Don't Look Behind You (Don't Look Series Book 1) by Emily Kazmierski (summer reads .txt) 📗

Pencil scrawl cuts across the paper, the strokes so heavy they’ve punctured the paper. I’ve missed seeing you, it reads. Gasping, I shove it back into my pocket.

I don’t know how, but my worst nightmare is coming to fruition. He’s found me. I don’t know how. I’ve been so careful. Trying not to let my hands shake, I smooth my hair up into a wet ponytail as best I can, scanning the stretch of beach. It’s crawling with people. I don’t see any sign of him, but in this crowd spotting a single person is nearly impossible.

A ways away, a law enforcement SUV is parked on the sand, and the officers are leaning against the front bumper. It’s reassuring.

My heart thunders in my chest as I will myself to focus on the chattering conversations of my friends all around me. I’m okay. I’m surrounded by people. He can’t be here. He can’t. The last possible sighting was hundreds of miles away.

But that doesn’t really mean anything, does it? He’s been on the run for months.

My hands won’t stop trembling as I focus my attention toward the group I’m encircled in, no longer willing to risk a look behind me.

Chapter 5

“You ready for this?” Fiona asks, taking a swig from one of the fruit punch pouches Noah brought for everyone. A huge, rickety-looking wooden rollercoaster sprawls along the boardwalk. Its boards are peeling in places where the whitewash has nearly worn away. A string of cars thunders past us, occupants screaming. Whether in thrill or terror, it’s hard to say.

My mind returns to the note hidden in my pocket. Half of me wants to ask Fiona to take me home, but the other half knows what will happen if I do. Once she sees it, Aunt Karen will never let me come back to this place. This beautiful place. Up until I found that note, it was the most at home I’d felt in months. I’m fighting a mental battle to get back to that place.

Steading myself, I meet Fiona’s eyes. Safety in numbers is definitely a thing. So instead of giving in to my fear, I nod. “I’m ready.”

Marisa and Viv whoop, standing up and brushing the sand off their damp swimsuits. Viv’s solid black monokini makes her olive skin look fantastic.

“Let’s do it,” Noah says, trying to brush off his white tank, which clings to his lithe frame.

Sprawled out on his towel like a Greek god, Esau snorts. Then pushes himself up to his full height. He practically blocks out the sun when he hovers behind me like that. Why did he even come, if he’s going to be such a butthead the whole time?

“Come on. Fried Twinkies first!” Viv says.

“Did you forget what happened last time?” Fiona eyes the girl warily.

Viv’s cheeks rouge. “Okay, fried Twinkies after!”

“What happened last time?” I whisper to Marisa, who imitates spewing everywhere with gesticulating hands. Our resident actress, everyone.

We surge through the crowd, dodging patrons chowing on cotton candy. Bells ding as little kids spend money on most-likely rigged carnival games. A guy walks past carrying the largest stuffed panda bear I’ve ever seen. My eyes practically bug out.

“You got a thing for panda bears?” Esau huffs.

“No.” I cross my arms. No need to mention the life-sized panda I used to sleep with.

“No fighting, kids, or I’m turning this car around,” Fiona says.

My foot catches on an uneven plank, and I go flying, my heart lurching into my throat.

A strong arm snakes around my waist, righting me. “So clumsy,” Esau grumbles near my ear.

My face heats as I shove him away.

“Are you okay?” Noah asks, his soft brown eyes on mine.

“I’m fine. Thanks,” I say pointedly, refusing to thank Esau. With heart still hammering, I scurry to catch up with the girls in the line for the roller coaster, sandwiching myself between Fiona and Marisa. The boys are right at our heels.

Screams reverberate as the train cars rumble up to the highest point of the track. Then go plummeting down toward the boardwalk. A plaque to one side of the entrance states that the ride has been in operation since 1924. There must be something like trepidation in my face, because Noah leans nearer.

“It’s not that scary,” he says. “It’s my favorite ride, actually.”

I’d like to tell him about a similar roller coaster back home. My favorite ride ever. Instead, I bite my tongue.

We shuffle through the line, Marisa polling us to see which coaster to hit next.

“We don’t need an itinerary,” Viv says, “aside from the Twinkies.”

“It never hurts to be prepared,” Marisa says, swiveling to point at Erin. “Speaking of, babe, you look a little pink. Did you put sunscreen on?”

“Knew I forgot something,” Erin deadpans.

“Oh you,” Marisa says, clucking her tongue.

“I vote for the gondolas,” Esau says, surprising me into turning to where he’s standing at the back of our group. “It’s quieter.”

“Our director has spoken,” Marisa decrees. “Gondolas it is.”

“We’re not in the theater,” I say. “We don’t have to do what Esau says.”

“Oooh,” Fiona crows. “Them’s fighting words.”

Esau crosses his arms, glaring at me.

I’m so dead at our next drama club meeting on Tuesday. Esau’s going to make me climb the ladder to adjust the lights a hundred times. Or send me on so many gopher trips I miss the entire thing.

Once we’re at the front of the line, Marisa and Fiona pair off. Viv links arms with Erin. I turn around and come face to face with Esau.

“It’s you and me, new girl.” Esau’s dark eyes are piercing.

“Where’s Noah?” Annoyance flares in my voice.

“He asked to switch.”

Standing on tiptoes to see past Esau, I catch a glimpse of Noah chatting with another girl from school. Looks like she’s into him. Oh.

Sucks to be me. Stuck with Mr. Grumpus over here.

Fiona catches my eye, looking at Esau. “Sorry,” she mouths.

I shrug like it’s no big deal.

When it’s our turn to board, we slide into the ride’s cars. They look like old-fashioned mine