So, this is a scene I’m not even sure will make it into the Demon Guard when it’s finished.? Have to see how it ends first.? As usual, it’s rough, so I apologize if it reads like utter crap.? All comments welcome!

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The first thing I noticed when I entered the room was the antiseptic sting of rubbing alcohol assaulting my nose. ? Then I saw him. ? I swallowed hard. ? He slumped in the hospital bed, wearing one of those hideous blue and white gowns that tied in the back. His dark eyelashes rested against his pale cheeks, their wan color making the purple bruises stand out that much more.? As he lie there, motionless, I counted four IV drips connected to different veins in his neck and arms. ? I wondered briefly what was in them, before realizing I probably didn’t want to know.? On the far side of the bed, touching the metal rail, a heart rate monitor blipped reassuringly.

Not wanting to wake him, I pivoted and tiptoed toward the door. ? Then winced when a crash from the corridor echoed into his room.? I peeked over my shoulder my heart lurched. ? He was staring right at me.

“Come to commiserate that I’m not dead?” he asked.? His mouth tilted up in a weak facsimile of his old smirk, but I could see pain lurking in the dull turquoise of his eyes.

“Hardly.? Just wanted to make sure you were okay.? Jackass,” I added, to let him know I wasn’t going too soft.

“I know.”? An awkward silence hung in the air while I scuffed my sneaker’s toe on the floor. ? “Well,” I began after a few moments, starting to back out of the room, “I should probably let you get your rest.”

“Yeah.” ? A few moments later, I heard, “Thanks for stopping by.? And sticking up for me.? I won’t forget.”

The softly spoken words froze me mid-turn. I’d just opened my mouth to respond when he totally spoiled the moment by adding, “Don’t go all Lifetime movie on me—I’m still not gonna ask you to prom or anything.”

Ugh. ? Exhaling loudly to voice my annoyance, I stomped my way out the door. ?

“But you can save me a dance,” he called after me.

I knew I should tell him exactly where he could stick his stupid dance. But as I walked down the noisy hallway toward the hospital entrance, I found myself smiling instead.

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Okay, posting this excerpt.? ? Quite? a contrast to the tone of the one last week, I think.? Keep in mind, it’s the roughest yet–I need to go back and edit some of the cliches, etc.? That said, I’ll go ahead and post it.? Cheers!

“Hey, I need you to help me out.? Quick!” I hissed, jerking Cody’s sleeve.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? “Asking works, too.? What could possibly be so urgent that you have to rip my shirt to tell me?”

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? “I need a decoy.”? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

His brow creased.? “You mean, like a duck?”

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? “What the—no, not a duck.? Freak.”? I choked back a laugh, in spite of my jittery nerves.? “I need someone to—crap!? Here he comes.? Look, just follow my lead, I don’t have time—“ I broke off and smashed my body against his, pressing my lips up to his mouth.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? He froze, his arms stiff metal rods at his side.? Wrapping my own arms around his neck, I tried sending him a mental message to do the same.? It failed.? “Put your arms around me—they’re coming, ” I hissed.? Still no response.? Finally, in desperation, I kicked him in the shin.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? “Oof!”? ? But at least he got the clue.? Well, sort of.? He rested his hands ever-so-gingerly on my hips.? Like if he held me closer, I might infect him with flesh-eating bacteria.

I held my breath against Cody’s stiff lips as Nate’s and Kenzie’s footsteps thudded closer, then paused.? After several tense moments, the footsteps finally retreated.? I shoved Cody away and expelled a disgusted sigh.?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? “Okay, that was seriously the lamest fake kiss—or any kiss, for that matter—that I’ve ever seen or experienced in my entire life.? What, do I smell bad or something?”? I raised my arm and sniffed, but the only aroma tickling my nose was the cherry blossom scent of my deodorant.? I frowned.? Maybe he had an aversion to fruit.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Cody scrambled two steps back, his face registering shock.? “No, it’s not that, it’s—what the heck was that, anyway?? I thought I made it clear that we’re just friends.”?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? I threw my hands in the air.? “You idiot—I was trying to scare Nate away.? But still—that was weak.? I mean, I just sort of figured—“ I stopped, realizing how conceited that sounded.? No need to humiliate myself further.? Unfortunately, Cody took up where I left off.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? He leaned back against the stone wall, amusement starting to chase the surprise from his face.? “You figured what, exactly?? That I’d be thrilled to kiss you?? Sorry, but you’re not really my type. Oh, don’t worry—there’s nothing wrong with you.”? His smile turned derisive.? “It’s me. I’m just into someone else.”

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? “Wait—oh my God—it’s Allie, isn’t it?? I knew it!? That would be so cool, the two of you as a couple.? Only—you can’t have date nights every night, because what would I do?”?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? He broke in before I could go off again.? “No, it’s not her.”

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? “Then who?”? A hideous thought had my stomach lurching.? “Please, tell me it’s not Steph.? I’ve seen the way she looks at you, but I figured you had too much taste to fall for that Barbie hair and freakishly perfect body.”?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? He shook his head in exasperation.? “No, it’s not her either.? If you must know, it’s—“ He studied me for a moment, took a deep breath, then blurted it out. “Nate.? I have a crush on Nate.”

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? My mind went blank.? It was like I heard his words, but somehow, they just didn’t compute.? “As in, Nate Nate?? Boy Nate?? My ex-Nate?”

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? “Yes, as in that Nate.? I guess I should have told you this before, but I’m so used to keeping it secret, it was hard for me to let it out.? Summer—I’m gay.”

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? I felt my jaw muscles working, but no sound made its way past my suddenly flaccid tongue.? Finally, I managed one measly squeak.? “Huh?”? And then, my speaking-ability returned.? Unforunately.? Because I cringed when I heard the words that escaped my mouth.? “But—you don’t even like Bravo TV!”?

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Okay, folks, here’s an excerpt–I hope it’s not too long.? Plus, it’s SUPER ROUGH so hey, if you want to help me revise, feel free!? ? I don’t know if it needs much set-up.? Basically, she hacked this guy off and got him in trouble big time for spreading false rumors, and he’s out for revenge.? It’s a sub-plot of the book.? As always, comments welcome and appreciated!

Billy shoved me hard, tumbling me onto one of the beds.

I tried to bolt up as soon as I landed, but he was too quick for me.? He crashed down on top of me, smothering my face down into the bed, a handful of my hair gripped tightly in his hand.? I gagged on the comforter’s spring laundry detergent scent. ? “Oh, you’re not going anywhere, Summer.? Not yet, anyway.? Did you really think I’d let you get away with it?? Some pathetic little traitor like you, ruining my reputation?? No way.”

He flipped me onto my back, and I followed his gaze down to his other hand.? A large hypodermic needle was clasped inside.? Panic rushed through me, and I struggled in earnest. ? My fingernails stabbed for his eyes, but he punched me in the stomach and yanked hard on my hair.? The air rushed out of chest in one big spurt while my scalp screamed with pain.? A second later, the needle plunged into the inside of my arm.

I tried not to panic even more as I felt the cold liquid slide into my vein.? Concentrate.? What would I do if this were a test in Training Techniques? ? Remembering Professor Dawkins instructions in class, I forced myself to go limp.?

It worked.? Billy’s grip on me slacked, ever-so-slightly.? Putting every ounce of effort behind it, I lunged to the side and twisted free.

I fell hard on the floor.? The side of my head hit with an audible clunk. ? Wincing, I sprang to my feet and raced for the door.? But something weird started to happen before I reached it.? The closer I got, the further away the door seemed.? Almost like I was going in slow-motion through a fun house.? Finally, I reached the door knob—both of them.? I blinked.? Had there always been two?? That was weird.? I only had one in my room.?

What the hell?? I shook my head to clear the fuzziness that had suddenly invaded my mind.? Huge mistake.? The room tilted sickeningly.? I stumbled into the door, clutching the cold metal doorknob to keep from falling.? In the background, I heard Billy’s echoing laughter.

“Feeling a little off, Summer?? That’s to be expected—it’s the GHB.? It’ll get you every time. ? Although, mine is a special blend.”

“G-athe-thbe?”? I tried to talk, but my tongue felt like it had swollen to the size of watermelon in my mouth.? “Whad thyou doo?”? My legs suddenly went limp, and I slid to the floor.? In one last desperate attempt, I pulled at the doorknob.? It didn’t budge.

“Oh, don’t bother with that.? I had it fixed to lock from the inside, just for this occasion.”? I tried to focus, and saw him dangling a silver object from his hand.? It could have been a key, but then, it was so blurry, it could have been a hacksaw for all I could tell.? Still.? It might be my only hope for escape. ? I tried to stand, but my legs refused to support me.? I could hardly even feel them anymore.? So I started to crawl.

“Now, that’s what I like to see—Summer Chance on her hands and knees. I think it’s definitely time to cue up the video camera.? I’m going to prove to everyone that we slept together, and that you’re a liar.? Just like your mom.”

I watched both of him walk over to the dark shape in the middle of the room and heard a beep.? “Yes, that’s great.? Oh, and don’t worry—I can edit it later.? There won’t be any of this boring conversation in there when I post it on the web.”

Oh, God.? Horror invaded me, but it was hard to hang on to.? Because every other second my mind started drifting.? Vivid colors flashed in front of my eyes, turning his room into a techno club.? In a moment of clarity, I wondered how he thought he’d get away with this.? It’s not like I wouldn’t tell.

“Goin..butht..you.”? I managed.

His soft laughter sent chills down my spine.? “No, you won’t.? I’ve got that covered as well. Why do you think I’m not afraid to talk to you about this so much?? You’re not going to remember a thing.? Dad doesn’t know it, but his lab provided me with this wicked cool new drug.? It’s some memory tampering thing I stumbled upon when I was looking through his office.? Although, since I injected the GHB, it probably would have done the trick by itself.? Gee—hope it doesn’t totally fry your mind altogether.? Guess I should have thought of that beforehand—oopsies.”

I tried to concentrate, but the more he talked, the dizzier I got.? And then there was the voice.? The other voice, the one that spoke in my mind.? Only this one was even nastier than Billy’s.? It whispered vile things, so vile that I wanted to scream to keep from listening. Or just shut down.? Close my eyes, take a little nap.? Maybe I’d feel better when I woke up.

As I was starting to slip away, in the back of my head, I heard a new voice.? Not the vile one. No, this one was stronger, angry.? Something about that voice made me want to fight. ? I jerked my head up, and mustering every last ounce of energy, forced a scream past my constricted throat.? ? It came out barely louder than a whisper.? Despair washed through me, sucking me down like an undercurrent.

Billy just laughed.? “Go ahead—scream away.? Nobody’s going to hear you.? There’s nobody even here.”

Two seconds later, the door crashed open.

I blinked up at the doorway, squinting blearily at the figure standing there.? I could barely see, but it didn’t matter.? I knew who it was.? “Thade,” I murmured.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just before my head hit the floor.

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