Chapter 15
What type of school takes that many kids on a trip with only one chaperone? Maybe they should have thought about that first.
That’s what I want to type, but I don’t think that Mr. Nelson would give me good marks for it.
I’m only on page two. I keep checking the bottom of the screen, hoping the number will magically tick up a few so I can ditch my desk for my bed and that new Japanese BL drama I started last week.
It’s been so cute. The more I think about how absolutely clueless the main character is about Taichi being into him, the longer this five-page paper feels.
Also, five pages is so freaking much to write about kids getting dumped on an island and deciding the best option is to start hunting each other down. So naturally, I text Kaity about it.
MACKENZIE: WTF is up with this title? Lord of the Flies?!?!
I get that the story is supposed to be about how easily society, left to its own devices and without order and structure, can devolve into savagery—it’s what a review on Goodreads said anyway—but I’m still struggling to figure out the title. I swear it has nothing to do with this book.
KAITLYNN: Something weird.
She had to read it too, and so far we agree on one thing easily. It was boring. Old. Musty maybe. Seriously, how often do a bunch of teens get stuck on a deserted island nowadays? Is this even relevant?
MACKENZIE: Obvi, but… What?
The little bubbles move at the bottom of my screen while Siyun and Kyrell serenade me through my AirPods.
I think I’ve added three sentences today, and this paper is due on Friday.
This Friday! How am I supposed to analyze the literary significance of this?
Like it’s significant, I guess. That’s what my teachers say, but why couldn’t it have been, like… you know, a book written after 2000.
My phone dings and lights up with Zach in bold letters. He’s been texting like last night never happened, and I’ve been more than willing to oblige in that delusion. Even if I have thought about it a thousand times.
ZACHARY: Arty just ran into the wall. He really wants the laser.
I’m jealous. I want my own familiar. While I type a reply another message pops up.
ZACHARY: And again.
Wow.
MACKENZIE: OMG! He needs to chill!
My phone buzzes again. It’s Kaitlynn this time. Why am I even trying to write this now? It’s a Sunday anyway. Aren’t I supposed to be relaxing? I could do it tonight, when I’m not intentionally allowing Zach and Kaitlynn to distract me.
KAITLYNN: Dunno… ::shrug emoji:: Killer flies?
Yeah, no. I don’t think that’s in there.
Killer kids, check. But I don’t remember any flies killing anyone.
Zach’s name flashes on the screen again, and the urge to tell Kaitlynn everything about last night spills into my gut.
We don’t keep anything from each other, even gross stuff we both wish we hadn’t heard.
So why change that now that it’s about a guy?
Shit. Just tell her. I start to type, but stop. Maybe I shouldn’t. She’s just going to nag me about it, and for what? It’s nothing. It has to be nothing. I can’t like him.
I throw my phone onto the desk. It thwacks against the old wooden surface, and without delay I’m scooping it back up and checking the screen.
Please don’t have cracked. Please! My lamp light reflects off the glass with not a single defect.
I let out a relieved sigh and catch my own reflection.
I growl. My eyes have dark circles under them.
I bring my phone to life and open my thread with Kaity.
MACKENZIE: Zach kissed me at the Harrel House…
I hit send before I can delete it.
KAITLYNN: YOU KISSED HIM!?!?!?! That explains so much!
“No! He kissed me!” I scream at my phone while she’s still typing.
MACKENZIE: NO!! HE! HE kissed me! Not the other way!
MACKENZIE: Explains what?!?!
Oh my gods! What does it explain? Everything was normal after that!
My phone dings and I scramble to open the text.
KAITLYNN: Why y’all were both so awkward when we left. And the hand holding at the campsite… ::peeking emoji::
We didn’t hol—
Ugh. Okay, yeah, we did. But it wasn’t romantic. He was making sure I got out of the rain. That’s it! We weren’t cuddling and blowing kisses at each other across the fire.
I try to type No we didn’t! but I can’t really say that. It just wasn’t like that, but she’s never going to believe that.
MACKENZIE: ::middle finger emoji:: ::middle finger emoji:: It wasn’t like THAT!
Less than a second later, I get a new text, but I ignore it and open my thread with Zachary. There’s a video of Artemis. His soft blue coat shifts and ruffles as he pounces on a red laser dot. In the background I hear Zachary laughing. It’s the cat that’s making me smile though.
ZACHARY: He’s so stupid, but I love him!
I shake my head and giggle.
MACKENZIE: Just don’t knock over the spider cagey thing. PLEASE!
ZACHARY: Teo is fine.
As long as he stays away from me. I let the video play again and there’s his laugh again. It’s quiet, joyful. Sweet.
I breathe hard and put my fingers on the screen and start typing a new message, ignoring how many times my phone keeps buzzing.
Suddenly Kaity’s face appears on my screen.
It’s the photo I took of her looking like a soaked dog at an amusement park last summer.
She’s a persistent one, that’s for sure.
I giggle and deny the call. She wants answers, and she’ll get them.
Later. Right now I’m trying to figure out how to bring it up with Zach.
We need to talk about last night. You know, in the Harrel House…right after we got chased by bats… I didn’t mean to kiss you back. I shouldn’t have… I mean I wanted to, but I…
Ugh! I can’t say that! I can’t say any of it.
What if he goes to court and his phone gets subpoenaed and they read them aloud, or worse, Holly finds them.
I mean I wanted to. Hell no. I backspace the last sentence and try again a few times, until I get it right.
Then it just sits there. I stare at it as if that’ll make it sound any better.
We need to talk. Do we though? Can’t this just wait, or even better, just be forgotten?
I didn’t mean to kiss you back. I don’t know.
The more I think about it, the more I think I did. I definitely didn’t stop him.
The bubbles start moving at the bottom of the screen. I have to do this. We have to confront it! I hover my finger above the send button, but I can’t get myself to press it.
Ding!
ZACHARY: OMG! He learned he can jump on top of Teo’s cage from my bed! I’m going to need a lid now.
Below it is a video of Artemis literally cat-walking along the open edges of the spider cage. My stomach sinks. No, Artemis! Don’t do it! Oh wait… No! Do it! Eat the spider!
ZACHARY: What were you typing?
Good question. What was I typing? A big mistake. That’s what. I hold down the backspace and watch it all disappear. I exhale and start again.
MACKENZIE: It was nothing. Artemis! Eat Teo!
ZACHARY: No! Not Teo!
I grumble but drop my phone next to my laptop. This sucks so much.