CHAPTER SIXTEEN

KISSASTER

… and kissed… and kissed… and kissed.

Sweat glazed their cheeks like doughnuts and salted their lips like pretzels. If it hadn’t been for the lack of oxygen, plus Melody’s constricting bronchi, she could have stayed in the curdy cocoon with Jackson until graduation. But it was getting harder to breathe, and Melody didn’t have her inhaler.

“Air!” she gasped, throwing off the ThermaFoil and giggling at their mutually disheveled states.

“What… happened to… your… glasses?” she panted.

His face was dripping with sweat, and his hazel eyes searched her hungrily. He leaned forward to kiss her again.

“Wait.” Melody laughed, pressing her hand against his thumping chest. “I need to catch my breath.”

“Here.” He leaned closer. “Have mine.” His voice sounded lower, more in control.

“What?” Melody giggled. “Where’dja hear that line? Sounds a little Chuck-ish.”

“Who’s Chuck?” He pulled away, offended.

“From Gossip Girl.”

“Oh.” He dismissed the reference with a wave of his hand. Then he studied her face. “Actually, who are you?”

“What?” She giggled again, but something about his expression told her he wasn’t joking.

“Seriously, are we in a class together?”

“Jackson!” she blurted, despite the tightness in her lungs. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Who’s Jackson?” His expression soured, and he paused. Then his pinched look morphed into a mischievous grin. “Oh, I get it. You’re into role-playing.”

“Jackson, stop it.” Melody took a step away from him. “You’re freaking me out.”

“Okay, I’m sorry.” He gently pulled her close.

Wanting to trust him, Melody found her breath and inhaled deeply. He smelled different, like vitamins. Or was that the stench of reality after the love had gone?

“So if I’m Jackson, who are you?”

“Ew!” She pushed him away. “Enough!”

“Wait.” He took a step back. “I don’t get it. Are you into this or not? ’Cause I’m up for anything. I just want to know.”

Melody’s stomach roiled. Was this another one of Brett’s jokes? Was Jackson part of his crew? Had Bekka set her up and lured her into their twisted circle so they could capture a realistic heartbreak scene? She quickly searched the bushes for a hidden camera.

“I bet some music would help,” Jackson said. “Maybe we should head back to your place.” He offered his hand. The pastel stains were gone.

“No, thanks,” Melody said with a sniff. She grabbed her ThermaFoil off the wet ground and wrapped it around her like a sympathetic hug.

“So it’s like that, huh?” He pulled back his hand and ran it through his sweaty hair. “It’s okay. I’m kind of stuck on someone else, anyway. And she’s a real firecracker!”

Melody opened her mouth. But nothing came out. Even her voice was lost.

“Bye,” she managed, then hurried for home, her trembling body desperate to release the hurricane of tears gaining force behind her eyes. But she fought the surge, refusing to give Jackson any more of whatever was left inside her to give.

As she darted across Radcliffe Way, the first few drops eked their way out and rolled down her cheeks—the calm before the storm. Still, Melody managed to text Bekka a word of advice before her vision blurred completely.

MELODY: If Brett wants to find real monsters he should date guys.

She hit SEND.

And the dam broke.