, where are the rest of the details for that story?” Alyssa asked, her neck swiveling between the two of them.
Noah held up both hands in mock innocence. “Theo’s funnier than me, let him tell it.”
Theo shoved his glasses to the top of his head, scrubbing his face until it hurt to touch. If he pushed hard enough, maybe he’d disappear from existence.
This fucking guy.
I’ll bury his body where no one will find it.
Alyssa’s foot tapped the ground. Slow at first. Growing in speed with her impatience.
“I’m waiting.”
Theo chewed on the inside of his cheek.
He didn’t say shit.
Neither did Noah.
“You know this makes it look really bad, right? Right? Boys?”
“Alyssa, can you just take me home?” Theo blurted out as he slid the glasses back into place. “Please?”
This was none of Alyssa’s business. Not even fuckingremotely.But with Noah’s cryptic one-liners, she was going to text himnonstop. Begging for more information. He pushed him into a corner evenbringing it up.Did the wordsubtlenot exist in Noah’s vocabulary?
Fuck it.
Theo regrettedeverything.
“Uh… alrighty.” Alyssa blinked. She jerked her head towards Noah, but Theo kept his lips sealed shut.
She sighed. “We—”
“Why don’t you check on Max?” Noah interrupted, his happy-ass voice grating. “Benji’s a pussy with blood, and she’s probably ready to throttle him. I can take Theo home.”
No you will not.
Excuse you, what in the hell?
“Are you Alyssa?” Theo asked through gritted teeth. “Don’t think so.”
“Like, you don’t think that comes off as kinda clingy?” Alyssa twirled her hair around her finger, glued to her phone again. She wasn’t listening. “I don’t wanna annoy her.”
“I promise you won’t,” Noah said, and Theo had to ball his hands into fists to keep from launching at him. “Max is sweet, but she won’t tell you when she needs company.”
“Miss, like, independent,” Alyssa giggled. “Oh my god, are yousure?”
“Yeah. I’ll text her and let her know you’re on the way.”
Alyssa turned to Theo.
Come on. See Ms. Perfect some other time.
Then she clapped her hands together, eyes huge and pleading under the fake lashes and layers of eyeliner. Her whole act wasenough to make Theo waver, and the longer she whispered “please,” the worse he felt.
Theo slapped his arms at his sides.
“Bitch,” he huffed.
