RILEY

I’m thankful to be done—completely done—with the film club. I walk with Stella out to the parking lot. We’re almost to her car when I hear it, the revving engine. To our left, there’s a big black truck heading right for us.

“Watch out!” I scream, pushing Stella out of the way.

The truck whips past us into a spinning circle on the slippery snow. Will hangs out of his window and laughs.

“Merry Christmas, mother fuckers,” he screams.

I freeze right there. I can’t move. I haven’t seen Will since the day of the festival. I’d hoped that he’d decided to let things be, but he’s probably just been too busy filling holiday drug orders to bother me.

Marcus is walking to his car, but he stops to wave at Will. He laughs and shakes his head.

Yes, he would think Will’s stunt was funny.

“Don’t worry, Riley.” Stella grabs my hand and leads me to her car. “He’s not going to do anything with people around.”

She’s right.

Stella gives me a ride home and we make plans to see each other over break. I couldn’t be happier to have the time off.

I walk up the driveway and notice Bernie’s police cruiser parked next door. It’s times like this when I’m thankful to live next to a cop.

I go into the dark house and flip on the lights. There’s an open bottle of wine and two wine glasses sitting on the counter. Mom and Dad must’ve gotten some good news.

The note on the table confirms it. Dad gets to add another class next semester, so they went out to celebrate. Finally, something to be happy about.

I’m exhausted, so I grab a blanket and curl up on the couch. I try to sleep but my head is pounding. When I can’t take it anymore, I walk into the kitchen for some Advil.

The door is wide open, flapping in the breeze.

Looks like I forgot to shut the door.

I close it and reach for the Advil in the cabinet above the fridge.

Before I can grab it, a sharp, debilitating pain shoots through my head and down my neck, and then everything goes black.