Page 13 (1/2)

Micha

"Dude, where the fuck is your head today?" Ethan asks and seconds later a grease rag hits me in the face

I throw it back at hi to piss me off with this crap"

Ethan widens his eyes exaggeratedly "Whatever man You’ve been so distracted for the last two days" He sticks his head back under the hood "And I’ to say why"

"Good, because I don’t want to hear it" I round the back of rab a rusty toolbox, one of the few things e can He called again thismachine for either my mom or I to pick up

Ethan raises his head up and eyes the garbage can "Wanna explain what that was for?"

"Nope" I pick up a wrench and start working on the car

We work on it for a while, but it’s hot and I’ more pissed off at my dad by the second Finally, I move back and throw the wrench down onto the concrete Ethan doesn’t ask questions this tiht," I announce, unable to hold still "A big one, like the one we had on graduation night"

"You really want to relive that night?" Ethan backs out from under the hood "Because I’ht, deteret my mind off stuff "What you can’t reht?"

"I don’t think you want to go there" Ethan walks next toa shopping cart "There are plenty of tiive anything to remember - but I can’t I lost like a year of my life It’s better to stay within the boundaries of a semi-clear head Besides, this doesn’t sound like you at all What’s up?"

"Nothing’s up" I sigh, rakingout loud"

Ethan returns to the garage and starts working on the engine again Around sopho out with these kids at school, who had really heavy views on the world and liked to sit around and get high while they talked about it Ethan so friends with theot into some pretty heavy shit

A year later he et some help He cleaned up his life, cut the habits, and worked the hell out of hied to graduate with our year Looking at hiuess

The side door of Ella’s house swings open and Lila steps out She looks upset, although not as bad as she did last night She glances up the driveway at the house across the street, where there’s a very loud ga on in the front yard Her eyes roam toher

She gives a tentative wave from the top step "Hey, Micha"

"What’s up?" I say with a nod ofher blue eyes from the sun, she looks up at Ella’s"Yeah, she said she’d be out in a second She’s just talking to her brother"

"He’s not being a dick, is he?"

"I’ a dick, since I don’t have one" A smile cracks at her lips

I walk toward the fence, pulling uplow onon?"

Lila shakes her head andsome of her blonde hair away from her mouth "But Ella’s not much of a yeller, is she?"

I rest my arms on the top of the fence "It depends on which one we’re talking about"

Her face falls "How could I know her for eight freakingabout ht?"

I feel bad for her "I think Ella kind of made it her mission to keep who she was hidden from you It’s not your fault"

She eyes me over with this suspicious look "Honestly, it seems like she’s that ith everyone, except for you"

"We’ve known each other forever," I say "We have a comfortable relationship"

Her blue eyes twinkle with mischievousness "One where you feel her up in the car?"

"It feels like you’re trying to start soirl even more

"Maybe I aet a better view of the inside of the garage "Is that Ethan in there?"

I step back so she can get a better look "Yep, he’s working on the car"

"I think I’ll go give hirin spans across her face and she hops over the fence, squealing as her shoe gets caught in the wire

Trying not to laugh at her, I unhook her shoe and she walks into the garage, surprising Ethan The door to Ella’s house opens and ht

She’s wearing a tight, black and purple plaid dress, and knee high lace-up boots, but her hair is curled up neatly It’s like a uarded as she ae look in her eyes, like she’s terrified yet excited at the same time

"Did Lila come out here?" She bites her lip and I want to lean over and bite it for her; taste her and feel her like I did last night

Without taking e "She’s in there with Ethan I think shefor hiht" She pauses "I think I ht have freaked her out a little, just barely"

"You ht have freaked her out a little?"

"She told you I was talking to Dean?"

"She mentioned it" I extend my hand to her "Why don’t you come over and join the party on this side of the fence?"

"A party of four?" she asks, trying not to grin and looking as cute as hell