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Get ready to be set alight byJessica Jonesstar Krysten Ritters first novel,Bonfire.
Those girls are bad news, he said.
Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
He took it as a matter of faith that they were being punished.
To him, they deserved what they got.
Kaycee was the first.
Random House
She was the first to do everything: lose her virginity, try a cigarette, throw a party.
Kaycee walked in front her friends, like an alpha wolf leading the pack.
Misha was the meanest and the loudest one.
But Kaycee was the leader.
We all secretly hoped wed be next.
The first time it happened was in fourth-period debate.
Everyone had to participate in mock elections.
Kaycee made her way through three rounds of primary elections.
Her mouth kept moving, but the volume had been turned off.
No words came out.
For a few seconds, I thought there was something wrong with me.
Ill never forget how her eyes looked: like theyd transformed suddenly into tunnels.
Derrick Ellis shouted something, but Kaycee ignored him.
I could see her tongue behind her teeth, a wad of white gum sitting there.
Some people laughedthey must have thought it was a jokebut I didnt.
Id been friends with Kaycee, best friends, back when we were young.
It was only the second time in my life Id ever seen her look afraid.
Her hands began to shake, and thats when all the laughter stopped.
Then the shaking traveled up her arms.
Her eyes rolled back, and she fell, taking the podium down with her.
I remember being on my feet.
I remember people shouting.
Someone ran for the nurse.
Someone else was crying; I dont remember who, just the sound of it, a desperate whimpering.
Then, all of a sudden, it passed.
The spasm apparently left her body, like an ebbing tide.
By the time the nurse came, she seemed normal again.
She insisted it was just a weak spell, because she hadnt eaten.
And we wereof course we were.
She was the kind of person you couldnt help but watch.
We all forgot about it.
Then, three days later, it happened again.
