They settled into a little thicket far off the trail but close enough to watch Peter arrive. The light filtered through the trees and barely lit their little spot. Devon walked behind a large tree trunk, and the branches rustled. Somewhere, far off, a dog barked. Lia froze.
“Lia?” Devon asked. “You okay?”
She had been so sure in that second that he would be bloody and dying. There would be a crash. She would find him dead.
“Yeah,” she said, sitting on an old railroad tie next to him. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Go ahead and eat,” he said. “We’re together, so we’re safe.”
Lia laughed and smiled. “My brave assassin shield.”
“I’m just glad you finally started talking to me again.” He opened the bag and pulled out a cinnamon roll larger than his hand. “We’ve got five minutes. They really just congregate and stare at trees while two country club guys talk about this one time they saw an ivory-billed woodpecker.”
Lia pulled out her cinnamon roll. It was still hot and gooey, the cinnamon filling laced with chopped walnuts and pecans. The first bird-watcher showed up with a car full of kids when Lia was halfway done with her roll, and Devon ducked down with her behind the bushes. He shoved the last handful of his roll into his mouth and cleaned up with hand sanitizer. Peter arrived second, stepping out into the cold with a puff of warm breath. The crowd grew to fifteen over the next five minutes.
“I bet he always arrives second,” muttered Devon with cinnamon clinging to his lips and cheek. “He likes to arrive places on the hour.”
“Devon, wait,” she whispered, and wiped the cinnamon sugar from the corner of his mouth with her thumb. “There.”
His lips parted slightly. His face tilted to hers. “Lia?”
“Assassins with cinnamon on their lips aren’t scary.” She let her hand linger on his cheek. “You’re ready now.”
Lia downloaded a map of the trails. Peter was at the start of the group, alone and red-cheeked. Devon and Lia followed them for a minute to check which path they took at a fork and then returned to their seats, where they could see the end of the trail. The bird-watchers returned in small groups with thermoses and cameras clasped in their hands. Peter wasn’t last but he was close. Devon narrowed his eyes as Peter left. The other person who had arrived first stayed until everyone was gone. They stretched near their car.
“Wait here,” Lia said.
Nothing could happen to him when they were only a few feet apart.
Lia crept forward to see who it was. She stayed low and darted through the trees to the other side of the lot. She pushed some branches aside. The guy in charge wasn’t old at all; he was an alum from Mark’s year. She couldn’t remember his name, but she knew where he lived. Mark had made her wait in the car often enough when stopping by his house. He left after a few minutes. She turned back to Devon.
A shadow stood in the foliage behind him. It raised an arm, something dark grasped in its hands. Lia darted back, ripping her own water gun out in a blink, and fired one shot. It splattered against the trees, and she tackled Devon. His back hit the forest floor, her body slamming into his chest. The shadow fled deeper into the park.
“So,” Devon said. His lashes brushed her cheek and his words warmed her ear. One of his hands curled around her hip. “I guess someone is trying to take me out.”
By the time they walked back to Lia’s house, Lia’s blush was mostly replaced by frostbite. Devon kept her close, though, insisting they share his pocket warmer again. Lia couldn’t complain. She couldn’t say much of anything without stuttering.
“So Gem’s picking us up?” Devon asked.
Lia nodded.
Devon ran a hand through his dark hair. “Do you want to meet at the same time tomorrow? I can bring breakfast again.”
“You don’t have to,” Lia said.
“I want to. We can try to get Peter and maybe whoever is after me.”
Lia nodded and waved to Gem, who had just pulled up. “Deal.”
When they got to school, Devon hopped out of the car and took off for orchestra. Gem turned to Lia.
“May is amazing,” Gem said, a hitch in their breath.
Lia laughed. “But most importantly, can she bench-press you?”
“She hasn’t yet, but she definitely could.” Gem collapsed over the steering wheel. “She was so nice, too. She waited to make sure I knew how to do everything and brought me water. She even had snacks.”
“Cute,” Lia said. “I’m glad.”
There was a glow in Gem’s cheeks. “How was your breakfast date?”
“It wasn’t a date,” Lia said. “I think we can get Peter Wednesday morning if we’re careful. We have to delay someone. Let the air out of their tires, maybe?”
“Nope,” Gem said. “Bad plan. Can’t we just block the road instead?”
Lia snapped her fingers. “Way better. I’ll text the others.”
“Speaking of,” Gem said, and pointed to Ben stalking toward the car. “What’s up with him?”
“No clue,” Lia said, and unlocked the doors. “Ben?”
“I’m out!” He threw his backpack into the backseat and slammed his whole body inside as if the car were a bed, not a giant box made of metal and sharp plastic. He held up one hand. “Katie Rogers got me last night. Shot my hand from twenty feet away, that beast.”
He lay down face-first on the seat. Lia reached back and yanked Ben all the way into the car, and Gem shut the door. Ben at least helped a bit, not going totally limp. Lia patted the back of his knee.
“How’d she get you?” Lia asked.
“Luck,” he mumbled into the cushions. “I got locked out of the house, and she got me while I was hopping the fence to get the extra key.”
“I know what might cheer you up,” Gem said. “You want to hear how we’re going to avenge you and get Peter?”
“Hell yes.” Ben sat up, eyes wide and red hair sticking up in every direction. “I can’t help, but I can make sure none of y’all are alone till we win.”
“Peter gets there a little early for his bird-watching thing, just a little after the main guy. Gem will block that guy in their driveway and delay him by five to ten minutes,” Lia said. She looked at Gem and waited for them to nod. “We can take him out when he arrives alone and his leader isn’t there.”
She had no idea what master bird-watchers were called.
“Sounds good,” Ben said. “You text me if you need an escort. Any day, any time. Got it?”
“Thank you,” Lia said. “You’re a lifesaver, and I’m sorry you’re out.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I’m only annoyed.”
All day at school, she thought about the game. And by the end of the day, she was starving. She and Gem drove to a nearby takeout place.
“Would your parents mind if you called out sick to school?” Gem asked as they drove.
“They might,” Lia said, lowering her seat all the way back until she was flat on her back and staring at the ceiling.
They had told her she could take more time off in that tone of “Is that what you really want to do?” that they reserved for when she was making bad decisions.
“I don’t get them,” Gem said. “You’re not a genius, but you always do what they ask and never get in trouble.”
Lia sighed. It felt wrong to complain when her life wasn’t bad. Sometimes all the little things they said tangled up in Lia’s chest and ached. It wasn’t like she could tell someone, “Hi, my parents keep doing small things that sort of hurt my feelings. No, they never do anything really bad. They just make me feel bad.” She would be laughed away.
“They should’ve stopped at Mark,” Lia mumbled.
“Shut up.” Gem got out of the car, kicking their door shut.
Lia groaned and opene
d the car door. A girl in a red coat pulled a large water gun from her car trunk. It was Mallory McCarty.
Popularity was a thing at Lincoln High, but they’d all known each other since kindergarten and could remember who ate boogers or peed their pants. It was hard to get too high and mighty when everyone had seen you cry because the green-colored pencil was too sharp, which had only happened to Lia once. Everyone had a story like that, except Mallory. She was pretty and had never so much as eaten glue when they were in elementary school.
And Lia had followed her for a week straight to make sure she knew her schedule in case she was Lia’s target.
“Gem!” Lia called, but Gem didn’t hear her.
Mallory raised the water gun and fired. Lia threw herself out of the car and tackled Gem. They tumbled to the concrete.
“Prince,” Mallory said, shaking her head. “I didn’t see you.”
“It’s okay,” Lia said. She was used to it.
Gem struggled to their knees. “That scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry,” Lia said, “but you almost got tagged out.”
“No, I don’t think that would’ve counted,” Mallory said. Her navy lipstick, so cool against her warm brown skin, was starting to wear. “You’re a witness and now you both know I’m after Gem.”
Mallory helped Gem and Lia to their feet.
“I cannot believe you dove like that,” Mallory told Lia. “It was really impressive.”
“Thanks. That was a great shot.” Lia’s heart was racing in a good way, the beat a drum in her ears, and she wanted to feel this alive forever. “Did you practice? You were so far away.”
“I did!” Mallory laughed.
“Great,” muttered Gem. “Next time you get tackled, see if you say that after.”
Mallory laughed and waved goodbye, running to a car parked on the side street. The three girls inside were laughing so hard it took them a minute to unlock the doors. Gem waved to them all.
“That was close,” Gem said, wincing. “I need fifty chicken tenders.”
“Let’s start with five,” Lia said, grabbing her phone from the car. “Weird. My phone’s unlocked. No wonder it’s almost dead.”
It was settled. Ben could no longer help with any assassinations now that he was out, so Gem would delay Aaron, the leader of the bird-watching club, from the safety of their car while Lia and Devon waited for Peter at the park.
Lia woke up an hour early, trying on three outfits before settling on dark jeans and a thick green sweater. She tugged at her hair, finally settling on a braid. Her mom watched from the hallway.
“Do you have waterproof mascara?” Lia asked.
“It’s all a bit morbid,” Lia’s mom said with a yawn. “Are you sure—”
“—that I want to do the thing I woke up at four to do? Yes,” Lia said. “Mascara?”
“You don’t need it. It’s school, not meeting the queen,” her mom said. “I cannot understand your obsession with this game. If your European History exam next week is lower than eighty-five, you’re not continuing.”
Of course she didn’t understand.
Lia pulled a hat down over her brown hair, straightened the strands coming undone from the braid, and checked her phone. “School’s basically over. Every grade that matters already happened.”
Her mom sighed. “Only quitters think like that.”
“It’ll be fine.” Lia darted past her mom. “He’s here.”
No makeup, no job, no dating—she couldn’t have a life of her own at all. “School is your job,” her parents always said, but it echoed in her mind whenever she heard them follow up with, “When you have your own money, you can spend it how you want.” Everything was for her own good. She couldn’t argue with that.
“If you say so,” her mom muttered, peeking out at Devon through the blinds. “You have your Mace?”
“Yes.”
“Keys?”
“Yes.”
“Phone?”
“I’ve never forgotten anything before,” Lia said. “Why would I now?”
Her mom only shook her head and wrapped a scarf around Lia’s neck. “Text me when you get to school.”
Lia opened the door before Devon could knock. He smiled and waved to her mom. Lia glared at her over her shoulder. Her mom was already gone.
“Is she really okay with you running around so early?” he asked, shifting the bag in his arms from hand to hand. “Should I introduce myself to her or something?”
“She’s not really okay with anything I do, but my dad says we have to show the world we’re not afraid when bad things happen,” Lia said. “Like the world cares.”
Devon raised his eyebrows but didn’t say anything. The wind had whipped his hair into a knot at the back of his neck and chapped the tip of his nose. It wasn’t cold, not even close to freezing, but the wind was wicked.
“Here.” Lia unwound her scarf from her neck and wrapped it around Devon’s, her fingers brushing through the ends of his hair. “Repayment for Tuesday.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” he said softly.
They walked to the park in silence and tucked themselves into a bush closer to the lot. Lia laid her water gun in her lap. Breakfast was homemade biscuits with skillet-fried ham and hot sauce in an old plastic to-go container. He had even brought two paper towels.
They had finished eating by the time Peter rolled into the lot.
He glanced around before getting out of his car. Lia couldn’t get a clear shot without standing, but Peter would see her then. Devon lobbed a rock in the opposite direction. Peter’s head ripped around.
Lia leapt to her feet and fired. Water splattered against Peter’s back. He shrieked, falling back against his car. His hands grasped at this side.
“What the hell!” Peter spun. “Lia Prince?”
Lia couldn’t help it. She grinned, savoring the moment. “I’m sorry that you’re wet now, but you’re out.”
Peter groaned, folded his arms on his car, and laid his head on them. “I can’t believe you’re even playing, Devon.”
“Yeah,” Devon said, “I got talked into it.”
“I appealed to his need to prove me wrong,” Lia said.
“It backfired.” Devon peeked into Peter’s backseat. “You need a dry shirt?”
“No, it’s fine.” Peter pushed himself up and pulled out his phone. “Let’s get this over with.”
As they were waiting for the Council’s response, Aaron pulled into the lot. Lia had gone through three yearbooks before figuring out his name. He got out of his car and looked the trio over, chuckling as he approached. His eyes lit up when they landed on Lia.
“You out, Peter?” he asked.
Peter nodded, and Aaron ruffled his hair. Peter patted it down, white cheeks red. He scowled.
“Of course you are. Her brother Mark nearly won, so you didn’t stand a chance.” Aaron nodded to Lia. “Did he give you the maps he made? He knew his way through every backyard and park that year.”
“No,” she said. “I’m going to win on my own.”
Hello, Lia.
Your contribution to our death toll has been noted, and your new target will be provided before midnight tomorrow. Until then, relax. But not too much. There’s still a team out to get you.
The Council
* * *
The sun had risen higher now and chased away the chill, but the wind still tore through Lia and Devon as they walked back to her house. Devon stayed close to her, his keys jangling in his pocket.
Devon shifted his shoulders. “So, you really didn’t stalk me?”
“You weren’t going to play, so no,” she said. “It would’ve been a waste of time.”
“Small blessings.” He looped their arms together. “What’s your real reason?”
/>
“Fine. You found me out,” she said. “I didn’t follow you because I didn’t want to be bored.”
“Bold of you to insult someone who was in your middle-school classes,” Devon said. “I remember when you believed the ocean was blue because it reflected the sky.”
Lia wanted to lie down and sink into the earth. “She was our teacher! They’re not supposed to lie!”
“She was joking.” Devon laughed softly.
“They’re blue for the same reason. It’s all wavelengths,” Lia said. “It’s not my fault you’re so distrusting of teachers.”
“I’m distrusting of people who use their sarcasm voice constantly,” Devon said. “She was mean. I can’t believe she didn’t count that right on the quiz when she said it in class. It wasn’t your fault you thought she was serious.”
“My dad said it was a good learning experience.” Lia exhaled loudly.
“Did he tell you to toughen up after Abby died?” Devon cracked his neck. “Sorry. Sorry. We don’t have to talk about this.”
“It’s okay.” Lia sniffed. “Why did you really enter the game?”
He turned his face away from her, toward the sun. The light cast long shadows across his face, shadowing his deep-set eyes and highlighting the angles of his cheeks. “I don’t know. Seemed fun.”
“Yeah,” Lia said, “but you never do anything for fun.”
“Hey!” Devon rounded on her, his arm still holding hers to his side, and shot her an exaggerated frown. “I have fun.”
“I’ve never seen it,” Lia said.
She would’ve stuck her nose in the air, but it would’ve only looked like she was staring up at him. Instead, she tucked her hand into her pocket. She walked next to him, flush against his side. Devon nudged her.
“If nothing else,” he said, “this is a good excuse to spend time with you.”
We should celebrate, Ben said in their group chat that night.
He’d been thrilled by the message that Peter was taken out. It was another ten bucks for Abby’s shelter and a bit of revenge for him having been taken out.
The Game Page 7
