Clare refocused her attention back to the road, on keeping her low-heeled sandals away from any of the larger rocks on the dirt road. She didn’t want to think too hard about the way Adam was acting.

They could see the house, its expansive front porch lit up in a multitude of colors. Their classmates were everywhere: the porch swing, lounging on the wide steps, spread out across the front lawn. Two enormous speakers flanked either side of the porch, and people danced and drank and sang along with the bass-heavy song thumping into the night.

Someone in the center of the chaos saw them approaching hand in hand on the road. They were still too far away and it was too dark for Clare to see clearly who it was, but the person raised their arm and pointed at them right before they broke away from the pack and staggered out to greet them. It was Kaylee, with a huge, goofy grin, a slopping red Silo cup in her hand, and a crooked, clumsy walk that gave away the fact that she’d been drinking.

“You guys!” she exclaimed, holding her arms wide and spilling half her drink onto the dirt road. “You came!”

Adam shook his head at his sister. “You’re already drunk.” He laughed.

“You’re right.” She pointed at his nose. “Here.” She handed Clare her drink. “You have to try this. It’s delicious.”

Clare took the wet, sticky plastic cup from Kaylee and took a sip of the sweet-smelling drink. It had a warm, tropical flavor. Pineapples and coconuts. Clare could see an orange slice floating on top of the ice in the cup.

“What is this?” She took another sip. “It tastes like a vacation.”

“Right?” Kaylee said. “Ryan Edwards is making them inside. Has a whole bowl full of it.” Kaylee linked her arm through Clare’s and pulled her away from Adam. “Let’s get you one of your own. This one’s mine.” She smiled and took back her cup before having another huge swallow. Both girls looked back over their shoulders at Adam, who didn’t appear to be following them.

“You coming?” Kaylee asked her brother.

Adam raised his chin at them. “You go ahead. I’m going to hit the keg instead.” He gestured to the group of guys standing around the metal cylinder in a rubber trash can filled with ice next to the porch.

Kaylee waved off her brother. “Neanderthals and their beer. Come on.” She dragged Clare forward by their linked elbows. “It’s only the good stuff for us.”

Clare called over to Adam, who was already heading for the keg. “I’ll come find you in a minute?”

He shrugged at her. “Sure. No worries.”

Clare watched from over Kaylee’s shoulders as Adam turned and walked away. “Do you think your brother has been acting strange lately?”