Page 5 (1/2)

Torres whistles and draws my attention back to hi

He hops down fro on top of the picnic table andstrides He loops an arm around my shoulders as if he’s known me for years instead of minutes, and suddenly I’m pressed up close and personal to the hardest body I’ve ever touched in real life In fact, the closest I’ve ever come to someone this defined is one of those CPR dummies that are et having her on enius or soaze still assessing

Torres asks Dylan, "Did you show her our pictures, Captain Planet? I hope you got a good one of me"

"Actually, I told her you were flashy and shaether who you were all on her own"

The laughter that follows Dylan’s announce seconds My eyes flit around the group as they laugh, and I try to take in all the dynahts unravel coainstmy skin as Torres asks, "What’s your na because all hts are too wrapped up in this body that’s crowded too close tocitrus-y and woodsy that comes from his skin

"Nell"

"Nell what?"

I pause I still don’t want to be called by my last name

"Just Nell"

"Well, just Nell I’ainst the shell of my ear, and the heat of his breath tickles, and I can already feel ets this close to a co his ar that comes to my mind "I’m supposed to stay away frohtened of a stranger trying to offer me candy, but as nonsensical as it seeh alert, and the hairs onfaster than they should be considering all I’ still

I feel like prey

And all he’s doing is s at me And it’s a s any distance between us

Just then a sli up and says, "Hey Sorry I’ a few feet away, I a as the boundary-defying guy beside

Carson, the one Dylan called the leader of the group and the apparent owner of the last naive you uy as Keyon, and then introduces uess Keyon must know everyone else Then Carson adds, "And that puts us at an even ten So we can pick tea"

Torres raises his hand "I’ll be team captain"

His proclamation makes my stomach tumble with nerves, and I’s "Fine You and Brookes are probably the fastest So you can be captains"

They flip a coin, and Brookes gets first pick I expect hiuys They’re the obvious choice As football players, they’re in shape and more naturally athletic But he fixes his eyes on aze narrowed He looks atabout hi and trustworthy, aler, I ht just tell himelse he wants to know

Instead, I nod

He raises an eyebrow at Torres and says, "I’ll take Nell"

Chapter 3