by: Pintip Dunn
Genre: YA Thriller/Fantasy
Release Date: February 4, 2020
Publisher: Entangled Teen
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Taking one life could save millions.
What I know: a boy in my class will one day wipe out two-thirds of the population with a virus.
What I don’t know: who he is.
In a race against the clock, I not only have to figure out his identity, but I'll have to outwit a voice from the future telling me to kill him. Because I'm starting to realize no one is telling the truth. But how can I play chess with someone who already knows the outcome of my every move? Someone so filled with malice they've lost all hope in humanity? Well, I'll just have to find a way—because now they've drawn a target on the only boy I've ever loved…
5:58 a.m.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Black flannel shirt, sleeves rolled up. Black jeans. White canvas sneakers
Me: ???
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Ur imagining what I’m wearing, amirite? Don’t lovesick girls fantasize bout this every morning?
Me: Hate to break it to you, Bandit, but the only “sick” I’m about to be is all over my phone.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Could u plz not call me that?
Me: What? Bandit? But it’s your name.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Yea, but when u say it, w all ur proper spelling, it sounds like ur scolding me
Me: What should I call you, then?
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: How bout babycakes?
Me: How about Most Obnoxious Boy Alive? That’s how you’re listed under my Contacts.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Ur giving me pet names already? Aww, honey oats, that’s sweet. Not sure I’m ready 4 this level of commitment tho
Me: You started it!
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Ur rite. I did. Ok fine. 2 eggs over easy. Bacon. Toast. What I’m having 4 breakfast
Me: Told you already. Utterly uninterested.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Chrysanthemum tea too. Cuz it reminds me of my khun yai. She used to make it 4 me every morning w loads of brown sugar
My fingers hover over my cell phone. I can’t bring myself to shut him down. Not now. Because I know from Lalana that “khun yai” means “grandmother.” And…he spoke about her in the past tense.
I remember, too, that Lalana attended a funeral last year. And I’m pretty sure it was for Bandit’s grandmother.
Me: Of course you would like your tea super sweet.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: I don’t. but that’s how my khun yai liked it, so that’s how I drank it
Me: And that’s how you still make your tea?
Dots appear. And then disappear. And then appear again, as though he can’t decide how to respond. I meant the question as a throwaway, but now I’m gripping my phone like our very future depends on the answer. Finally, his response pops up.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: yea. that's how I still make my tea
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Black flannel shirt, sleeves rolled up. Black jeans. White canvas sneakers
Me: ???
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Ur imagining what I’m wearing, amirite? Don’t lovesick girls fantasize bout this every morning?
Me: Hate to break it to you, Bandit, but the only “sick” I’m about to be is all over my phone.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Could u plz not call me that?
Me: What? Bandit? But it’s your name.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Yea, but when u say it, w all ur proper spelling, it sounds like ur scolding me
Me: What should I call you, then?
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: How bout babycakes?
Me: How about Most Obnoxious Boy Alive? That’s how you’re listed under my Contacts.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Ur giving me pet names already? Aww, honey oats, that’s sweet. Not sure I’m ready 4 this level of commitment tho
Me: You started it!
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Ur rite. I did. Ok fine. 2 eggs over easy. Bacon. Toast. What I’m having 4 breakfast
Me: Told you already. Utterly uninterested.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: Chrysanthemum tea too. Cuz it reminds me of my khun yai. She used to make it 4 me every morning w loads of brown sugar
My fingers hover over my cell phone. I can’t bring myself to shut him down. Not now. Because I know from Lalana that “khun yai” means “grandmother.” And…he spoke about her in the past tense.
I remember, too, that Lalana attended a funeral last year. And I’m pretty sure it was for Bandit’s grandmother.
Me: Of course you would like your tea super sweet.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: I don’t. but that’s how my khun yai liked it, so that’s how I drank it
Me: And that’s how you still make your tea?
Dots appear. And then disappear. And then appear again, as though he can’t decide how to respond. I meant the question as a throwaway, but now I’m gripping my phone like our very future depends on the answer. Finally, his response pops up.
Most Obnoxious Boy Alive: yea. that's how I still make my tea
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Pintip Dunn is a New York Times bestselling author of young adult fiction. She graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B., and received her J.D. at Yale Law School.
Pintip’s novel FORGET TOMORROW won the 2016 RWA RITA® for Best First Book, and SEIZE TODAY won the 2018 RITA for Best Young Adult Romance. Her books have been translated into four languages, and they have been nominated for the following awards: the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire; the Japanese Sakura Medal; the MASL Truman Award; the Tome Society It list; and the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her other titles include REMEMBER YESTERDAY, THE DARKEST LIE, GIRL ON THE VERGE, STAR-CROSSED and MALICE.
Places to find Pintip Dunn:
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