When two boys emerged from between the buildings ahead of me and ran across the waterfront to disappear down the bank by one of the fishing wharves, I recognized them right away. I knew they were probably up to no good but I was too tired and hungry to care. Let someone else deal with them.

Out of sight, one of the boys let out a familiar laugh and yelled, “Don’t let it get away.”

I stopped walking.

“Look at it, Scott. It’s half dead.”

“Ah hell!” I swore and turned toward the wharf.

Chapter 2

I looked down at Scott Foley and Ryan Walsh on the beach below me. Tall and good looking with straight dark hair, Scott stood with his back slightly towards me. Ryan, who was a few inches shorter than Scott, stood several feet behind him, looking like he would rather be somewhere else.

“Leave it alone.” Ryan ran a hand through his blond curls. “This is not cool man.”

“Dude, when did you turn into such a pussy?” Scott scoffed. “I’m only having some fun and like you said, it’s half dead already.”

My fists clenched and I scoured the beach for whatever animal they were talking about. Seeing nothing, I moved closer to the edge of the bank to get a wider view.

I let out a yelp as my foot slipped out from under me, sending me tumbling down the four foot embankment to land in an undignified heap at the feet of the two startled boys. Not exactly the entrance I would have chosen.

For a moment neither of them moved. Then Ryan crouched and peered at my face through the curtain of dark hair that had come loose from my ponytail. “Whoa. You okay?”

“I’m fine.” I pushed my hair back out of my face and got to my feet, wincing at the pain in my left ankle. I put my weight on it to test it. A light sprain maybe. Great.

I faced the boys and found Scott’s wide-eyed gaze fixed on me. He narrowed his eyes when he realized who he was staring at. “What do you want?”

My eyes left his to scan the beach. What the hell were they after? “You guys look like you’re looking for something. Anything I can help you find?”

“No,” Scott retorted. His eyes went to a spot behind me and I followed his gaze but saw nothing but a pile of old fishing nets.

“Are you sure because–” I broke off when the nets made a plaintive mewling sound. In the fading light I saw them move as a scrawny grey tabby emerged. The cat was a sorry sight. Its ribs stuck out painfully and it walked unsteadily for a few seconds before sinking down on its hind legs.

I whirled on Scott and Ryan, my eyes blazing. “You were going to hurt that cat!”

“No.” Ryan could not meet my eyes. “I wouldn’t…”

Scott shifted from one foot to the other. “Yeah right. Like we’d waste our time with that flea bag.”

I stepped between them and the cat. Scott and I had known each other since elementary school and if I knew one thing about him, it was how to tell when he was lying. “This is low, even for you, Scott.”

A flush crept across his cheeks. “I told you, I could care less about a stupid cat. And what’s it to you anyway?”

“You think I will let you hurt a defenseless animal?” My voice rose. Scott always managed to irritate me but for some reason I was having trouble keeping my anger in check this time. “Is this how you get your kicks on a Saturday night? Does this make you feel big and manly?”

“Shut up!” Scott glared at me and for a second I thought I saw something else in his eyes that looked like regret but it was gone as soon as it appeared.

Scott and I were friends for a time way back in elementary school. He was the first person to approach me when I moved here even though his buddies teased him about making friends with a girl. Our friendship was short-lived, ending the day I caught him and some other boys throwing rocks at an injured crow outside the school. I’d yelled at him and pushed him to the ground and told him I could never be friends with someone like him. Any feelings of friendship he had for me quickly changed to animosity after I embarrassed him in front of the whole school like that.

“Make me shut up.” Even as I said the words, I wondered what the hell I was doing. Why was I goading someone who had six inches and at least forty pounds on me – and who already couldn’t stand me?

Scott’s face darkened. “If you know what’s good for you Grey, you’ll get out of my face.”

“Or what?” I took a step toward him. “You going to beat me up too?”

“Whoa! No one’s beating anyone up.” Ryan laid a hand on Scott’s arm. “Come on Scott, let’s go. This is not worth it, man.”

Scott shook off Ryan’s hand. “No one talks to me like that.”

Try and stop me. The thought flitted maliciously across my mind. Another voice told me to calm down and step back but I ignored it. Instead I let out a mocking laugh. “Come on then and shut me up if you can. If you’re man enough, that is.”

Scott’s eyes glittered dangerously as he took a step toward me.

“Dude, you can’t fight a girl.” Ryan sounded scared now.

“Shut up, Ryan,” Scott and I said at the same time. I gave Scott a cheeky grin and his nostrils flared.

I glanced down at my coat and let out a sigh. “Just try not to bleed too much, okay. It’s a bitch to get blood out of this thing.”

Scott made a choked sound and Ryan yelled something as Scott raised his right arm. I don’t know if he intended to strike me. I’m not sure even Scott knew what he was going to do.