𝖓𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖉𝖎𝖊; lost boys

four

The fire Reese had pointed out the night before turned out to be farther away than it looked. Max walked quietly along the sand, the amusement park in the distance behind her projecting its flashing lights across the beach. Groups of people were scattered around, walking in the waves that rolled to shore under the moon.

She could see the bonfire far ahead on a stretch of sand that jutted out from the coastline under the cliffs, but it was impossible to make out any faces or tell how many people there were. On second thought, it probably wasn't her smartest decision to go to a party on the beach because a boy she barely knew had invited her, but here she was. California was already messing with her head, but at least it appeased her mother.

The party couldn't have been more than a half mile away, but it felt like she'd trudged double that when she finally made it to the bonfire. People sat circled around it on the sand and pieces of driftwood; others had climbed the rocks by the cliffside and sat with their legs dangling, drinking beers and tossing empty bottles to the ground. More splashed in the water by the shoreline, and a few wandered between groups.

"There you are," a somewhat familiar voice sounded from the side as Reese stepped into view. "You want a drink?" He offered, dipping into a nearby cooler.

"Yeah, thanks." She wished Mom could see her now. It would give the woman hope knowing her daughter was attempting to be a typical teenager. As the thought crossed Max's mind, she realized how odd it was. Just another part of her and her mother's inexplicable dynamic.

Reese set his own beer on the sand, popped the lid off the bottle and handed it to her. "Know anyone here?" He asked as he picked up his drink.

Max raised her brows as she tipped the bottle back, took a sip, and shook her head. "Just you. And I don't even know you."

Reese chuckled. "Follow me, there's some people I want you to meet." He motioned for her to join him and made his way across the beach to the rocks at the cliffside, stopping below one of the larger boulders. "Hey!" he called as he looked up, catching the attention of the people sitting above. "I want you to meet someone."

Max recognized them as the boys who had appeared out of nowhere the night before, coming to stand by Reese during the incident with the security guard. They pushed themselves to their feet and dropped down to the sand, almost in perfect time.

"Maxine — Nate, Danny, Leo." Reese motioned to the guys. Nate was the bleach blonde with spiked hair, Danny was a muscular brunette with a mullet, and Leo had sort of an Italian look to him.

"Ah, the snitch," Nate sighed, starting to grin.

"He's kidding," Danny muttered and rolled his eyes, taking a slow drag from his cigarette.

Max glanced at the bikes lined up in the sand a few feet away. "Cool bikes." If there was one way she knew to give a peace offering, complimenting their motorbikes had to be the way to go.

"You like 'em?" Leo spoke as their attention turned to the vehicles. "We should go for a ride," he suggested, glancing pointedly in Reese's direction.

"Not now," Reese said lowly and shook his head, tipping his beer back to take another sip before looking at Max. "Now you know other people," he said, grinning softly.

Max had to admit, it would be nice to tell Mom she'd made some new friends, even if they were a little strange — even if she would never in a million years bring them around, both for their sakes and her mother's.

The sound of crashing metal cut through the chatter of the party, and the group's gaze snapped to a drunken partygoer as he stumbled into the line of motorbikes, sending them down like a row of dominoes.

Leo's relaxed expression dropped and he pushed forward between Nate and Danny, starting towards the oblivious drunk. "Man, what the h*ll?!"

The guy came to his senses somewhat and spun in Leo's direction. "Don't park your bike in the middle of a PARTY, man..." He slurred, throwing an arm out towards the motorcycles before taking another gulp of his beer.

Reese shared a glance with the other two before they drifted towards the scene, stopping a few feet behind their friend. People were starting to notice the interruption, and Max took a few steps in Reese's direction. Her life was dramatic enough as it was with her mother, but she had to admit this was at least a little entertaining to watch.

"Leo," Reese spoke.

The boy didn't acknowledge him but seemed to relax. "Watch where you're going," Leo sneered, then turned back to join his friends.

"How about you watch this," the guy called to catch Leo's attention again, emptying his beer bottle over the bikes.

Leo lunged for the stranger.

Reese, Nate and Danny lunged for Leo.

Leo barreled into the guy, tackling him to the ground as bystanders gasped in amusement, the crowd slowly gathering. Anyone who had been unaware of the situation was aware now, trying to get a view of what was going on. Max had a front row seat to the action, but all she could do was stand and watch things unfold.

They were scuffling on the ground now, throwing poorly-aimed punches and flinging sand in all directions. Reese and Nate grabbed each of Leo's arms and hauled him back as Danny stepped between the rivals.

Leo shrugged out of their grips but didn't go back for more, instead glaring at the drunk who was stumbling to his feet again. Both of them were relatively unharmed — maybe a little damage to their egos, but nothing that would last.

Leo was fuming, chest heaving angrily to catch his breath as his wild eyes snapped between Reese and Nate. "You're gonna let him get away with that?"

Nate looked over his shoulder at the guy who was already retreating back into the crowd. "Not worth it," he said lowly as he turned back to Leo. "Not here."

Reese glanced back towards Max, waving her over. "First party in California and you've already witnessed a fight," he said with a smirk. "I promise they aren't all like this." Max wasn't sure what to think. On one hand, she knew she probably shouldn't be hanging out with a group of guys who got into fights, but on the other, this was the most interesting her life had been in a while.

Danny tossed his cigarette onto the sand. "You really showed him, Leo. Really roughed him up."

Nate laughed at that and gave Leo a slap on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll get him back."

"I need another beer," Leo growled, heading for the coolers by the bonfire.

The other guys joined him, and Reese glanced at Max and flicked his head in their direction for her to follow.