Free Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green Page A

hard, though, because suddenly her car wasskidding across the road, tires spinning wildly, the sidewalk rising up out of nowhere, like an obstacle course in a video game.
    And there was someone on it.
    “Shit!” Sydney screamed again. She slammed down on her brakes with all her might. The car screeched to a stop only inches from the person. He stood frozen in the headlights: a pale, curly-haired boy in a pair of boxers and nothing else. Her jaw came unhinged as she realized who it was: Calum.
    Shaking, she pulled her car over to the side of the road. “Calum,” she said, leaning out the window. “Oh my god. Are you okay?”
    Calum held up a hand, shielding his eyes from the headlights. His lopsided smile spread across his face. “Sydney!” he said happily, as if her car hadn’t just come careening straight toward him. He swayed a bit on his feet. Of course, she realized. He was drunk. He swayed a little more. Very drunk.
    She took a deep breath, trying to erase the image of those seagulls from her head. Everything was fine. No one was hurt. Pushing her bangs off her forehead, she forced a smile. “What did you do, Calum? Break into an aquarium?”
    “No, Sydney,” Calum said gravely. “I had a battle with the ocean.”
    Sydney eyed his bedraggled, half-naked form. “I’m guessing the ocean won?”
    “I’d call it more of a tie,” Calum said, hopping from foot to foot to keep warm. “The ocean got my clothes, but I got—”
    “Pneumonia?” Sydney supplied.
    Calum narrowed his eyes at her. “I was
going
to say my pride.”
    “Ah. Of course.” Sydney swallowed back a laugh. The whole night suddenly seemed ridiculously funny: Guinness suggesting meeting at the sleazy Landing Spot and a flock of seagulls attacking her car andCalum revealing pretty much all in the street. “You’re just lucky I’m not capturing this Kodak moment on camera.” She leaned over and popped open the passenger door. “Come on, I’ll drive you home.” She’d just have to hunt the ghost lights another night.
    Calum didn’t argue. He climbed into the car, leaning back against the headrest. “You’re my hero,” he said, slurring his words slightly.
    Sydney shook her head as she steered her car toward the bridge that led to Neddles, the Bauers’ private island at the end of Echo Bay. “You know,” she said with a laugh, “if you’re looking for revenge, I’d be happy to kick some ocean ass for you.”
    Calum closed his eyes. “No revenge necessary, my little Aussie. I had a great night. Inspiring, even.”
    Sydney raised her eyebrows. “Did you just call me your little
Aussie
?”
    “Sydney is the most populous city in Australia,” Calum announced, his words running messily together. “Did you know that, Syd?”
    “I did…” she began, but she trailed off as something caught her eye on the side of the road. It was the deck at Cabin Crab. One of its lights was still on and, under its glow, Sydney saw the outline of a person moving around. Her eyes went instantly to the deck’s railing, where the seagulls always slept at night, perched there by the flock. When she was little, she and her dad used to try to count the seagulls as they drove by—an impossible task.
    But tonight it was easy. Because there wasn’t a single one.
    A tiny flame burst to life in the person’s hand, a cigarette maybe, or a match. Sydney quickly looked away, locking her eyes on the road.
    Whoever was down there must have spooked the seagulls… sending them straight into the street. Sydney knew it was probably just oneof the Hamiltons. Martin and Shelby Hamilton and their son Blake owned Cabin Crab.
    Even so, she couldn’t stop a chill from prickling its way down her arms.
    Next to her, Calum let out a soft snore. He had passed out, his head dangling on his shoulder, his mouth wide open, drool gathering in the corner. Sydney laughed. Well, at least
somebody
had a good night.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Sunday, 8:32 AM
    CAITLIN FELT A SOFT TINGLING