The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin Page A

did feel something shift between us up on that water tower. It’s not completely crazy to think he might have felt it too.
    “Well, she looks ridiculous,” Sadie says. She rests her foot on the front bumper and leans back against the hood. “Who invited her?”
    I take another sip of vodka and grimace. “Declan did. Kind of.”
    “Mm, that figures. Your charity case is taking on one of his own,” she says. My jaw tightens. Sadie either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care. “Anyway, all I meant was you’re way hotter.”
    I know Sadie is just trying to be nice. But I don’t need to be prettier than Mackenzie, or anyone else for that matter.
    A couple yards to my left, Declan strides back to the thick of the party.
    “Hey, Declan!” I hop off the car and take a step toward him.
    He must not have heard me. He keeps walking, and in one violent swing, he snaps the twig in his hand against a tree trunk. The open aggression of the gesture unnerves me.
    Sadie nudges my arm with the bottle. “One more and then let’s go.”
    I take another quick sip and Sadie stashes the vodka back in her purse. She grabs some bug repellent out of her trunk and we take turns spraying the backs of each other’s legs and arms. The chemicals coat my tongue, and I cough and back out of the cloud of DEET.
    We walk up the row of cars into a clearing where forty or so people are split into small groups. The site is about a mile into the forest, and people are already taking full advantage of the fact that we can be as loud as we want.
    Cheers erupt as the bonfire finally catches, and it takes a few moments for the series of congratulatory back-pats and fist-pumps to subside. I love a good campfire—the sound of logs hissing and crackling as they heat up, the smell of burned leaves left on my clothes and in my hair. But I try to keep Sadie away from open flames if I can help it, so I steer us toward the far side where Will and a few other guys from school have set up to play beer pong.
    This new location also happens to have a view of Declan, who’s rejoined the circle next to Cory. I know I need to stop looking at him. But the thing is, he’s wearing this green golf shirt that I’ve seen a thousand times. The soft cotton one that always smells like his citrus detergent. Only it fits him differently now. Like if he flexed it might burst open and reveal a giant S across his chest.
    God. I seriously need to stop looking at him.
    Gwen catches my eye and waves. I try to gesture that I’ll be over in a minute. Her nose wrinkles and she shakes her head. I guess I’m not that good at sign language.
    I turn back to Sadie, who hands me a beer. Before I can ask where she even got it, she raises both arms over her head and opens her mouth at something over my shoulder.
    “Pooh Bear!”
    Oh boy.
    Kyle snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me into a side hug. “Hey, Sloan, having a good time?”
    “Yeah!” Sadie says. She sends me a wink. “Harper was just telling me what a great time she’s having.”
    “Glad to hear it.”
    Kyle’s hand is lingering. I step away and sneak a glance at my friends. Declan’s back is to me. Gwen nods distractedly to something he’s saying, but she’s watching me.
    I have to get away from Kyle.
    No sooner do I think this than he once again shuffles closer. His hand slides around my hip and his fingers find their way into my back pocket. His toxic cologne smothers me. Honestly, what is he thinking with that stuff?
    “Nice night for a walk. If you’re interested later.”
    Putting my hand firmly on his shoulder to keep him in place, I take a stride backward. “I’m going to go catch up with some friends now.”
    “Cool,” he says with eyes that travel farther south by the second.
    Sadie is already snuggled up to Will, so I wander over to Declan and that group by myself. As I slide between two people, I glance up and catch a rigid look on Declan’s face. I hesitate for a moment before pushing the rest of