Last Summer

River

My hands shook as I made my way to the beach.

Why did he want to see me before the bonfire?

What if he knew?

As I walked into the parking lot, I wanted to jump for joy, seeing Harper's car, meaning Rafe had told her and JJ to come down here.

Topper stood next to his Jeep, his arms crossed against his chest. I did my best to perk up once he saw me.

"Hey, River." Topper's voice was coarse. His eyes had huge bags around them and his hair messy.

"Hey, Topper." He leaned in for a hug as I spoke. I tried to not make my whole body stiffen at his touch.

"So, do you want to surf?" He pulled a board out of the back of his car.

I smiled and pushed some of my hair behind my ear, "I didn't bring my board."

"I brought two." He winked and handed me a pale yellow surf board.

"Let's hit it." I replied, taking off towards the water. As I stripped my tank top and shorts off, I could feel Topper's eyes burning a hole into me. I scanned the beach as he ran ahead of me, into the salty ocean. I quickly spotted Harper's red locks down the beach, she was walking hand and hand with JJ. She saw me and waved.

They're hitting it off, I thought before jumping into the warm water.

Topper eyed me as I paddled, "Is that your sister?"

"Yeah." I replied, "I guess she's on a date with JJ."

"You didn't know that she would be here?" We both stopped paddling and sat on the boards, floating on the top of the water.

"We don't live together. We don't talk very much except for when she comes to see my dad." I moved my fingers through the water as I spoke.

"Oh, I didn't know your parents were divorced. Why don't you live with your mom?" His questions began feeling like an interrogation, but his blue eyes seemed genuine.

"She's crazy. Our personalities don't blend well." I looked back at my sister as she spun in circles in the sand. Her black sundress flew around her. JJ watched her smiling.

"And her and your mom do?"

I nodded, "Harper and my mom are a lot alike, but also not at the same time. She was my best friend before she left my dad's." I made sure to play up the sad story, so Topper would feel bad. His face softened and his pushed his board closer to mine. I felt my heart begin to race.

"I'm sorry, River." He placed his hand on my thigh.

"It's fine, doesn't bother me." I replied, plastering a smile on my face.

He quickly changed the subject, "Are you starting school here?"

"Yeah, Kildare High." I told him, keeping the smile.

"You're not going to school in Figure 8?" His face was filled with question.

I shook my head, "No, my dad and I live on the cut."

His body language changed. I had to think of something before he called off seeing me all together.

"But, I'm thinking of switching so I can be with Harper." I lied.

Then his body language changed again, returning to what it had been, "Oh, cool. It would be to see such a pretty face walking down the halls."

I stifled a laugh at his cheesy line, "Aw, Topper. You're so sweet." The urge to vomit was strong.