We stepped carefully though the woods toward the fire. I heard Bree swearing under her breath—her chunky platform sandals weren't the best shoes for nighttime hiking. My own clogs were cheerfully crunching twigs underfoot. I heard a crashing sound behind us and startled, then saw it was Ethan Sharp and Alessandra Spotford, lurching through the forest after us.

"Watch it!" Alessandra hissed at Ethan. "That branch hit me right in the eye."

Bree and I emerged into the clearing. I saw Tamara and Robbie and even Ben Reggio from my Latin class. I went over to join the three of them as Bree split off from me to stand by Sharon, Suzanne, Jenna, and Matt. The firelight cast a soft golden glow on everyone's faces, making the girls look prettier than usual and the guys looked older and mysterious.

"Where's Cal?" Bree asked, and Chris Holly straightened up from where he was crouched by an ice chest, a beer in his hand.

"Why do you want to know?" he said unpleasantly.

She ran her fingers though her hair. "He's our host."

Cal appeared almost silently from the edge of the clearing. He was carrying a large wicker hamper, which he set down next to the fire. "Hi," he said, looking around at us and smiling. "Thanks for coming. I hope the fire will keep you warm."

I pictured myself snuggling up to him, his arm around my shoulders, feeling the heat of his skin slowly seep though my fleece vest. I blinked quickly, and the image was gone.

"I brought some stuff to eat and drink," Cal said, kneeling and opening his basket. "There's food in here—nuts, chips, corn bread. There's stuff to drink in the coolers."