Fury by Elizabeth Miles Read Free Book Online

really an accident,” Ty said, once again smiling at him. Her eyes glittered, catlike. “Don’t you think?”
    Chase didn’t really know what she meant, but he nodded anyway. One thing he was sure of: Meeting Ty was no accident.
    At the gas station, Ty jumped confidently from the car.
    “Want me to go in there with you?” Chase said, nodding his head toward the twenty-four-hour convenience store. Thankfully,
not
the one his mom worked at.
    “No thank you, I’ve got it,” she replied, flashing a smile. He watched her go inside and pay for her gas, then saw her brush away—charmingly, still—the smitten cashier’s offer to help. Seemingly unfazed by the freezing night air, she stood by the gas pump and filled up the can. Chase got out and jogged over to her, rubbing his hands together.
    “Sure you don’t need any help?”
    “I’m fine,” she said. “See? Almost done.” Her pale, thin arms glowed in the light of the station as she replaced the nozzle on the gas pump. Chase thought she must be totally freezing, but she wasn’t shivering; she was smiling. He’d never seen anyone who seemed so
comfortable
, so effortless.
    On the way back, Chase could hardly concentrate on keeping the car on the road. He’d hooked up with plenty of girls before, but Ty seemed older, more sophisticated than any of the girls at school. Ty was just what he needed—a girl like that could more than distract him from all the messed-up stuff in his life right now.
    She’d be the perfect date for the Football Feast.
    Back at the girls’ car, an old-fashioned, boxy, maroon Lincoln Town Car, Ali and Meg filled up the gas tank while Ty took Chase’s hand and led him several feet away.
    “Thank god we found you,” she said, eyes glittering.
    “I guess I’m just your knight in shining armor,” Chase said, gulping back a nervous laugh. He took a clumsy step forward. “You can repay me, you know.” He leaned forward, closing the distance between them, hoping she’d ignore his total lack of game and kiss him.
    But Ty dodged him with another musical laugh, shaking her long red hair out of her face.
    “Here,” she said, “take this.” She handed him a bloodred flower with intricate petals. He wondered where it came from, whether she’d had it in her pocket. As she put it in his hand, their fingers touched and Chase felt a spark of electricity.
    “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this,” he said, turning it in his hand, which felt far too clumsy to be holding something so nice and fragile.
    “Well, there are more where that came from,” she said, laughing again, as Ali and Meg called to her from the car. She backed away from Chase, maintaining eye contact the whole time.
    “Can I get your number?” Chase said at the last moment.
    “You’ll see me again soon,” Ty responded. “I’m sure of it.” She smiled. Her teeth were perfect.
    She
was perfect.
    Chase got back into his station wagon, feeling like he was hypnotized. He fumbled with the keys as he watched the Lincolndrive away; by the time his car had sputtered to life, Ty’s taillights had faded.
    But he hadn’t gone more than a hundred feet when he looked in the rearview mirror and slammed on the brakes. He could have sworn he’d seen the girls again, back there. And he could have
sworn
they were pouring gas
onto
the car. Like they were going to burn it.
    Chase shook his head and quickly squeezed his eyes closed. When he looked again, the road behind him was empty and dark.
I’m overtired,
he thought.
I need to get my shit together
.
    Chase gripped the wheel and pressed on the gas as snow-flakes swirled in front of his windshield, faster and faster, until what lay ahead was all a white blur.

ACT TWO
     
    Irreparable, or The After-Party

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Em woke the next morning with a start, her head filled with the hazy, dark images of a plotless nightmare. She opened and shut her eyes a few times, trying to shake a vague feeling of fear.