Read Proof of Forever for Free Online Page B

to smile but her whole plan is spinning away, and it makes her almost dizzy with frustration.
    Zoe throws her hands up. “Anyway, I didn’t think it would be alarmed.”
    Tali snorts. “Since when is the Stevens so valuable? What are they keeping in there?”
    â€œDynamite?” Zoe offers.
    â€œCocaine?” Tali suggests.
    â€œGuys,” Luce urges. “We need to get
out
of here! I’m so not getting busted for this. Come on!”
    Joy has no choice but to follow them. The screaming of the alarm pierces her ears and brain like a bratty tattletale on the playground.
Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah.
    It used to be that the four of them were invincible. Between Tali’s charm, Luce’s practicality, Zoe’s cleverness, and Joy’s innocence, they could get out of
anything
.
    But that was then and this is now.
    They cut through a portion of the woods so as not to be caught, hurrying the opposite way around the Wellness Cabin, then skirting the sandy beach and racing back to the Great Lawn, where once again the bubbling sound of laughter and friendly shouting and the jingle of Ferris wheel music drowns out everything, including the sound of the Agro storage shed’s fancy new alarm. Including, too, the sound of Joy’s racing heartbeat.
    Running out of breath, she slows down. It’s then that a sharp but familiar voice calls out her name. “Why,
Miss Freeman,
it’s so
lovely
to see you here tonight!”
    Joy turns. Barreling toward her is the Cruz, aka Bernadette Cruz, in head-to-toe camp director regalia: khaki shorts and a matching tan, collared, short-sleeved shirt with the Okahatchee logo emblazoned over the heart, featuring an image of a green mountain, a blue lake, a yellow sun, and a totally un-PC Native American tomahawk.
Where all the right elements unite
is written in script over it. She is also carrying around her clipboard. Why she needs that thing for reunion night, Joy has no idea, but shesuspects it could be permanently attached to the Cruz’s hand.
    The Cruz smiles at her. “I’m so glad you came. I know Luciana has thought a lot about you since you both graduated from Okahatchee.” The Cruz always refers to campers who make it all the way to the age cap as “graduates.” Her eyes sweep over the other girls. “And Misses Webber and Albright, too! Looks like the whole gang’s back together again. Now, where were you all scurrying off to in such a hurry?”
    Luce, Tali, and Zoe hang back guiltily, avoiding eye contact.
    â€œMom,” Luce begins, obviously trying to help. “We were just, um . . .”
    Zoe jumps in: “Heading to the photo booth!” She pulls the old photo strip from Joy’s hand—she’s been clutching it since they fled the Stevens. “You know, for old times’ sake,” Zoe adds.
    â€œThat’s a fantastic idea.” The Cruz beams. “We could use more images for the memory wall. I’ll walk you over there; I was just heading that way.”
    Before the girls can protest, the Cruz herds them toward the photo booth, with its steady stream of campers and alums alike filing in and out, their pictures spitting out of a small slot on the outer wall like a long tongue.
    â€œNow go ahead,” she says, giving Joy a slap on the back that actually stings. “Enjoy yourselves.”
    Zoe shoves Joy inside the booth and pockets the old photo strip. Luce pilots Tali inside after them with a final awkward smile at her mother, who is hovering there, waiting to see their photos come out.
    The curtain swishes shut behind them. Inside the booth it’s hot and sticky and as narrow as an upright coffin. It smells like bubble gum and burning rubber. Luce and Tali manage to claim space on the small plastic seat, leaving Zoe and Joy to hover uncomfortably on either side of them, cramped and piled on top of each other.
    Joy’s back hurts, her heart hurts, and