Page 4 of The Glittering Edge

But of course it was never going to be okay.

Alonso takes a step in Corey’s direction and shouts, “Since you already called me out in front of everyone, I have something to say.”

Corey freezes, but he doesn’t turn around.

“This entire lake doesn’t belong to you,” Alonso says. “My family owns half, remember? So next time, you should ask our permission before you decide to trash the place.”

There’s a collective gasp, but Alonso is technically right. Even though they hate each other, the Barrions and De Lucas have been neighbors for decades, and their properties stretch all the way out to Elkie Lake. Any normal family would crumble under the stress of having to see their sworn enemies as they’re rushing off to work and school every morning, but the Barrions and the De Lucas are not normal. They’re too stubborn to be scared off.

So Alonso is right. This lake is his, too, and his self-satisfied smirk makes it clear he thinks he’s won.

Corey slowly turns around. “I sent your mom an email about the party two weeks ago. Ask her.”

“Sure, because there’s no way you’d plan a party out here just to give us the middle finger, right? To show us whoreallyowns Elkie Lake?”

“No, I wouldn’t, because I’m not like you.”

“It’s amazing how much you know about me. You must be my biggest fan.”

The look Corey is giving Alonso would make anyone else wither. “I don’t want to deal with this. I’m only here to have a good night.”

“Yeah, man, of course you are.” Alonso turns, locking eyes with a few people who laugh or look away. One girl even screams, muffling it with her hand, and Alonso glares at her. “Must be nice knowing everyone is on your side. And you didn’t even do anything to deserve it.”

A muscle in Corey’s jaw starts to twitch. “What are you trying to prove?”

Alonso throws up his hands. “Nothing. Just thought everyone could use a reminder that they’re on De Luca property, too. Technically, they’re trespassing. Who knows what could happen?”

The laughter dies immediately, and people start glancing toward the path that leads out of the woods. For years, people have said if you look a De Luca in the eyes, it gives them the power to control your thoughts. Or if you dream the same dream three times, it means they’re angry with you. Even back in elementary school, kids whispered if you looked into a puddle after it rained, you’d see the De Luca witches staring back at you, and they’d pull you inside.

Long story short: You don’t want to get on the De Lucas’ bad side.

Alonso is clearly basking in the effect he’s having on everyone. Corey, for his part, loses whatever calm he had left. His hands clench into fists, and he says, “If you’re going to threaten people, go home. You don’t belong here, anyway.”

Everyone goes quiet. Penny stands completely still, watching Alonso.

And, to Penny’s surprise, he looks at her.

She isn’t sure what she expects to see in Alonso’s face. Rage, probably. But it’s not that simple; there’s a war going on behind his eyes, and when he takes one step back, Penny bites her lip and silently begs him to leave.

But then his smirk returns, and there’s no humor in it this time.

“I don’t belong here, huh?” Alonso says. “Whose fault is that?”

Before Corey can answer, Alonso takes three quick steps forward and punches him in the face.

The party turns to chaos. Corey stumbles, but he barely slows down. He’s their school’s quarterback, so knowing how to get hit and bounce back is a necessary skill. And in this case,bounce backmeans “hit Alonso in the gut.”

Alonso doubles over, coughing. Just as Corey is about to grab him by the neck of his shirt, Alonso charges forward like a bull, tackling Corey and knocking him over.

People scream and cheer as the two of them struggle on theground. Someone starts playing “Blitzkrieg Bop” by the Ramones, and a few guys chant along in bad British accents. Across the party, Yvonne Mason holds up her phone, clearly filming. Hannah Hartley clings to her side, eyes flicking from Yvonne’s phone screen to the fists flying in real time. Some of the football players frown and talk to each other in low voices, maybe debating whether they should pull Corey back. But they do nothing.

They just let it happen.

As Corey knees Alonso between the legs, Penny turns away, feeling sick to her stomach. She’s never witnessed these fights up close, and all at once, the hatred between Corey and Alonso is too real. She needs to leave.

“Penny!” Naomi appears behind her.

“Fuckin’kill him, Corey!” someone shouts.

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