Read Online Like It Never Happened by Emily Adrian - Free Book Online

a what?”
    Charlie embarked on the following rant:
    â€œAll that stuff about his moderating being essential to the well-being of the World of Warcraft community? Bullshit! He has two accounts: one as a moderator, and one as Doomclan94, which he uses to ask his enemies questions like, ‘Why don’t you idiot shamans ever battle rez?’ Which everyone knows the shaman class isn’t even capable of, so of course people get offended and start cursing, and then Dylan logs back in as moderator and suspends his opponents! Bam!”
    I crossed my arms over my chest, wishing I had worn a shirt.
    â€œHe’s a troll!” bellowed Charlie.
    â€œWhat does this have to do with me?” I bellowed back.
    â€œHe won’t tell any of us what you did! Every time somebody asks, the bastard gets all coy and acts like he’s preserving your fucking honor!”
    I looked up at the canopy of trees and swallowed my urge to laugh in his face. I had never seen him so upset. “Charles Lamb,” I said, “you’ve been played.”
    Charlie inhaled deeply through his nose. “Pardon me?”
    â€œI gave Dylan Larsen nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
    Charlie blinked. “So he—”
    â€œAsked me for nothing, so that he could imply everything .” I was pretty proud of this analysis.
    Charlie frowned at his sandals. “That’s stupid,” he said quietly.
    I smiled and put my hands on my hips. “It worked on you.”
    â€œTroll,” he whispered bitterly.
    I turned and walked away. Beneath whatever amusement I felt at Charlie’s expense simmered a summer’s worth of rage. He didn’t deserve my company. Not anymore.
    â€œRebecca.” Charlie chased after me, planting a clammy hand on my arm. I threw him off as hard as I could.
    â€œWhat business is it of yours whether I do Dylan Larsen, or anyone else, any favors? You’ve been pretending I don’t even exist. You’ve been pretending Charlie doesn’t even exist. It’s like your body’s been possessed by an imbecilic summer camp enthusiast who—”
    Charlie was turning red from his cheeks to the tips of his ears, which were sticking out through his overgrown mop of hair.
    â€œâ€”doesn’t even have a shred of interiority! Since when do you even play video games? The Charlie I know doesn’t have time for video games! And, I mean, ‘Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty and the freaking Heartbreakers? I thought you loved Cat Power and Elliott Smith! Oh, and, Tacoma ?”
    I shouted that last part, like the city itself was a lewd act.
    â€œLeave Madeline out of this,” muttered Charlie.
    â€œLike you left me out of your whole summer?” I was sweat-slicked, tear-slicked, kicking dirt at Charlie’s perfect legs.
    He averted his eyes, showing me the backslash of his cheekbone. “I’m sorry,” he said, suddenly sounding sorrier than anyone had ever been. “I thought”—and his voice went deep and gravelly—“it would be fun or something to take a break—”
    â€œFrom me?”
    â€œFrom my whole life! From treating everything like it’s my job! Hank told me I take myself way too seriously.”
    â€œWho the hell is Hank?” I asked.
    â€œThe guy in charge of the zip-line. He has an Xbox in his cabin. He’s awesome.”
    I shook my head in disbelief. “I like you better when you’re serious.”
    Charlie lowered his chin. “Serious like you?”
    I had never thought of myself as serious. But serious sounded good, like it was Charlie and me against a non-serious world. “Yes,” I whispered.
    He stepped closer. Charlie put his hands on my waist, and I let him.
    â€œYou’re not going to lick me, are you?”
    He froze. His posture conveyed disgust. “Lick you?”
    â€œThe pact. Never to kiss, grope, lick . . .”
    â€œOh, that.” He