The Marx Brothers

Chapter Twelve - 'Beach'

Pulling up to Bonds Beach, I became nervous. It was dark, but in the distance of the sand, I could see the twitch and flicker of orange and red flames, various torches glistening lightly spread over the area. Pop music played over-head, faint, but close.

Stepping out of the car with Brad and Penny, a wash of pride took over. Penny had chosen heels, small height, but heels, for the sand. I held back a snicker as I watched her struggle, and that was only on the gravel parking lot. I myself had chosen flat shoes, plain white low converse. I had matched it strategically with a white half shoulder top, and dark denim blue jeans. Of course, I had used my top to hide my shoulder wound, the wound Oscar and the rest of the world had yet to see. It was healing, but it was a slow process.

"Have you text Oscar?" Penny asked me as she linked her arm in with mine, Brad on the other side of her

I nodded "Yeah, when we pulled up"

"Are you excited?" She smiled as our feet met the sands beginning

I half shrugged, the movement causing me to wince

"You okay?" Penny noticed

Again, I nodded "Yeah, I'm good"

"Are you nervous?" Penny asked me "Are you afraid Jaston or Dylan will be here?"

"If he is I'll knock his lights out" Brad threatened

"He's a professional fighter Bradley" I reminded him with a raised eyebrow

Brad feigned insult, holding his heart "You underestimate me"

I rolled my eyes "They're all probably going to be here, knowing my luck"

"If they are, they better steer clear from me and my crew. I've got eyes out on them" Brad scoffed, playing it tough.

I knew Brad had friends, bold and brave friends, but they were nothing like the kind of men that could fight against people like Jaz. People like Jaz, Reid, Dylan, Phoenix and Jett were people that weren't to be messed with, not without the proper knowledge and skill. In my eyes, it was best to steer clear of them, not the other way around. In the back of my mind, I guess I was still hoping that it would simply blow over, and if Jaz saw me, he would sneer and turn away.

Shaking my head from thoughts, I focused on making my way through the sand towards the party going on ahead. I wondered how long it would last before the cops would show up.

"Suddenly, I'm jealous of your outfit" Penny laughed, using me for support as she stumbled on her shoes

"Just take them off" I told her with a shrug

"Ew, no" She snapped "I know what happens in this sand on nights like tonight, who knows what I could step on" She snuck her tongue out, screwing her face up

I gave her a crooked smile, half disgusted.

The wind around us had picked up, blowing across the sand, lifting the top layer across the air. Penny now battled both her choice in footwear, as well as her knee-length dress, lightly lifting at the edges.

The closer we became to the bon-fire in the middle of the beach, the more I thought about what Penny had said the night before - 'There's a fire in you' It was now something I was continuously thinking about, over and over. The Eden that I was a few weeks ago, would not be doing these things, she would not be doing half the things I found myself to be doing. A fire, an edge, it was emerging since I'd met Phoenix. It bothered me, yet, I didn't regret a second of it. After all, it hadn't all been bad.

When I saw Oscar walking towards me, his hair slicked back, his hands in his jeans, a slight smile on his face, it made me feel better. It made me feel as though everything that had happened had happened for this moment. It reminded me that I had found a great friend from the events that had occurred. He was the positive outcome of it all. If losing him by taking back everything that I had done, I wouldn't do it.