Rush by Jonathan Friesen Read Free Book Online Page A

now.” He exhales hard. “Cheyenne doesn’t even want me to hang out with you anymore.”
    I think on that, nod.
    â€œYou aren’t in high school anymore. Go home.” I run my hand through my hair. “Cheyenne’s great. There’s nothing waiting at Brooke’s that you don’t have better at home.”
    He stares up at me, raises his eyebrows.
    â€œSeriously,” I say. “If I was hooked up with . . . Get out of here.” I step on his foot, wait for his groan, and leave him behind.
    I reach Brooke’s steps, where Salome and Kelli stand.
    Salome looks around. “Troy didn’t come with you?”
    I point over my shoulder. “Is there still a body sprawled on the sidewalk?”
    Kelli’s mouth falls open. “Did you do that to him?”
    â€œYeah, just for fun. One right hook and—”
    Salome boots my bad ankle, and I buckle.
    â€œTroy!” She and Kelli push by me. I stand alone on the steps and picture the scene behind me. I hear Troy laugh. Salome joins him. I turn to wait for Salome and hear the door unlatch behind me.
    â€œIt’s about time.” Brooke grabs my forearm and yanks. It’s her party, so I let her pull me in.
    Â 
    IT’S LOUD AND DIM , and the shadows of everyone I know are there—except Troy, who probably still lies on the sidewalk.
    Feels strange to see kids from school, but I drag forward, hurtling by comments like I did trees down the mountain.
    â€œHey, Jake, whatcha been up to?”
    â€œSchool’s been a bore since you left.”
    â€œSalome was looking for you.”
    â€œWhat?” I pull against Brooke and strain to find the speaker.
    â€œLet’s go out back,” Brooke hollers in my ear. “The hot tub was empty last time I checked.” She pulls me through the house, onto the patio. The tub’s not empty now.
    Twenty kids sit around and laugh, and we move nearer, push through the crowd.
    â€œHey, brother.” Scottie’s narrow-eyed gaze wanders from me to Brooke. He pulls his arm free from the girl at his side. “You’re not with Salome?”
    Kyle and his brown leather jacket walk up from behind. “Forget her.” He jams Scottie’s head beneath the waterline. Two girls laugh and step out of the water, and the crowd cheers.
    â€œCome on.” Brooke pulls me off the patio, away from the pool, and behind the flower gardens.
    â€œListen, Brooke—”
    â€œWe don’t need anyone else tonight.” She reaches her arms around my neck and kisses me, hard and deep, but it takes me nowhere, and my mind wanders. To the hot tub, to the street, to Salome.
    My hands move on instinct and reach for the buttons of her blouse.
    There are two kinds of pretty. Brooke, she’s part-time gorgeous—when you’re with her, when her half-covered body drapes over yours. Right then, there’s no doubt, she’s something for the eyes. But Salome, she’s pretty always—when you’re at home and haven’t seen her in days, or she won’t talk to you. She’s fill-the-brain pretty.
    I let Brooke’s blouse drop, and pause. She doesn’t notice. Her hands grope, and her voice whispers my name, and this is the last place I want to be.
    I pry her like a suction cup away from me, steady her at the shoulders. She blinks and cocks her head.
    â€œIt’s okay. I’m okay with this.” She lunges at me, and inside a switch flips. The dark cloud descends. I not only don’t want her, I loathe her—loathe being near her. I push her away, reach down, and hand her the blouse.
    â€œPut it on. I need to go.”
    I emerge from the flower garden to Salome and drippy Scottie. They stand close to where we were. Depending on the noise level, maybe they were too close. Maybe they heard.
    â€œThere you are.” Salome reaches for my hand, looks me in the eyes, and pauses. “Oh, tell me