Page 36 of Stranger Danger

Beckett’s standing in the middle of our room. Just standing. Staring at my bed like it holds the answers to his Economics test questions. He glances up at me, and a smile crosses his face. Then it drops.

His eyes move down my body so slowly it’s sexual.

I fold my arms over my chest. “What? See something you like?”

No answer.

His mouth doesn’t move, and neither do his eyes. On second thought, I don’t think he’s checking me out. I think he’s looking at my tattoos. No sense in hiding them now.

Cat’s torn straight through that bag.

I shut the door behind me and cross over, holding out my arm.

“This—” I point to the toad squatting on a lily pad on my upper arm. “—hurt the most. The girl said it wouldn’t, but I almost tapped out twice.”

Still nothing.

I think he’s malfunctioning.

I flip over my arm and point to the fairy with the dragonfly wings. “This one’s my favorite. Which, I should’ve done on the front so people can see it more. But I think it’s like… like a secret, you know?” My voice cracks. “People can play find the fairy and win a prize.”

“Ira, stop talking,” he whispers finally.

“If I stop talking, I’m going to start sobbing—”

“Why did you think to use an iron?”

He says it so fast that I’m…

I’m pretty sure that’s not what he said.

I force a smile. “What do you mean?”

“I…” He points to his chest, his hands trembling. His eyes are wider than I’ve ever seen, and they’re still stuck on my body. He’s breathing too fast, too.

“If you’re going to pass out, Beckett, sit down.”

“Ira. I—I was—”

“You were what?” I snap.

Yeah. This isn’t making sense. I can’t do this back-and-forth thing right now. If he took drugs, he should’ve come out and said that first. At least give me a heads up before he starts rambling like a lunatic.

He swallows so hard it hurts my throat.

“I was in the closet with you.”

No.

No, no, no.

I take three steps to the side, find the edge of my bed with my foot, and sit down.

There’s no way.

“What closet?” I ask.

Finally, he blinks. He rubs his palms over his eyes and looks up at the ceiling. Then down at me. Up. Down. Over, and over, and over.