Page 51 of Stop and Seek
Fuck it.
He couldn’t dwell on thatwith the money on the line.
The squeak of sneakers and people laughing flooded his ears, drowning out everything else.
He was, by no means, the fastest, but he wasn’t the slowest either. Turning the corner, he headed for the courtyard. Swimming pool sized puddles lined the parking lot, which meant no one would want to go outside. Good enough for him; he didn’t mind getting muddy as long as he came out on top.
His lungs chugged, scraping air through his burning throat, but he forced his legs forward.
He tore past the bleachers. Down the slick steps that led to the weight room. Tugged on the door—
Locked.
Fuck.
The sports team’s locker rooms were on the other side.
When Theo tried that door, it opened.
He mouthed a silentthank youand slipped inside as quietly as he could. The locker room was wide open—too exposed—with nothing but a thin bench down the middle and storage on either side.
He headed further in. The showers weren’t covered, but therewerea couple stalls. That would have to do.
Sliding into one, he parked his ass on the back of the toilet. His head and feet were hidden. All he had to dowas wait.
The second pop sounded.
Ten minutes.
The next few rounds went by without a hitch.
Hiders got eliminated when they were found. Seekers got eliminated if they caught the least amount of people for that round.
Theo was sittingdamnpretty.
When Decker let everyone know they’d break for an hour to eat and hydrate, Theo couldn’t stop smiling.
Pizza, cut into skinny triangle slices, and little clear cups of pop.
Exactly like middle school parties.
Alyssa found him first, all glitter-smeared and sticky with sweat, smelling like old shoes and vanilla body spray. She pushed her bangs out of her face, sweat dripping down her temples.
“Have you been like, chilling while I’ve been—oh, I dunno—dying?”
“Guilty as charged. Relaxing way to make twenty-five grand.”
Alyssa huffed. Glared at him. Despite looking like she’d been through a trash compactor, she had her red band.
They were still in it together.
“Must be nice,” she mumbled, wrapping her arms around his and dragging him back to the bleachers. “I can’t feel my feet and you’re having a little treat day.”
“All I’ve been doing is standing or crouching. My legs hurt, too, drama queen.”
“Okay, screw you, Sir Asshole.” She dropped down with an audible groan. “Go get me food and I might forgive you.”
Theo snorted.
