Page 89 of Middle of the Night

“No way,” Ashley says. A surprise to Ethan. Until now, he’d assumed she was on his side. “I was the one in charge. If people find out about this, I’m never going to get a babysitting job again. And I need that money.”

Suddenly, Ethan understands. Ashley has told him all about her plans for going to Woodstock and how the money she’s earning from watching him will make that happen. Ethan, for his part, doesn’t want another babysitter. Even though Ashley won’t be with him every day, now that his mom lost her job, he at least likes knowing she’d still be his babysitter whenever she is needed.

“Then we can go back for him,” Ethan says.

Ragesh scoffs. “And get caught ourselves? No thank you.”

“But we have to do something. We can’t just leave him there.”

“Why not?” Russ says.

He stands at a slight remove from the rest of them, facing the woods. Whereas Ashley looks worried and Ragesh annoyed, to Ethan’s eyes Russ appears contemplative.

“Because he might be in trouble,” Ethan says.

“Maybe he should be. He’s the one who led us there.”

Ethan feels something snap inside him. Like there was an elastic band stretched across his heart, keeping his emotions in check. Now it’s broken, and they come tumbling forth in an ungainly heap.

“You followed him there!” he yells, tears stinging his eyes. “You and Ragesh. I didn’t even want to go.”

“But you did,” Ragesh says in a way that makes Ethan wish he were six years older, a foot taller, and a hundred pounds heavier. Then he’d be able to flatten Ragesh to the ground.

Instead, all he can do is cry more and say, “I didn’t have a choice! Now Billy’s in trouble.”

“And we won’t be,” Ragesh says. “Not if we keep our mouths shut.”

“Why are you worried about him anyway?”

This comes from Russ. A question Ethan can’t quite comprehend. Not because it’s hard, but because the answer is so obvious. Why wouldn’t he be worried about Billy?

“Because he’s my best friend.”

“But why?” Russ says.

Ethan pauses, surprised he can’t instantly give a response. Before this moment, he’s never given it any thought. He and Billy are neighbors. They’re the same age. They get along. Why wouldn’t they be best friends?

“Because he lives next door.”

“So do I,” Russ says. “Does that mean I’m your best friend, too?”

Ethan doesn’t answer with an immediate yes, which makes Russ react like he’s just been shoved. A falter. A frown. A darkening of the eyes until they’re all but black.

“We’re friends,” Ethan hastily adds.

“No, I get it,” Russ says.

Ashley throws out her arms, grabbing their attention. “What’s important right now is what to do about Billy. Let’s vote. Those in favor of doing nothing, raise your hands.”

Ethan watches as Ragesh’s hand shoots immediately into the air. No surprise there. The same with Russ, who sullenly glares at Ethan as his hand is raised. The real shock is when Ashley’s hand also goes up, albeit slowly and with noticeable uncertainty.

“I’m sorry, Ethan. It just seems like the best thing to do for all of us.”

“But what if they hurt Billy?”

“That’s not going to happen,” Ashley says.

“Other than trespassing, we didn’t do anything wrong,” Ragesh adds. “We were just messing around.”

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