Trial by Fire

“I know.” It was Scot’s turn to blush. “I want to, though. I’ve always wanted to hang out with you. Did you know that?”


“No. I didn’t.”

Another wave of partygoers passing through the busy living room made Lily and Scot reposition themselves.

“Do you want to go somewhere cooler?” he asked. “I know you get hot easily. Tristan told me once.”

Lily was so surprised she just nodded. She had no idea that Scot knew anything more about her than her name.

“How’s your drink?” he asked as he led her upstairs.

“Great.” Lily took another big gulp to be polite, even though the mix of seltzer and cranberry burned her tongue a bit. “It’s really stuffy in here.”

“There’s a balcony off my room.” Scot swung the door to his bedroom open and went inside. Lily stopped on the threshold. Something didn’t feel right.

“You don’t have to worry,” he said, holding his hands up in a surrender gesture. He rushed over to the balcony doors on the other side of the room and opened them for Lily. She felt a gust of cool, clear air rush toward her and nearly sighed with pleasure. “It’s just, everyone’s smoking on the patio out front, and my room faces the back. You can leave the door open if that makes you more comfortable.”

She felt stupid for doubting him.

“It’s okay. And you’re right. I’d rather be on the non-smoking side of the house.” Lily resisted the urge to giggle. Her body felt warm and gooey. She crossed the bedroom and joined Scot on the balcony, breathing in the crisp air, trying to clear her head. “Can’t catch my breath.”

“The heat got to you. Sit,” Scot urged, and Lily sank down next to him on the outdoor love seat.

“This is really nice. I’ve never seen a teenager with his own balcony. But then again, I haven’t been in many guy’s rooms.” She had no idea why she’d just said that. For some reason, she felt like telling her life story, and she shut her mouth to stop herself from spilling her guts.

“You’ve been in Tristan’s room,” Scot countered quietly.

“Sure. Thousands of times.” Lily saw a question steal across Scot’s face, and then disappointment. “Oh—but not like that.”

“Really?” Scot narrowed his eyes, disbelieving. “Never? Isn’t he your boyfriend?”

“We only just started seeing each other like that.” Lily started laughing. She had no idea what was so funny, she just couldn’t seem to stop herself. Lily took another sip of her drink, trying to calm down, but instead of cooling her off, the drink only made her feel hotter and more flushed. She put the sweating side of the glass against her cheek.

Scot stared at her for a long moment, an unreadable expression on his face. “I knew you were it.”

“What?”

“The only girl in town he hasn’t been with yet.” Scot took the drink out of Lily’s hands and slid closer to her. She moved away and her back hit the arm of the love seat. Lily tried to stand up, but Scot leaned over her, putting his hand on the armrest and caging her against the cushions. Lily’s vision swam unsettlingly, and she froze, trying to keep the horizon from tilting back and forth.

Lily was still trying to make the floor stop spinning underneath her when she felt Scot’s tongue in her mouth. She tried to squirm away but she felt dizzy, like any sudden movement would make her slip off the edge of the world. Heat prickled under her skin. She twisted her head and closed her mouth, evicting Scot’s slug like tongue. Her skin burning with fever, Lily pushed against his chest.

“Stop. Scot, stop now,” she managed to say as white and blue blobs of light flashed in front of her eyes.

“Why?” he said, annoyed. “You think Tristan isn’t doing exactly the same thing right now?”

“What do you mean?” Lily asked.