halt in the wide gravel dr

the ignition. She turned in her seat, her eyes lo

are never to go near that Thornton property again. You hear m

ed on the dashboard. H

, "I talked to Mrs. Higgins this morning. She's arranged a date for you with the Miller girl

s, and a wave of pure, suffoca

oor open with enough forc

hick with suppressed anger. "I'm not interest

ld scream a reply. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets and walke

d through the heavy, grease-stain

ell of motor oil, exhaust fumes, and

e leaning over the open hood of a beat-up

he dark, murderous cloud hanging over his

g and tossed a cold, sweating bottle

ht it eff

evy's fender, a wicked gri

e town is buzzing, Hawkins. They say you had the Thornton girl p

nto the concrete floor. He tipped his head back and downed half the f

he back of his hand and l

nd dismissive. "I tripped. You think I'd willingly put m

oud, obnoxious laughter. The

"She's completely lost her mind. Throwing herself in the river b

y face, I'll give her that. But there's absolutely nothing g

rs, and something insid

n the glass beer bottle tightened until his knuckles turned bo

is arm and slammed the bottom of the gla

A

glass didn't shatter, but the force sent a

ghter dying instantly in their throats

ng with a terrifying, lethal intens

carried more threat than a scream. "If I hear either of you say another word about her, I'll

only sound was the drip of spi

slowly. They had never seen Bart defen

saw the shock in his friends' eyes and real

alked toward the darkest corner of the garage. He slid under a rusted chassis and began violently yanking on