Ten by Gretchen McNeil Read Free Book Online Page B

on the huge flat-screen television, but instead it was blank and blue, bathing the living room in a dullish cerulean light. Nathan and Kenny stood at a bookcase. They yanked DVD cases off the shelf and tossed them to Ben and Minnie on the sofa.
    Minnie pried open The Hangover . “Empty,” she said before flinging it in a large pile on the floor.
    “Empty,” Ben said, and added Trading Places .
    “Empty?” Meg asked.
    “Empty,” Ben and Minnie said in unison.
    Kenny didn’t even turn around. “All of them.”
    “It doesn’t make sense.” Vivian examined the discarded cases as if she didn’t entirely trust anyone else’s opinion. “Why would someone put empty DVD cases on the shelf?”
    T.J. picked up the remote and flipped through input devices. The result was always the same: blue screen of death.
    “The satellite’s out,” Kenny said.
    A gust of wind blasted the backside of the house as if in agreement. It wasn’t the least bit cold inside, but Meg shivered.
    “Must be the storm.” Ben jumped to his feet and headed to the kitchen. “I’m getting more beers. I think we’re gonna need them.”
    “We can always play board games,” Lori said. “I saw some stacked in the—”
    “Here’s one!” Minnie squealed. She held up a shiny DVD like she’d just found Willy Wonka’s last golden ticket.
    “What is it?” Vivian asked.
    Nathan plucked the disc out of her hand. “It’s homemade.” He held it up to his face and read the label: “Don’t Watch Me.”
    “I don’t know that movie,” Gunner said.
    Minnie snorted. “It’s a burned disc, Gun Show. Not a real movie.”
    “Oh.”
    Ben handed beers around. “It’s probably lame vacation footage or something.”
    “Or porn,” Nathan volunteered.
    Lori wrinkled her nose. “Why would someone label porn Don’t Watch Me ?”
    Nathan shrugged. “Why not?”
    Vivian sat in one of the winged chairs and crossed her legs. “I don’t like this.”
    “You know what?” Minnie said with a dramatic pause. “This is how horror movies start.”
    “We’ve already had one near-death experience,” Kumiko said.
    Ben laughed. “Just an accident. Nothing sinister.”
    “Dude!” Nathan pointed at T.J. “You’d better watch out.”
    T.J. arched an eyebrow. “Why?”
    “Well, if this is a horror movie, you’re the first one to go. The black dude’s always the first one to die.”
    Words flew out of Meg’s mouth before she even knew what she was saying. “Really? You really needed to go there?”
    “What?” Nathan looked around the room. Everyone avoided his eyes. “It’s true.”
    Focus shifted back to Meg. She felt her throat start to tighten up, the usual shyness creeping over her. “I, uh …”
    “Come on,” Nathan said. “Say it.”
    Meg saw the bully come out in Nathan. And there was nothing she hated more than a bully. It pissed her off that he was trying to intimidate her, and suddenly, Meg was able to say exactly what she meant.
    “Racist much? Are you going to ask if Kumiko can help you with your math homework next?”
    Kumiko laughed. “Good one.”
    Meg smiled, surprised by her own words. She usually wasn’t this confrontational. Must be the booze.
    “Whatever.” Nathan snatched the disc out of Kenny’s hands. “Are we watching this or not?”
    “Why not?” Ben handed Minnie a beer and sat down next to her. Meg saw him drape a long arm around Minnie’s back. “Better than board games.”
    “Dude,” Gunner said, his eyes wide. “Don’t do it.”
    Minnie laughed, light and airy, as she leaned into Ben’s arm. “Oh come on, it’s just a video.” She pointed at Nathan. “Hurry up!”
    Nathan put the disc in the machine and hit Play.
    The number “10” appeared on the screen. It was animated as if it had been written by hand, and then a red slash crossed right through it. “9” and “8” were drawn and slashed through in the same manner, then three images of a beach at night cycled through in rapid