Chapter 1
Jace stared at the starry night sky, marveling at just how small he felt against the backdrop of the universe. All that space. It seemed foolish to assume humans were the only intelligent life out there.
Though, based on Brendan’s yammering, humans weren’t seeming too intelligent at the moment.
Jace sank further into the heat of the hot spring, trying to enjoy its protection from the cold for a little longer. He appreciated his friends, Leo sometimes more than Brendan, but he was coming to the end of his threshold. The nearly two-hour drive into Idaho’s Sawtooth National Recreational Area had drained most of his reserves, even with his earbuds in most of the way. But the promise of a warm spot to complete their science project assignment was worth it. Or it would be, once he got a chance to clear his head.
“Am I brilliant or what?” Brendan said. For the sixth time.
Jace scowled. Apparently Leo had also been ignoring Brendan, or Brendan wouldn’t have felt the need to repeat himself.
“This was Leo’s idea,” Jace said, still staring at the sky, trying to hold onto what sanity he had left.
“Okay, fine. It was Leo’s idea to come here, but it would’ve been better if we’d invited some girls along, like I suggested,” Brendan said. He shook his head, drops of water falling from his dark waves, his lips curling into his signature, girl-magnet smirk.
“Right. And leave Leo and me to do all the work.” Jace sniffed.
Leo chuckled. “Pretty sure he’ll find a reason to make us do all the work anyway.”
“Hey! I resemble that remark,” Brendan said, lifting a limp hand to his forehead.
It was a long-standing tradition with them—Leo was too nice not to do the work, and Jace couldn’t relax until the work was done. Which was why they were here on a Friday night instead of Saturday when the meteor shower was supposed to peak.
“Who would we invite, anyway?” Leo asked. At a look from Jace he quietly added, “Like, girls.”
Even in the dimness, Jace detected a blush on his shy friend’s face.
“Well, there’s Jenna—” Brendan started, holding up a finger.
“And that takes care of you.” Jace sighed. “We should probably get a fire started so we don’t have to freeze our butts off when the shower’s over.” Not to mention he needed a few minutes without all the chatter. There was already too much of that in his own head.
Brendan sent a light splash toward Jace. “Aw, come on man. You could’ve asked Kaylee.”
Jace rolled his eyes. “Kaylee probably doesn’t know who I am.” Which was generally how he preferred things.
Brendan huffed. “Are you kidding? She makes eyes at you all the time.”
“She doesn’t know me.”
“Maybe if you took your earbuds out once in a while.”
Jace shook his head. That was a non-negotiable. The crowded halls between classes were torture, all those bodies close together, voices mindlessly talking about boys and girls and whatever latest big news a little town had. His earbuds were the only thing that made it bearable. That and avoiding eye contact.
“Hey, at least the girls look at you,” Leo said. He wasn’t a bad looking kid, his round face open and friendly, even if his blond hair hung in his face and made him break out. It probably didn’t help anything that he was a bit heavier than most of his classmates, or that he was nearly as bad as Jace at avoiding eye contact, particularly with the other gender.
“So, fire?” Jace said again, shifting toward the edge of the spring. He ran a hand through his hair, making the unruly strands stick out at odd angles. His mom was begging him to get it cut again, but he wasn’t ready yet. Just the thought of the clippers nearing his head made his skin buzz.
Brendan waved him off. “If you’re so concerned about it, you get it.” He sank deeper into the warm water, leaning his head back.
“Fine with me.” Jace climbed out, the cold air sending goosebumps across his skin. He grabbed one of the towels they’d hung on a nearby log and hastily dried off, hopping from foot to foot.
“I’ll go with you,” Leo said, heading for the edge.
Jace shook his head, his teeth chattering as he slipped his clothes on. “D-d-d-don’t w-worry ab-b-bout it.”
“You sure?” Leo asked, hesitating at the edge.
“Ah, let him go,” Brendan said. “You know if we talk to him after midnight he turns into a gremlin.”
“Ha. Ha.” Jace screwed his face into a mock smile as he pulled on his hat. He was still shivering, but it wasn’t so bad now that his body was starting to realize it wasn’t losing as much heat. “I’ll be back before the shower hits.”
“Thanks,” Leo said.
“Whatever.” Brendan let out a contented sigh. “So Leo, have you ever thought about a makeover?”
Jace wrapped his arms around himself and headed for the campsite, shaking his head. It wasn’t the first time Brendan had tried to get Leo to get his hair cut.
Jace didn’t understand the need to get a girl while they were in high school. Sure, it’d probably be nice and all, but it was statistically unlikely anything would last past college. And it would certainly take more than good looks for any relationship with him to last. Which was why he’d never tried to get to know Kaylee, despite her being pretty and seeming nice enough.
Or at least, part of the reason why. His general aversion to people and the chaos that was school didn’t help anything.
Jace pulled his arms tighter against his chest, trying to trap more heat. The trek to the campsite was a bit of a distance. If it were up to Brendan, they would’ve parked and camped right next to the hot spring, but this one was further off the beaten path, making it ideal for not being interrupted.
The brush around the springs was pretty sparse, but he kept an eye out for anything that might work as kindling. It was mindless work—and probably useless, as there was enough closer to the campsite to forage from—but it provided the perfect setting for his busy mind to unpack.
The soft crunch of advection frost beneath his feet whispered for him to speed up. But he needed the time, so he forced himself to walk, even if he couldn’t help but keep a steady beat.
His mind wandered, lost focus, but as brush gave way to forest, he managed to find some twigs and branches. He kept to the edge of the tree line, not wanting to wander too far north on his hunt. Besides, it was dark under the canopy, and he was beginning to tire of the cold.
His arms were full, and he’d just turned back toward the camp when a chilling, bark-like sound filled the air.
Jace stood stock still, his hair raising. He put a hand to his neck to smooth the prickly feeling as he assessed the noise—how near it sounded, where it was coming from. He was pretty sure it was a bear. And it sounded agitated.
At least the bear seemed to be far enough away.
Jace picked up the sticks he’d dropped and jogged back toward the camp. He was ready to get that fire started. And he’d have to double check the food. The bear might not be close right now, but there was no need to bait the thing.
Living in a rural town on the edge of a national forest meant regular encounters with wildlife, and plenty of education on how to deal with them. Of course, that didn’t stop his heart from thumping at his chest like a wild hare.