Twist and Shout (Choose Your Own Adventure)

Chapter Twenty-One

As much as you love John - and you really love John - you just can't bring yourself to follow him. His eyes are glittering mischievously and he's grinning in a way you don't exactly like. The worst case scenarios flash through your mind. Your mother has told you what usually happens when a man asks a girl to go down an alleyway with him. Recollecting on it makes you shudder.

"I'm sorry, John, but I can't!" you gabble, trying to wrench your hand away.

John holds on tight, looking slightly hurt. "What?"

"What are you planning on doing?!"

"I told you, it's a surprise," John leans in close so you can feel the tip of his nose against your cheek. "I've been saving it for someone as special as you."

You don't know whether to feel flattered or terrified. 

"Come on, love," John hisses, "I won't hurt you."

In a sudden splurge of fearful emotion you break free of John's grasp and charge away. You run right out of the carpark and into the busy streets of London. John is shouting from behind you, desperately calling for you to come back, but you take no notice. Your mind is in such a spin that you can't think properly. 

The next thing you know you're in the middle of the road.

John is bounding over to you, shouting something after you.

You can't hear him. His mouth is going into weird shapes and are impossible to read.

As he approaches, you begin to hear him a bit better. It sounds like he's saying "bug".

You look around wildly, expecting a huge two-meter tall beetle to appear out of nowhere. You stare back at John in puzzlement. He's stopped on the curb and is waving his arms like windmills. He's gesturing to something further down the street.

You turn to look... and realize John wasn't clamoring about a bug.

He was warning you about the oncoming bus.

You try to move but the sheer terror has rooted you to the spot.

Your life flashes before your eyes - then you faint dead away.

You're lying on the asphalt, overwhelmed and unconscious.

The bus driver doesn't even see you.

John does, and his eyes are wide with disbelief and unalloyed horror.  

THE END

(Go back and choose another adventure!)