Earlier that day:


Reilly knew he’d end up late to class if he played Darrin’s game of trying to get past him in the hallway, so he just stopped and waited for Darrin to tell him his latest wild scheme.


“Bro, I got fireworks!” Darrin blurted the second he was standing still again.


Against what he wished would be his personality, Reilly found himself intrigued. I mean, what teenage boy doesn’t love fireworks?


“Fireworks?” He raised an eyebrow.


“See? I knew you’d love this plan!” announced Darrin haughtily.


“Love it? I don’t even know it! So far, you’ve told me you have fireworks. I’m guessing it’s somehow related to my birthday. So far, that’s all I got.”


“Well the fireworks are the important part. The rest is just details.”


I know I’m going to regret asking this, Reilly thought.


“Yeah, but what are the details?”


“Finally! I thought you’d never ask!”


Reilly lifted his hands in surrender and gestured for Darrin to continue.


“You know how there’s a lake between our houses?” He started.


Reilly snorted, “Um, yeah, considering we’ve spent every summer fishing together, I think I’m aware that there’s a lake between our houses.”


“That’s not the important part!” Darrin flicked a hand irritably. “The important part is that it’s frozen right now.”


He paused for effect. Reilly didn’t react.


“Frozen lake… Fireworks…”


Still no reaction from Reilly.


“Dude, do I gotta spell it out for ya?”


Reilly leaned on the wall.


“That would be helpful, yeah. Come on, Darrin. We’ve got to get to class.”


“Class, splash. Since when do you care, bro?”


“I care. And you should too. But we’ve still got three minutes so, yes, please, spell out your plan for me.”


At the time Reilly made that request, he did not know it would have a more sinister meaning. As he lay on the ice remembering the conversation, a shiver ran through him, and not from the cold seeping through his sweats.


“Yeah, okay, whatever. I can tell you in one minute. 60 seconds. Ready?”


“Dude? Just lay it on me already will you?”


“You. Me. Fireworks in the middle of the lake at midnight. You get a sweet fireworks show for your birthday!”


“And you get to wake up the entire neighborhood in the middle of the night in one fell swoop. Darrin, this is a dangerous plan. Sure, the lake’s frozen, but it’s only November. I don’t think the middle will be solid until January.”


Reilly inwardly checked the “bad idea” box in his brain. Could be worse.


“Dude, Reilly, bro, you’re still not with me yet. We’re going to drill holes in the ice, set up fuses, light them, and run like the devil’s after us. It’s gonna be epic! A sweet fire and ice show! Explosions, man! Explosions! And, of course it’s safe. It’s been colder than usual for November, and I’ve watched like a million vids on how to set up fireworks fuses. Okay, maybe not a million, but at least a hundred. You in? C’mon! EPIC! We’ll be famous, man!”


Reilly mentally unchecked the “bad idea” box and checked the “colossally bad idea” box instead. He wished he had a better word than “colossally” in his vocabulary. This idea deserved its own category.


The bell rang.


Reilly’s thoughts were interrupted.


“You IN?”


Reilly’s body reacted oddly to that question. He might have imagined it, but it felt like that last question was asked with dark intent and feeling behind it. He stumbled over his reply.


“I_I don’t know, man. Gotta get to class.”


Later that morning, Reilly and Darrin had 3rd period together, and as they sat down Darrin was all smiles.


“Hey, sorry I was so pushy earlier, Reilly. I just thought it was a super cool thing to do for you on your birthday. I mean, it’s the big one-eight! Gotta celebrate!”


The teacher was still ushering students in and taking attendance, so Reilly replied.


“I’m not saying it’s not a cool idea, in theory, but in reality, it’s just super dangerous. I appreciate you planning something so cool, but how about you just come to my house after school and hang out with Ranelle and me and my family, k?”


“All right, class! I’ve got a surprise for your Thanksgiving Break! Pop Quiz!”


The teacher looked far too happy while saying those words and the whole class groaned.


“It’s either that, or you get homework to do during your days off!”


Murmurs of “Quiz, quiz,” fluttered around the room.


“That’s what I thought!