Free Girl on the Run by B. R. Myers Page A

talking everybody,” Kirk explained. “That’s what guys do. And if Scotty isn’t there, they won’t think of him as part of their clique.”
    â€œClique?”
    â€œTrust me.” He gestured toward the cabin. The four of them were now walking together.
    â€œFour against one,” I said under my breath.
    â€œReady to quit?” He teased me, raising one eyebrow. I hated that eyebrow.
    I pushed my shoulders back and made my way to the dock, only because Cabin 4A was apparently a boys’ club at the moment. My feet left the grass and found the smooth wooden surface again. Kirk called out my name. I purposely walked a few more steps, thinking it was his turn to chase after me. I put a hand on my hip and slowly turned to face him.
    He ran up to me but didn’t say anything right away. His eyes fell on my throat. “Your necklace,” he finally said.
    â€œYeah, I know, it’s distracting. ”
    â€œNo…it’s gone.”
    My hands flew up and felt my naked neck.

ELEVEN

    I retraced my steps, scanning the grass, but it wasn’t there. I ran to the dock, searching for a glimmer of colour on the bleached-out wood.
    Alicia stood up when I came back. “What is it?” she asked.
    â€œShe lost her necklace,” Kirk said. He’d followed me.
    I lifted up the CPR dummies and opened every bag. I ignored their questions and searched every piece of equipment Alicia had brought down for the lesson.
    â€œDid you have it on before you went in the water?” Lacey asked.
    I froze. Yes, I did. I remember standing in this very spot touching the charm. Without a backward glance at the group, I jumped into the lake.
    I swam ten metres out, halfway to the float. Now that Liam was alive and on dry ground, I could play back the rescue scene with more details. When I struggled to get his head above the water, my hands were thrashing around grabbing anything. I was sure that’s when it came off.
    I dove down, pulling at the water with my hands. It was impossible to see clearly. I swam a little deeper, until there was complete blackness. I resurfaced for a few mouthfuls of air then dove again, but this time I wasn’t going to stop until I hit bottom.
    Surrounded by darkening water, I searched, desperate for a flash of silver. Something hit my hand. Eels! I screamed bubbles into the water and started to kick. Wisps of eelgrass wrapped around my ankles. All I could see was blackness. I thrashed around, not even sure which way was up. My lungs burned like crazy, trying to force me to inhale.
    Arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me up to the surface. The first gulp of air made me cough. It took a few more tries before I could breathe normally.
    â€œAre you all right?” Kirk was still holding me around the waist, treading water for both of us. He pulled me over to the float. We clung to the side, catching our breath.
    His hair was plastered against his face. “What were you thinking?” he asked. His chocolate eyes were huge as they searched my face, looking for any kind of sanity.
    I closed my eyes and pressed my head against the ladder. “It’s very special.”
    â€œI wouldn’t think a piece of jewelry is important enough to drown over.”
    He had no idea. No one could understand how special it was. “Then you don’t know me,” I said, between breaths. “Listen, I can do this myself, I just need a flashlight and a mask.”
    He shook his head. “It’ll be impossible to find.”
    I let go of the ladder and tried to dive again, but he grabbed my arm. “Don’t be stupid,” he said. “It’s gone.”
    I wrenched out of his grasp. “I said I don’t need your help!”
    â€œYou need to be back on shore, taking care of your cabin, not pulling death stunts.”
    My eyes scanned the dock. Sure enough, my four boys were lined up on the porch of Cabin 4A, watching—as were