Crush by Stefan Petrucha Page A

happened last night,” Jonathan said. “Can you talk?”
    â€œYeah. I’m hiding in the poetry section. It’s totally empty. So what happened?”
    â€œI can’t really get into it right now, not over the phone.”
    â€œThen calling me about it seems kind of pointless,” David said, humored.
    â€œIt’s not about that. Well, it is, but not exactly. We need to talk. Can I come by your place when you get off work?”
    â€œCan’t,” David said. “I’m on stud duty. The woman and I are seeing a movie.”
    â€œKirsty?” Jonathan asked.
    â€œShe’s the only one for now.”
    â€œDavid, we have to talk before you guys go out.”
    â€œI already know the facts of life, Jonny Boy,but thanks for offering.”
    â€œDavid, I’m serious. Damn serious.”
    There was a long silence. Jonathan thought David had hung up on him, but a deep breath, like a sigh scratched through the speaker at his ear.
    â€œHey? You there?” Jonathan asked.
    â€œYeah, I’m here,” David said. “Look, I figured something like this would happen.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œTAJ, man,” David said, as if it was obvious. “Total ass-faced jealousy. You figure that now that Kirsty and I are together, you’re going to get frozen out. Like we won’t hang anymore or something. It’s totally not like that. I mean, we can’t be kids for…”
    â€œOx was murdered last night,” Jonathan said to shut his friend up. “Okay? I saw it. He and Cade dragged me down to the lake. They decided to memorialize Toby by throwing me in. Then…” He didn’t know how much he could say without sounding completely nuts, but he had to convince David. “These things came out of the woods. I couldn’t see them real well. They just showed up. They chased Cade off, but they killed Ox. They left his body in the bushes by the lake.”
    â€œNo way,” David said. “You saw it?”
    â€œYeah,” Jonathan said. He struggled against the memory of Ox being engulfed and yanked into the air by a black sheet. “I saw it.”
    â€œDid you call the cops?”
    â€œI couldn’t. I don’t know how to explain it to them. It’s all really screwed up.”
    â€œYou said ‘things’ came out of the woods?”
    â€œI can’t explain it,” Jonathan repeated. “Not over the phone.”
    â€œSo, what does this have to do with Kirsty?”
    â€œIt’s just a feeling I’ve got. It all started happening this year, after she started school.”
    â€œYou don’t even know her,” David said, suddenly on the defensive.
    â€œI know. But she’s like always there. She saw what these guys were doing. I can’t think of anyone else,” Jonathan said. Unless it’s you .
    â€œApparently Special K isn’t just for breakfast anymore.”
    â€œI’m not high, David.”
    â€œYou have to be. Think about it, Jonathan. A girl you don’t even know is going around and killing people because they pick on you? Does that sound balanced? Does that sound even remotelytwo plus two? I mean…Jesus…it’s not like she’s dating you !”
    â€œDavid, listen…”
    â€œI can’t believe you’re being such a dick about this. Look, man, it’s not my fault you don’t have other friends. Okay? It sucks, but it isn’t my fault. Kirsty and I are having a good time, and you feel left out. Well, tough. I can’t believe you’d make up this kind of crap just to get in the middle of it.”
    â€œI’m not making anything up.”
    â€œThen you’re nuts. You’re paranoid and deluded, and you need to get yourself some meds. And Jonathan, don’t you dare try to implicate Kirsty in any of your paranoid crap. Okay? I’m warning you. Just keep your mouth shut, or