Free Death by Tara Brown

her leaving the house. I have a terrible feeling in my
stomach."
    "Aimee, haul ass." Alise shouts from her car.
    Mom waves and blows kisses and closes the door.
    I climb in and buckle up. "I want you to pick up Blake first."
    Her face glows. "Whatever. You two dorks better not do anything
dorky tonight."
    "We made a deal, Alise. You have to be nice to me and Blake and do
my laundry according to washing instructions for a month."
    Watching our house as we drive away, I can't shake the déjà vu that's
hitting me hard.
    She drives like a maniac, picking up everyone. She pulls up to Giselle's
last.
    I shoot a look at Alise. "Dude, this car is full. We're picking her
up too?"
    Alise waves a hand dismissingly at me. "She wasn’t feeling well so
she didn’t go earlier. Stop annoying me."
    "She's sick and you're letting her come in the car with us all
packed in here? We're all going to get sick."
    Alise shoots me a glare. "Shut it."
    I groan as Giselle opens my door and raises her eyebrows, "You're in
my seat."
    I roll my eyes and sigh.
    "Aimes, it's a proven fact the people in the backseat have better
survival odds." I smirk at Blake and climb out of the beater. I squish
into the back seat. My face is on fire when I realize I'm sitting on Blake's
and Tommy's knees.
    "You look good for a nerd."
    I look over at my sister's friend Tommy and glare. "You look good
considering you only just learned to walk upright."
    His eyes narrow. "Easy nerd girl. I was just trying to pay you a
compliment. You clean up nice." I look down at the t-shirt I'm wearing and
shake my head. "Gee, thanks."
    Blake laughs.
    "McGinnis, dude you're huge. Way too big for the backseat. What are
you six-one?"
    Blake scowls. "Six-three."
    "You should tryout for the basketball team when you go to
college." Tommy grins at him.
    Blake gives me a desperate look.
    "He isn’t very coordinated."
    Tommy shrugs. "Too bad."
    Blake rolls his eyes and I can't wait to get out of the car.
    "What are you wearing by the way?" He whispers. I look down at
the stupid shirt and jeans Alise attacked me with. I nod toward the front seat.
"Attacked me. Makeup and all."
    He grimaced. "Must have been savage."
    I nod and smirk. "Completely."
    Alise pulls into the long driveway and my stomach dances at the thought
of seeing Shane. He was finally single and possibly over the fact his dad had
left with a twenty-five year old cashier.
    "God it's hot in here." Giselle fans herself.
    I notice the sweat on her temple. She has never sweat before, I'm
certain. I feel hot too.
    "I hope there is food here. I'm starving," I mutter at Blake as
we all file out of the car. People start screaming and laughing. Tommy throws a
girl on his shoulders. Blake and I stand back and watch the chaos. The house is
booming. I didn’t want to come, but Shane had asked me himself when I was
tutoring him in English. The fact I had loved him forever, secretly, made the
decision easy. I even let Alise dress me and do my makeup. Of course she thought
I was going to ask Blake out. I glance at him and shiver at the idea of us
kissing.
    "Wanna go in?" I ask quietly.
    He nods, nervously. I notice he isn’t wearing his glasses. He looks
massive without anything in his hands. He's almost always fidgeting with
something.
    The front door opens and Shane steps out. I smile, it's involuntary.
    He grins at me and shakes his head. "Didn’t think you'd make
it." My sister walks past him giving me the evil eye. He smiles at her too.
"Hey Alise, Giselle, Tommy. Refreshments are in the back. I made
Lemonade."
    Giselle doesn’t go in with Alise. She stands outside alone. She doesn’t
look well. I can't help but notice the way she keeps glancing at me.
    Shane walks in between her and I, taking my gaze with him. I beam up into
his blue eyes.
    "I'm glad you came." He smiles at Blake who couldn’t look more
uncomfortable. "Hey Blake."
    Blake nods and looks back at me. "Guess I'll go get some
lemonade." He slouches a bit.
    "Straight." I