Cruel Summer Read Online Free PDF

think that was the key to success. Sitting the exams . . .’
    Ben raised his drink from where he sat, his legs dangling in the pool. ‘I propose a toast to Alisha finally getting the hell out of Longview High School!’
    ‘I’ll drink to that.’ Alisha raised her water. ‘To graduating! A year after everyone else!’
    They chatted around the pool for what felt like hours, Greg and Ryan name-dropping from the worlds of professional football and theatre school. Ryan told them all how he’d come out to his
mum and dad after being busted for some questionable online material. Love lives were discussed but, it seemed that aside from Greg and Erin, romance hadn’t been a priority. After what had
happened at the ball, that kinda made sense.
    A nasty twinge of envy nipped at Alisha’s insides. Greg and Erin, Katie and Ben. When was it her turn? She wanted the cuddles and secret glances, the little phrases whispered in
her
ear. It had been a long time, too long, since Callum. As she thought of her ex, a familiar bilious sensation burned the back of her throat. However much time passed, however
‘over it’ she was, that episode still left a bad taste. A bad taste called ‘Roxanne Dent’. Boyfriend-stealing, manipulative, two-hundred-faced witch.
    Alisha made a conscious effort to shake it off, refocusing on the merriment around the pool. She intended to spend the rest of the afternoon taking candid black-and-white shots of her old
friends as they laughed and joked. If they didn’t make her portfolio they’d do for her Tumblr.
    Erin settled herself on a lounger. ‘It’s so weird. Don’t you lot ever chat on Facebook? It’s like you haven’t seen each other all year.’
    That was awkward. There was a reason they hadn’t spoken all year. Alisha pretended to fiddle with her camera. Ryan held his nose and jumped back into the pool.
    Ben spoke first. ‘I guess we’ve all just been doing our own thing.’
    Katie stood, acting like she’d failed to hear the question. ‘I’m going to make more sangria. Does anyone want some?’
    There were a few nods. Erin looked puzzled, aware of the ripples her harmless comment had made. Alisha caught Ryan’s eye and knew they were sharing the same thought:
When are we gonna
tell her about the whole dead girl thing?
    The track on Ben’s playlist changed, creating a perfect diversion from
that
conversation. Alisha sprang off her lounger. ‘Oh, my God! TUNE! Can you remember this? Can you
remember the routine?’
    Ryan clambered out of the pool and ran to Alisha’s side. ‘The routine! Amazing! Katie, quick!’
    Katie panicked but ran to join them. ‘I can’t remember that – it was years ago.’ It was some now-defunct girl band, and it had been
the
summer tune three years
ago. It was time travel – Alisha swore she could actually taste the Cherry Coke and Monster Munch.
    ‘What
are
you doing?’ Greg smiled.
    ‘Wait, wait, wait!’ Alisha said as Katie took up position to her left and a touch behind so she could follow her lead. ‘Here comes the chorus.’
    ‘Left, right, arm, arm,’ Ryan called as he performed the moves. It came back to Alisha like it was programmed into her. She wasn’t as slick as Ryan, but their amateur dance
routine had muscle memory. She howled with laughter.
    ‘And dutty wine!’ Alisha sang, winding her rear end down like a corkscrew. It at once hurt her thighs; she was so out of shape.
    ‘And again,’ Ryan laughed.
    Alisha could hardly breathe. She saw Ben laughing and Greg clapping along. It had been a long, troubled year, but she finally had all her friends back in one place. She vowed to find a way to
keep them together this time. Looking up, she saw only endless blue – the bluest baby-blue she’d ever seen. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

 
     
     
     
    SCENE 4 – RYAN
     
     
     
     
    M enace builds drop by drop. You don’t know when it will strike, but you know ‘the conflict’ is coming. The audience