Chapter 1

My hands grip the carton of eggs as my body reacts to the intensity of the cold. I bite my lip, trying to focus my attention on anything but the unwelcoming house in front of me.

God, this is our worst idea to date. I ask Alice in a whisper-scream, "Aren't we too old for this?"

The mere sight of his red Subaru BRZ across the poorly lit street forces all our time together back into my mind. Ones in his car, prom, Cresten Falls, and my bedroom. I look back at Alice, and her face twists into a mischievous grin. My stomach lurches and twists into a massive knot. I can't believe I let her talk me into this. We look insane if anyone decides to turn down the street. I mean, in all black and matching floral beanie masks? We look like eccentric criminals who have an unhealthy obsession for all things floral. I feel utterly ridiculous.

"Where did you even find these things?" I question her and point to the floral disaster covering my pulled-back brunette hair.

Her menacing eyes dance in the dark as she grabs an egg one by one. "Found em at Perks Ski Shop years ago and just had to have them, you know?" she says, smiling.

I look at her confused and then let out a soft laugh. "You're weird as hell. You don't even ski." She gives me a lopsided grin, and I shake my head. I almost forget about everything, but as quickly as the thoughts leave; they come back tenfold. I shift my feet away in discomfort. "Maybe we shouldn't do this. I mean, there is some psycho out there."

She looks at me and waves her egg-filled hand sporadically. "That prick in there deserves everything that's coming to him. He was cheating on you and with Brittany, no less! I'm pissed, and I wasn't even dating the guy. So, we're not letting some random psychopath, who's most likely states away, ruin your revenge!" she says dramatically.

I wince at the word cheating as it replays in my mind like a broken record—incapable of switching to the next song. I am furious but mostly humiliated, humiliated that I was so gullible to fall for him. I wasted my high school years, and I wish I could take them all back.

I loosen my grip on the carton and set it on the sidewalk between us. "You're right. Let's egg his shag wagon," I say with more enthusiasm.

She smiles deviously as she pats my back with her still egg-filled hand. "Weird choice of words but I'm here for it." She winks and then takes a quick peek at our surroundings. "Okay, so on three we throw as many eggs as we can before a light turns on in his house, and when that does happen, we book it."

I nod in agreement, too nervous to voice it. Then we mouth silently in unison. One, two, three!

The adrenaline rushes through my body when the first egg hits Aiden's, precious baby. The sheer force I put in each throw amazes me. I didn't realize how mad I am until now. The car alarm pierces the air like a knife silencing the splats of each egg, but that doesn't stop Alice and me from emptying the entire carton. We look at each other with an oh-shit-face as all the lights turn on in his house. That's when we take off down the bike trail. We run until the echoes of the car alarm are no more than a buzz in the wind. My lungs gasp for air with each stride until Alice's beat-up white Jeep Cherokee finally comes into view.

"Holy shit." I gasp, slamming the door shut.

We both let out a hysterical laugh.

Alice says between wheezes, "I haven't had to run like that since freshman year in Mr. Benett's P.E class."

I shake my head and toss my hands over my head, gripping the back of the seat. She turns the key in the ignition a couple of times before it eventually starts up, and the bike trail slowly disappears from the side view mirror.

"I don't think I can do that again. I feel like my heart's going to explode."

Alice rolls her eyes and says, "Don't worry, we're not going to egg Brittany's car. That would be too obvious."

I shake my head and say in a dry tone, "As if it's not already obvious enough."

"There's a difference between it being obvious and them having proof," Alice says perking up one eyebrow.

I tilt my head to the side and stare out the window. "Still, I can't believe we actually did that. Don't you think it was a little over the top?"

"Nah, that piece has plenty of money."

Alice doesn't say another word. The silence eats away at me as the adrenalin begins to wear off. My worries resurface, making me feel worse, so much worse.