Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
EIGHTEEN
A VERY MERRY GIRL SQUAD CHRISTMAS
DECEMBER 2040
DURING CHAPTER 24 IN NOBODY LIKE US
We listened to "Super Trouper" by ABBA and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Judy Garland while writing this scene.
Character List:
Winona Meadows - 16
Vada Abbey - 16
Kinney Hale - 16
Audrey Cobalt - 15
KINNEY HALE
“THIS YEAR HAS been complete shit,” I record on my phone. “Royal garbage, really. Between my sister and Mom being attacked and now the death in the family, I’m just ready to call it. Put 2040 in the grave already.” I sigh heavily. “Anyway, I probably won’t do another one of these this year. So until next time.” I give a dry half-smile and throw up a peace sign. “This is your favorite blahblahblah—Kinney Hale.”
I end the video. Don’t even know why I bothered making one tonight. I’m not in the mood. Christmas Eve should bring me some cheer, but it’s been hard to muster joy, even being at the lake house. The three other bunkbeds in the room are empty while I occupy the bottom one near the door.
I hear clamoring outside it. But it could be from numerous people. The lake house is crammed, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Salem lounges beside me, her eyes open. She woofs like she knows I’m wallowing, and I hug her tight. “I know, I know.” They’re okay.
Mom. Luna.
I should be so full of gratitude that they weren’t taken from me, but I’ve been so angry instead. Bitter. It’s just not fair that horrible things keep happening to my family.
Now with the funeral…
I hate death.
I really do.
Glancing at the door, I wonder when my friends will be back. Winona, Vada, and Audrey had to grab something from the car, so I stayed behind to record my video diary. It took me ten whole minutes just to think of one thing to say.
Just as I contemplate finding them, the door blows open.
Three girls spill in with giggles, and I start to smile. Like me, they all wear holiday-themed pajama bottoms and baggy oversized sweatshirts. I’m in all black, but my sweatshirt has red poms.
Audrey ditched her usual pink and teal fir tree PJ set. This year, she opted for red plaid flannels, which contrasts her red hair.
“The contraband has been secured,” Winona proclaims, hiking the duffel strap higher on her shoulder. She’s struggling with the weight, and Vada helps take the load off.
It looks like they’re carrying a dead body.
Death. It’s on the brain big time.
“Are you sure Vada’s dad isn’t in there?” I say. “I heard he likes being zipped in duffels.”
Nona laughs, and she drops the duffel with Vada, both clearly not concerned about that possibility.
“Oh, I forgot about that!” Audrey exclaims, sitting beside me. “Didn’t Aunt Willow say he was zipped in the duffel for hours without anyone knowing? Just so he could join her at the lake house. Isn’t that so romantic?”
“Yeah,” Vada smiles fondly and leans a casual hip on the bunkbed post. “Guys at school—they would never do anything like that. I feel like they just expect us to worship them because their dad works for an awesome tech company, but I’m not interested in your dad’s occupation. Like how hard is that to understand?”
“Percy,” we say together.
We being me, Audrey, and Nona.
“He’s so annoying,” Vada says, exasperated. “So annoying and dickish. Like please save me from myself every time I’m in Lit with him.” She slumps on the floor, and Nona joins her, sitting cross-legged.
“But he loves your gap-teeth,” I deadpan. “He finds them so shiny and cute.”
Vada groans and buries a pillow over her face.
“Vada prefers to be insulted as a form of flattery,” Audrey notes.
“I prefer not to be creeped out. That is number one. Why is it such a low bar?”
“What if it’s just Dalton guys?” Winona theorizes, shifting the duffel in front of her and Vada on the festive plaid rug. Her green sweatshirt says Gnome for the Holidays. “Most of them think they can just walk right up to you and say whatever they want.” Her cheeks heat, and Vada lowers the pillow, giving her a consoling look.
Audrey and I share one too, mostly because we know Vada and Nona have been keeping things from us. We’re not exactly sure what, but in all fairness, Audrey and I do the same.
“Who do we need to kill?” I ask.
Winona laughs but the noise sounds sad, and her smile fades too fast.
“Half the school wants to sleep with her,” Vada announces.
“We know,” I deadpan.
“Is that a problem?” Audrey contemplates.
Nona star-fishes the duffel. It would be very awkward if that were Uncle Garrison in there now. “None of them even really know me,” Nona mumbles into the canvas. She rolls over to stare at the ceiling. “I bet they’d hate me if they did. They might find me annoying or boring or weird.” Her brows bunch in thought and she picks at her fingernail.