Seaside Café

Chapter 1 - Friday Night Lights

“The night’s still young, so are we.”

I rolled my eyes at Shay, the pretty auburn head who was bobbing her head to the latest rock song that was bursting out through the speakers right beside my ears, threatening to deafen them. I honestly didn’t care because we were celebrating the last day of school before the summer started. I wanted to make the best of the day; but mostly because I didn’t want to be a party pooper.

“You’re so drunk.” I muttered as Shay giggled, her hand still holding a glass of sparkly red drink which was definitely spiked.

“Aren’t I always?” she winked at me and stared behind me with this glazed expression on her face.

“What are you…” I began but she cut me off by whispering in my eyes, her slightly alcoholic and minty breath hitting me.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a hottie boyfriend to deal with.”

And with that statement, she walked towards the boy in question with her hands on her hips. I rolled my eyes when I saw Brendan Fisher talking to a girl who was throwing herself on him. Well, who wouldn’t, because he was one of the most popular guys in school only next to Mason Turner? Speaking of whom, the golden boy Turner was surrounded by a few girls who were clinging on every word he uttered while he murmured something to the bimbo on his right who started giggling.

I wondered what he had told her but suddenly his beautiful blue eyes swept across the room and landed on mine. I was transfixed for a moment as our eyes met.

He smiled at me warmly, that genuine smile which he flashed only in front of his close friends.

I first met Mason in junior year when he transferred to our school from California. He became instantly popular and because I knew he was also a good person, I had developed a ridiculously huge crush on him. You know the kind of crush when you know you’re going to be married to him and name your kids? Exactly that one.

I was hopelessly in love with him, though it faded when he started dating Savannah Hawkins, the gorgeous brunette who was, well, an ice queen.

It’d have been easier to hate her if she was one of those dumb bimbos but she wasn’t. Savannah took AP English and History and she was part of the social club.

My thoughts were abruptly ended when I saw Josh Richardson tapping his hand on my shoulder.

Josh was a mutual friend, well mostly he was Shay’s friend but he did talk to me. After all I did sit with the popular people at school, considering that Shay was one of them.

“Hey.” I muttered. He was holding an empty glass.

He grinned at me, a bit weirdly I might add.

“My favorite girl is all alone? Where’s your drink, missy?” he asked, his brows lifted. I shrugged.

“Shay ditched me for Brendan.” I simply replied, moving a little away from him.

Josh, with his gelled hair falling slightly down his face bent towards me to whisper in my ears.

“Well let’s get some fresh air then.”

I shivered at his sudden proximity and leaned away. He was sure weird when he was drunk. But he was Josh and he called me his favorite girl. Plus he talked to me in school so I went along with him while he refilled his glass and offered a drink to me.

“Nope, I’m the designated driver for today” I pointed to myself, letting out a chuckle.

It was true. Shay was getting drunk and soon she’d pass out on the floor.