Dead Girls Talking by Megan Cooley Peterson

Dead Girls Talking by Megan Cooley Peterson

Author:Megan Cooley Peterson [Cooley, Megan Peterson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Holiday House
Published: 2024-06-11T00:00:00+00:00


“Where are we going?” I ask Xavier as he takes us deep into the foothills. We’re outside Wolf Ridge now.

“It’s a surprise,” he says, smiling as he dodges a pothole the size of Texas.

“I hate surprises,” I mutter, bracing myself against the dash and door handle.

“This is a good surprise, trust me.”

The sun is just starting to drag all the color down with it when he finally parks in a small clearing of weeds. The trees slowly turn black as day bleeds into night.

Since Xavier’s truck has no air, I’ve drenched my T-shirt. I pull my hair off my neck and tie it on top of my head, then follow him out of the truck. “Please don’t tell me you’re secretly into hiking?”

He grabs my hand and pulls me close. “Would that be a deal-breaker?” I smile, and then he kisses me. “Come on, we better get going. I have something really, really special to show you.”

Xavier leads the way, climbing through patches of wildflowers and weeds and over tree roots that stick out of the ground like arms. “How is this not hiking?” I ask as I wipe the sweat off my forehead.

He looks back, smirking. “We’re almost there. It’ll be worth it, trust me.”

“You keep asking me to trust you,” I tease.

He’s quiet for a minute. “That’s because I mean it, Bett. I want you to trust me.” When his eyes meet mine, electricity slithers through my belly. He’s so different from the aloof Xavier at school, or even the fearless Xavier at the train tracks.

I want to know which one is the real Xavier.

The faint sound of trickling water intensifies as we pass through a grouping of pine trees. Up ahead, behind more fallen trees and brush, runs a shallow creek. The water is so clear, I can count each tiny stone at the bottom of it, even as the sunlight fades—the surface is as smooth as gemstones. Xavier takes my hand and leads me to the edge.

“My brother used to bring me up here a lot to fish and stuff. It makes me feel better, just being here.” A fish darts through the water in front of us.

This is the second time he’s brought up his brother. I swallow. “What happened to him?”

“He died of an overdose. Fent. Not a car crash, like everyone thinks.”

“I’m sorry, Xavier.”

“He wasn’t just some junkie.” He cracks his knuckles. “He was so much more than that.”

I wait for him to tell me more, but he doesn’t. “It’s very peaceful here,” I admit.

He scales a boulder and sits on top. “It’s cool though, right? I’ve never seen water so clear.” He pats the spot next to him, and I slip off my sandals and climb up after him, only slipping once. I settle in next to him, and he pulls a joint out of his front jeans pocket. “Smoke?” he asks.

“I better not.”

He flicks his lighter and takes a drag, blowing the smoke away from me.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” he says.



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