A Fighting Heart

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

By the next week it’s reached one hundred and five, and Chase, Ty, Gigi and I are all out on the lake. We’ve taken Grandpa’s boat “fixin’ to be” and have dropped anchor out at Cricket Island. Laying on the sand of the shore I laugh as Ty and Chase do flips off the boat. Gigi is floating in the water nearby on a pool noodle. 

Chase swims closer to shore and then walks in, sitting down behind me. I lean back into his chest and smile, watching Gigi and Ty as they splash each other. 

“You seem happy,” Chase states, matter-of-factly. 

“I am,” I say, turning my head back to kiss his cheek. “I’m glad everything is out in the open.”
“I am too,” Chase says, kissing the top of my head. “That way we can help you forget, make sure you’re not worrying. Down here, there’s nothing real to worry about. Happy is exactly what you should be.” 

“And fun..” I say slowly, smirking. Suddenly Chase is up and picking me up. 

“Lots of fun!” he shouts as he launches us into the water. We swim to join Gigi who is mounted on Ty’s shoulders. Chase pulls me up on his and we go at it, classic chicken fight style. 

After a good hour of swimming, we’re all laying out on the boat, passing around a can of Pringles. 

“These are the best chips ever!” Ty calls, shoving a stack into his mouth. Grabbing the can, Gigi takes two and makes them into a duck beak. Cracking up as they break, she lets them fall into her hands. 

“God I’d forgotten about these. They were always so much fun when we were kids.” 

“Everything was fun when we were kids,” I say, grabbing the can. “The days were longer, the music was better.. gas was cheeper.” 

“Yeah but sex was out of the picture,” Chase says with a smirk, putting a chip in his mouth. 

“Do you only have a one track mind?” I ask exasperated. He just winks in return. 

“Only when you’re around baby.” 

Laughing, Gigi points a finger to us. “Do you even remember your first time?” 

“I do!” Ty yells, jumping up. “Sophomore year of high school, captain of the cheerleading squad, oh yeah!” He raises a hand to Chase for a high five but Chase just shakes his head. 

“And her name was...?” he asks, waiting for an answer. At that, Ty’s face grows red and Gigi and I break into a fit of laughter. 

“Okay,” Gigi says collecting herself. “Junior year, with this guy I met at a party. We did it on the beach and the next day I had cuts all up and down my back.” 

Cringing I shake my head. “You know his name, right?” 

“Alex,” she says rolling her eyes. “Never saw him again. But, he wasn’t too bad so I’m not complaining.” Looking up at the sun, she smiles. “Okay Savannah, you’re up.” 

Before I can answer, Gigi snaps her head back down and looks at me with wide eyes. “Unless.. of course. If you don’t want to..” I know where her mind has jumped. 

“Oh, no,” I say, shaking my head. “Senior year with my brother’s best  friend.” 

Ty howls and claps while Chase laughs. “God, Tommy was so mad when he found out, he didn’t speak to me for a week.” I smile slightly, looking out at the water. 

“I think I speak for everyone when I say, I wish I could’ve met Tommy,” Gigi says gently. “Sounds like he was one amazing person.” 

“He was,” I nod. “I think he would’ve loved all of you guys too.” 

The conversation breaks and we sit in silence for a moment. “Well,” Chase finally says, “I think I win. Freshman year with my best girlfriend at the time.” 

“Really?” I ask surprised. “How’d that happen?” 

Chase shrugs nonchalantly. “We just wanted to say we had. Didn’t want it to be that big of a deal. Although afterwards it was just plain awkward. We stopped being friends around that time.” 

“Wow, look at us. We’re very progressive, don’t you think?” Gigi says, taking a sip of a coke. 

“How do you figure?” Ty asks. 

“She means it wasn’t a big deal. We didn’t buy into the hype, which kinda means we bought into how the rest of the world sells sex,” I say. “In this day and age, nothing about sex is taboo, and we are raised in a society that teaches us that sex can be casual. It’s almost selfish in a way, that it’s only there for self pleasure.” 

“Well, if you’re good than it’s dual pleasure,” Ty points out with a smirk. 

“Do you think it’ll change?” Gigi asks, looking out at the lake. “Like, when we’re older.” 

“I don’t think it matters about when, it’s all about who. When it’s the right person, it’s different,” Chase says, tracing patterns on my arm. I look up and catch his gaze.  

“Okay, prince charming,” Ty says with a laugh. “Whatever you say.”