Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt Page B

isn’t—” I start to say. She’s already covered half the lot.
    It could be a car full of criminals looking for high school girls to feed on. Or some weird extremists who kidnap young girls for their cult. Or undercover cops, here to arrest the delinquent youth loitering at the park after hours.
    Oh. Or it could be Sean. He gets out of the backseat and waves while the driver slams his door shut. Whoever is in the passenger seat stays there, and even when I get closer I can’t see who it is.
    â€œHey girls,” Sean says. “This is my cousin, Mark. He and I ride together all the time. Mark, this is Payton and this is Jac.”
    Mark nods. “What’s up?”
    Even in the dark, I can see the familiar look in Jac’s eyes. There is no denying it, Mark is hot. He has Sean’s same hair and easy smile, but he’s older and more chiseled looking. Catwoman is ready to pounce.
    â€œDo you live around here?” Jac asks him.
    â€œYeah. Just up in Limerick. You?”
    Jac flips her hair. “No. I live in Audubon with my mom”—she lowers her voice—“who is never around.”
    Mark grins. “Lack of parental units. I can dig on that.”
    The kid in the passenger seat opens his door and spits.
    â€œGrady, get out,” Sean says. “I need your help pulling the bikes down.”
    I still can’t see what Grady looks like but I can hear him as he lets out a string of swear words before yanking the bikes off the rack. Finally, he looks up at Jac and me and scowls. She doesn’t flinch but I start to shake. I am facing a fate worse than prowling criminals. I’m about to go biking with Vampire Boy.
    He’s dressed head to toe, as usual, in black. He snorts at Jac and says, “What’s with the Day-Glo crap? We riding bikes or going to a rave?”
    Sean is already on the ground, putting on his shoes and helmet. “Ignore him. Full moons make him grumpy.”
    So he’s not a vampire but a werewolf. Lovely.
    â€œIt’s my version of bike safety,” Jac says. “People can see me.”
    Grady walks over and snaps off one of her necklaces. “We’re riding in a state park after hours. If anyone sees you, we’ll get kicked out. Save your fashion statement for the Fourth of July, would ya?”
    Jac’s mouth hangs open but she removes the remaining jewelry. Grady turns his attention to me and scrutinizes my bright yellow North Face jacket.
    â€œAnd what do we have here?”
    â€œI can’t take off my jacket,” I protest. “I’ll freeze.”
    â€œYou’re not taking off your jacket.” Sean stands up and clicks his shoes into his pedals. “And Jac, you can wear the jewelry if you want. I’ve ridden here a million times at night and never gotten caught. No one cares.”
    Grady shrugs and leans on his bike. “Fine. But if these little divas slow us down—”
    Sean laughs. “Grady, you’ve been slowing me down since fourth grade.”
    â€œAnd what kind of guy complains about having hot girls alone with him at night?” Mark adds.
    Jac’s twinkling glance asks Did you hear him just call us hot? A chilly breeze rustles the trees and I point to the sweatshirt around her waist. She shakes her head and sticks out her chest.
    â€œYou guys can ride and we’ll follow,” Jac says.
    Mark offers her his smooth grin. “And miss the view? I’ll stay behind you.”
    Gagfest. Finally, FINALLY, Sean starts down the path and we trail behind. Even though the sky is clear and the moon is bright, it’s still hard to see through some of the denser patches. The naked trees cast shadows across the yawning river, which joins the shore so abruptly, it’d be easy to ride right in. Thinner dirt trails snake off the main cement road, leading into thicker forest. Our circling bike pedals provide a rhythmic hum but don’t completely drown