Dead of Summer

Frankly, I’m just doing my best not to cry, pass out, or melt into a puddle of ooze under Kayde’s stare. And as I haven’t done any of those things, I’m considering today a success so far.

“Promise,” Kayde tells her, bringing up a hand in the scout’s salute. “I swear, Mel. I’ll teach you whatever you want to know and there’s no way you won’t get on the swim team when you start school this fall.”

That mollifies her, at least somewhat. Melody marches off in the direction of Redtail, though we have to all maintain our smiling faces when she glances back more than once, like she’s afraid Kins and I are going to go on the attack.

But I barely notice. I’m too busy staring at Kayde, my mouth still hanging open as I try to figure out what’s going on and what in the world I’m feeling right now. Surely I’m not relieved to see him.

Not when?—

Oh god. My stomach plummets, and I clench my hands around my elbows where I’m holding onto myself as if I might shatter on the spot.

If he’s back, it has to be. He still wants to?—

“Why’d you leave if you were coming back?” Kinsley, still in front of me, is not having the same internal crisis as me. She looks aggressive, if anything, and steps into his personal space even though I give a soft sound of protest. “Why’d you do that to Summer?”

I’m worried for her.

Especially out here, where no one can really see us unless they purposefully come back to the drop off area for some reason.

Kayde’s eyes meet mine, and he gives a quick, dismissive motion of his hand, as if he’s telling me it’s fine.

But it isn’t fine.

And Kinsley doesn’t know. I force myself not to panic as Kayde focuses on Kinsley, his head tilting to the side as he studies her. “What did I do to Summer, Kins?” he murmurs, and I wince for him.

Kinsley does not like when anyone other than her friends shorten her name, and if she doesn’t punch him, I’ll be surprised.

Her hands ball into fists, and I make another soft noise of dissent. It must register, because she glances back at me, her frown clear and her eyes troubled. “You left her. Worse? You left her to Darcy after you fucking walked out on her and your cabin of kids.”

“Darcy?” Kayde looks between us. “What do you mean ‘left her to Darcy’?” There’s something in his voice that reminds me of that first night in the woods, and I wonder if letting this go on is only to make things worse.

It definitely feels like things are getting worse, not better, with every word that Kinsley gives him.

“She was the first one to know you’d fucked off. And she knew real quick that you hadn’t told Summer. What the fuck, Kayde?” She steps closer until they’re almost pressed together. “What the fuck? You couldn’t tell Summer you were leaving, at the very least? Couldn’t, I don’t know, explain it to someone? She thought you cared about her.”

I flinch at her words, and Kayde is the one who sees it. Something changes in his eyes, though I’m sure I don’t like whatever that means for me.

And I definitely don’t like the way Kinsley is winding up. Kayde may be patient, to a point, but he’s also a murderer. He’s Kayde, the man who had planned on murdering all the kids here at Crestview, and chop Kins up in as many pieces as he could.

I don’t think yelling at him is good for her continued health and wellbeing. My hands clench and unclench around my elbows, and before she can get herself in deeper shit with Kayde, I make myself step forward to push between them.

“Can we talk?” I don’t even look at my best friend. I’m too insistent on getting Kayde’s attention and focus on me, not her. On my face, not the way she’s spitting words of dislike and disapproval.

“Summer…” Kinsley reaches out to touch my arm, but I ignore her with a shake of my head.

“I’m fine. Can we talk?” I ask again, eyes still on Kayde and refusing to go anywhere else. There’s something like the twitch of a grin on his lips, but it;s gone when I blink, and he dips his head in a nod.

“Yeah, Summer,” he murmurs. “Of course we can talk. Figured that was kind of a number one priority?—”

“If it’s such a priority now, why wasn’t it before you left?” There’s Kinsley again, and this time I see the twitch of Kayde’s eyes, and the way his head tips just enough to show he’s paying attention in the worst way.

He’s not thrilled with Kinsley. He’s making that more than clear now.

“It’s fine. We’ll talk about it.” I force myself to reach out, to grip the hem of his shirt to keep his attention on me instead of Kinsley. “Please, Kins,” I add, turning to look at her sidelong.

She hesitates. I see the indecision clear on her face as I silently beg her to just walk away for now. Before Kayde really does turn his attention on her instead of me. “Fine.” She’s very clearly not happy about it and turns to me with worry on her face. “Fine, Summer. But come find me later. Please.” There’s worry in her voice and in her eyes, and she bites her lip as she hesitates with her decision.

“I won’t hurt her, Kinsley,” Kayde purrs under his breath, his smile looking less and less genuine with every word. “We’re just going to talk. That’s all.” But the look he shoots my way tells me that might not be the most true thing in the world, if he has his way.