Witch Island Read Online Free Page A

on the phone and headed back to his room, his heart still racing. He needed a moment to calm himself and didn’t want to feel rushed about doing it, nor did he want to put on an act. He needed his emotions straightened out, not covered up for the sake of conversation. Picking up his cell phone, he saw that the timer was still counting and realized Jim was still waiting. He hit the red phone symbol and ended the call.
    Steve sat on his bed and closed his eyes. He counted to ten, and took long, measured breaths. His room was still. He couldn’t believe what he had almost done. He wondered if his cell phone hadn’t rung, would he still have spit out the meds? He’d never know. The only thing that mattered now was that he had spit them out.
    He had been in a dark place, but somehow he’d seen the light, and he wanted to live.

Chapter Three
    Jim looked at his cell phone again, seeing if he was still connected, when he saw the flashing timer, indicating that the call had ended. He cleared the screen and dialed Steve’s number again.
    At times, Jim had felt bad for the kid. Steve’s mother was a wreck, and everyone knew it. His long-time girlfriend, Kelly—too long as far as Jim was concerned—was a total bitch that no one liked and had broken up with him. Along with everything else, Steve wasn’t going to college, which was something Jim knew he wanted to do. Jim had seen a thin envelope from Cornell University on the kitchen counter at Steve’s house just before the start of the school year. Thin envelopes usually meant rejection. Jim couldn’t be sure, but he guessed his friend hadn’t been accepted anywhere, and was too embarrassed to say anything, which was stupid, because Steve’s friends cared and would understand.
    Anyway, for the immediate future, as in tonight, Jim worried that Steve would try and back out of the party, hence the reason he was calling. An evening away from his house, his mother, his job, would do Steve some good.  
    “Yeah,” Steve said, answering his phone. “Sorry, accidentally hit the end call button.”
    “You’re still coming tonight, right?”
    “Yeah, wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    Oddly, Steve sounded upbeat—no, excited. Jim couldn’t help but smile. His friend had been distant lately, quiet, and kept to himself more than usual. He wanted to be there for Steve, like Steve had been there for him when his brother died.
    “Good to hear,” Jim said. “High school is over. Tonight, nothing else matters. Nothing. Got it?”
    “I actually think I do.”
    “Screw yesterday and tomorrow. We’re living for today only, for one awesome night, if that makes sense?”
    “It definitely does,” Steve said. “You know, you’re right. I mean, really. Fuck tomorrow. We aren’t guaranteed there will be one. Tonight is all that matters. Good friends, booze and my right hand.”
    Jim laughed. It had been a long time since Steve sounded happy, revved up and ready to go.
    “See you at 7 p.m., then?”
    “Sure.”
    “Later.”
    “Bye.”
    Jim hung up the phone, and called Gwen.
    “Hey, babe,” she said.
    “Hey, what are you doing?”
    “Just dropped off my grandmother at her friend’s house. It’s card night. Now I’m off to Shay’s to meet her and Melinda. Oh, and guess who else has decided to join us tonight?”  
    “Who?”  
    “Julie, Melinda’s cousin.”  
    “Julie?” Jim asked. “As in the Julie who came to Shay’s cookout last summer? As in the Julie who was hot for Steve, and if it wasn’t for that bitch, Kelly, might’ve hooked up with him?”
    “Yup.”
    “Perfect.”
    “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Gwen asked.
    “That maybe her and Steve could pick up right where they left off the last time they were together, except now he’s a free man? Yes, that’s what I’m thinking.”
    “Great minds.”
    “Great minds,” Jim agreed.
    “Love you.”
    “Love you too. See you tonight.”
    Jim hung up, and not a second later, his mom