Page 28 of Stop and Seek
Decker’s voice droned on. “I did say a couple of practice rounds, but your principal has an actual job to do.”
Someone next to Theo let out a heavy sigh.
“I know, I know,” Decker continued. “It sucks. Adulting isn’t the greatest.”
God, shut up.
Theo tuned him out. His attention was still on the crowd, eyes darting from one person to the next.
Where the hell is she?
Alyssa stood out like some crazy, flashing neon sign—giant-ass pigtails, towering platforms. No one dressed like her.
Cringe mall goth, I swear to shit—
Then, he spotted her.
Huddled on the hood of someone’s car with one of the Sterling twins. Maxine? Miriam? He didn’t care enough to remember.
Alyssa leaned in and the twin laughed so hard she almost dropped her cigarette.
Theo beelined toward them. He uncurled his fists and slammed both hands on the side of the car.
“Alyssa,” he hissed.
“Oh my god, babe!” Alyssa swung her legs off the hood, eyes huge as she smoothed down her skirt. “Did you get caught?”
“No—not—who cares? I—”
She cut him off, twirling her hair around her finger. “So, like, I did. It was such a meet-cute though!”
“You screamed,” the Sterling twin said, voice deeper than Theo thought it would be. Husky and disinterested. “Less cute, more horror movie.”
Alyssa giggled and knocked her shoulder against the other girls. “Alright,fine. You screamed too, though.”
Holyshit, Theo was going to strangle both of them.
He grabbed Alyssa’s leg and yanked her closer, bracketing his hands on either side of her so she couldn’t move.
“You promised,” he growled, teeth clenched so tight he thought they’d crack. “This has beenthe worst night, and you gotshitfor me.”
“Ooh, forceful. Kinda hot,” the Sterlinggirl said.
Theo’s eye twitched, his gaze locked on Alyssa’s drippy makeup. Mascara clumped at the corners. A smear of purple lipstick near her chin.
If he looked at whichever blonde twin it was, he’d lose it—completely. That terrible, urgent keening in his ears was starting again, his chest too tight.
“Chill,” Alyssa whispered. She tilted her head toward the car.
Theo flexed his fingers until he could feel them again.
“I don’t need to chill.I need to get the hell out of here.”
“Fine, fine, jeez. Let me up.” Alyssa rolled her eyes. Smiled at the blonde. “He’s like, my totes OP gay boyfriend. He’s a riot, right?”
“Alyssa, what thefuck?”
“Yeah,” the twin muttered, dry and sarcastic. “Total gag.”
