I look up from his chest and see his brilliant blue eyes. His words echo back to me. “It’s your choice.” I’ve heard these before, so many times. From my mother, but it was never true—never genuine— just a way to manipulate me into doing what she wanted. Jake smiles and touches my chin and leaves me to my decision. My decision.
I walk over to where the boys left their bags and drop my backpack next to the others. I kick off my shoes and tip my toes in the water. A sharp chill runs up my body. It’s freezing against my hot, tired feet.
I look up the waterfall and they’re splashing and shouting—not one paying me a bit of attention. I’m thankful for it and I use the moment to pull my shirt over my head. I leave on my shorts, I’m not ready for more, especially on slippery rocks, and start my climb to the top fall. When I get there, I’m greeted by a few looks, appreciative ones, but I manage not to burst into flames. I inch into the edge of the pool they’re all swimming in, needing to cool off for more than one reason.
“You made it,” Charlie says, he’s removed his glasses and if he didn’t have a different haircut I’m not completely sure I’d know the difference between him and his brother. His brother, who I’d just noticed, is missing.
“Where’s George?” I ask, seeing just the three, and Dexter’s eyes lift above us. George stands on the edge of a rock, above the pool. “What are you doing? No emergency rooms!”
“It’s fine, Starlee,” he shouts, moving to the edge. He smiles down at me and jumps, wrapping himself in a tight ball. His cannonball lands, raining water down. My breath catches from the coldness of the water and worry, but he pops out of the middle and shakes off like a dog, scattering water again.
“Dude!” Jake yells, wiping off his face.
“Grab him,” Charlie cries, too far away.
Dexter lunges but George is quick, moving behind me as a shield. His cold hands grip my upper arms and he says, “Don’t let them get me, Starlee, or I’m taking you with me.”
“Not cool,” Jake says. “Taking hostages is low, even for a wimp like you.”
“A man’s-gotta-do-what-a-man’s-gotta do.” He presses his chest against my back and it cools my overheated skin. I feel his breath on my ear. “Sorry about this.”
“Sorry about what?” I ask, but it’s too late, he’s wrapped an arm around my stomach and lifted me against his chest.
“We call a truce right now or I dunk Starlee. Full body.”
I squirm against him and he laughs in my ear. The other guys have us surrounded, circling around us in the pool. They eye one another warily, I guess wondering if they should give up. I meet Dexter’s gaze and with utter confidence say, “Take him down.”
“What?” George says, jerking in surprise. The boys don’t waste a moment, going on the attack. George drops me, revealing his bluff to submerge me, and another set of strong hands pulls me out of the way.
“Save yourself, Starlee, this is going to get ugly,” Charlie says. His hands linger on my waist for a brief moment before he turns back to the assault in the pond.
I scramble to the edge, perching on a large rock hanging over the pool. From there I watch punishment being metered out—boy style—a massive water fight that lasts for a ridiculously long time. When George finally gives, they’re worn out and exhausted, limping from the water to my rock and sprawling out to dry in the sun.
It’s in that moment it finally clicks—what they said to me in the car. I’m one of them.
16
After they’re dry and warm, Jake and George scale the rocks and bring back two backpacks. They unload them, pulling out a feast of meat and cheese, fruit, fresh bread, and a tightly wrapped pie.
“You eat like this all the time?” I ask, snagging a few cherries. I pop one in my mouth, wincing at the sweet taste, and suck out the pit before tossing it in the bushes. No one answers. I raise my eyebrows.
Jake swallows and clears his throat. “Uh, we may have gone a little overboard with you being here.”
Charlie fixes and hands me a plate. They move into their silent eating mode. After seeing the roughhousing in the water, I’m not sure there are enough calories for them to consume.
“So, what was your mom so afraid of that made her pull you out of school?” Charlie asks suddenly. Dexter shoots him a glare and Jake elbows him.
“Dude,” George says, but his eyes dart at me curiously.
“It’s okay. Some kids were picking on me in middle school. I got really depressed and the doctor put me on some medicine that messed with my head. Things got worse and my mom just didn’t feel like I was safe there.”
“Oh yeah, once they gave me the wrong meds for my ADHD and all hell broke loose,” George says before shoving in a mouthful of bread. “I stopped eating and lost all this weight. I’ve had to go on a couple different kinds to get it straight.”
I look at him in surprise. I’ve never known anyone else on medication—or had someone to talk to about it. “I barely remember it. It’s like I was in a complete fog. By the time I came out of it, my mom had made the decision and there was no going back.”
“So she was looking out for you,” Jake says. “That makes sense.”
“I think she thought she was doing the right thing. And maybe she was. But then her rules got more and more strict.”