Page 55 of Faux Real
“Maybe try to bequick,” I say, craning my head and trying to peer over the shrubs and bushes. An older man with a book in hand comes into view. Fuck. “Really quick.”
Kenny whips her head around and frowns, lifting up a brow. “What? Why?”
“Well,” I hum, my gaze darting down the grassy path. “This might be someone’s house.”
“What?” she exclaims, following my sightline. “Oh my God! We’re trespassing?”
“Just a little, no need to freak out,” I say, attempting to remain composed despite the fact, I too, do not wish to be caught. “Just—”
“Joel? Joel?” A voice sings.
“Oh, my fuck,” Kenny whimpers, her gaze jumping over my shoulder. “Someone’s coming from the other side!” She scans our surroundings, her eyes landing on a shoddy shed near a curved iron bench. She yanks on my hand and begins running. “We need to hide!”
“What? Hide?” I ask as she drags me toward our supposed hiding spot. “Just relax!”
“I am not getting arrested for trespassing again!” she explains, pushing me into the shed that’s stocked full of tools, soil, and other various gardening supplies. She shuts the doors and peers through the splintering wood.
I scoff, crossing my arms, the scent of fertilizer filling my nostrils. Wait. I narrow my eyes at her. “Did you sayagain?”
“Shh!” she demands, shoving me as her attention is focused on whatever the fuck is happening outside the shed. “Shut up, they’re right there!” She pauses for a second before whimpering, “Oh fuck...”
I sigh. She’s so dramatic. “What now?”
With a timid pout on her face, she sheepishly turns toward me and whispers, “They’re sitting on the bench.”
I blink. “What?”
“Um...they’re...right outside,” she says, hanging her head.
“So what you’re saying is that we’re trapped in a shed?” I ask dryly, sucking in a sharp breath as I lower myself to the ground. I seem to be on the grounda lotthese days. “Fantastic. Good idea, Kenny.”
“Hey!” Kenny exclaims in a low hush, joining me on the floor. “You’re the one who brought us here! Why would you—”
“They were gone all summer,” I explain, leaning against the wall. “Sorry for trying to help you out.”
Kenny crosses her arms, shaking her head, letting out a sad sigh. “We’re going to be in here forever.”
I pull out my phone, checking the weather app. Just as I remembered. “Not forever,” I say with a sly grin. “Just until it startsraining.”
“What are we supposed to do until then?” Kenny groans, resting her head against the fall wall, extending her legs, her feet bumping into mine. “Play chopsticks?”
“Well—” I toss her a knowing smirk. “You can tell me about the time you got arrested for trespassing. Sounds like averyinteresting story.”
“Oh God,” Kennedy grimaces, covering her face with her hand. “I’d rather not.”
“Come on now,” I probe, cocking my head to the side. “We’ve got time to kill.”
eighteen
Shed Some Light
OLIVER
Embarrassmentwithahintof sadness flashes across Kennedy’s face as she scoots forward, sitting on her heels in front of me, fiddling with her fingers like she always does when she’s nervous. She’s nervous a lot around me, I’ve noticed.
“Okay so,” she hums, letting out an airy sigh. “I think you need some context first before I get into it.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Context?”
