Summer Lovin'

2-Bonfire

"So are you going to the bonfire?" Kamden whispered while scooping some vegetables onto his plate. The annual Cousins bonfire. It happens ever year during the first week of summer. It's the first party of the year. Every kid in Cousins goes. "Yeah are you?" I question, Kamden has never went to a party with me before. "Duh, I'm meeting Brody there." Brody is one of Kamdens best friends when we come to Cousins. "Wow" I said, "What?" he asked as we sat down at the table. "I just never thought I'd see the day that you were going to a party" "I go to parties all the time Kirsten" "Yeah, okay" "I do!"

I looked at myself in the mirror, I was wearing a blue bikini top paired with some baggy shorts. I would have never wore this last time we were here. This would have been way out of my comfort zone, but my style has changed dramatically since then. I have changed dramatically since then.

I met Kamden downstairs, "Ready?" "Yes ma'am." Our mom caught us before we made it out the door, "Is that what you're wearing?" she snarked, "Yeah," "If I were you I would cover up" she stared at me and when I didn't respond she rolled her eyes, "Please be safe and don't get into trouble." We walked out the door and Kamden was giddy with excitement. "This is going to be so awesome" "Calm down, if you act like that people are going to think you're weird." He shot me a glare. "They probably already think I'm weird because I'm related to you." I hit his arm. "Ow!" "You deserved that." 

We approached the beach and I started to get nervous, I haven't seen these people in almost two years. I don't want to have the "hey sorry your dad died, how are you?" talk with anyone. I felt a little better when I saw Shayla. "Hey Shayla!" I greeted.  "Kirsten! Oh my gosh!" she hugged me. "It has been so long! How have you been?" "I'm good how are you?" "I'm so good now that it's summer" "that's so real" I met Shayla when we did the Deb Ball. My mom made me do it when I was 15, its about women reaching maturity or some shit. It was so lame. 

Me and Shayla continued to catch up. We were in a circle talking to some other people when someone bumped into me almost making me fall. I turned around ready to be upset, but it was Jeremiah Fisher. "Jeremiah?!" He looked me up and down as if he didn't recognize me, "Kirsten!?" He cheered. He embraced me, Jeremiah always gives the best hugs. Jeremiah is one of my best friends when I come to Cousins. He pulled away and that is when I noticed how grown up he looks. His hair was styled better, curled just right. He had a defined face structure, his jawline looked like it could cut me. One thing that hasn't changed about him were his eyes, I could dive into them, they were shiny, bright and mesmerizing. Just like they always were. 

"It's been awhile" he said, that's when I noticed how much his voice has changed. His voice was deeper since the last time I was here, it almost gave me chills to hear him talk. I wanted him to speak again. "Yeah it has, I'm glad to be back." "I'm glad that you're back! I have my party buddy again," he said wrapping his arm around my neck and began to walk. The last year I was here me and Jeremiah would go to parties almost every weekend and get drunk. That's when we became each others party buddy. If one of us was there, you would assume the other was too. His older brother Conrad always had to take us home. For as long as I can remember it's always been me and Jeremiah against the world, well the summer world. 

My family and the Fisher family are pretty close, they are family friends. My mom met Susannah, Jeremiah and Conrads mom, because they work for the same foundation in the summer. Ever since I was little we've always have known the Fishers. The Conklin's also stay at the Fishers home so, my family is close with them as well. Jeremiah brings me out of my thoughts, "Are you just drinking water?" He said referring to the water bottle in my hand. "Yep only water for me tonight." He furrowed his eyebrows, "that's odd for you, usually you're the first one getting a drink." "Yeah...Kamden is here and I guess I'm trying to be a good example." I say feeding into what my mom always tells me. "Oh yeah I get it, I'm the DD so no drinking for me either." I was about to say something when there was yelling happening towards the bonfire. 

When we got closer I soon realized that it was Conrad making the chaos. "What an idiot" Jeremiah said under his breath as we watched Conrad attempt to fight some other guy. "Are you gonna go help him?" I asked. "Nah, he got himself into that mess, he can get himself out." That is when the familiar sound of sirens began ringing. Everyone started fleeing. Jeremiah grabbed my arm and started to run the opposite way. We approached a red jeep, "Let me drive you home" "Are you sure?" "Of course" he smiled and got in the drivers side. I opened the door and got in. His car smelled clean, like soap, or clean laundry. Which is one of my favorite smells. "So, is this your car?" "Yep, it used to be Conrads, but he got a new one so being the little brother, this one came to me." "Well, its really nice" I complimented. "Thanks" he looked at me and smiled, and just from that small glance I felt butterflies in my stomach. "Oh shit! We gotta go get Conrad and Steven." 

The drive was quiet, Conrad and Steven were in the back, drunk. I kept sneaking glances at Jeremiah, it was like my eyes were addicting to looking at him. There was something about him this summer that was different. I'm not sure if it was a good or bad thing yet. 

"Thanks again for driving me" I said getting out of his jeep. "Anytime," he flashed his smile again.  I hurried and walked towards my front door and then I noticed he drove away. I smiled to myself, he waited for me to get inside before driving away. 

Jeremiah was always a gentlemen. 

My smile quickly faded when I closed the door. "Kirsten is that you?" my mom yelled. "Yeah!" "Get in here right now" I walked into our living room and saw Kamden lying on the couch. Oops, looks like I forgot about him.

 "What is wrong with you?" "What?" I say confused. "Taking your brother  to a party with alcohol!" "What?" I repeated. "Your brother came home drunk" she gestured to him. I released a small laugh, that was definitely his first party. 

"You think this is funny?" "No, I'm just confused how this is my fault." She rolled her eyes, "you are supposed to be watching him, and you let him drink and then you don't even come home with him? So irresponsible." "He's the one who drank" I defended, "He's already in trouble, but you need to be more responsible, I thought this summer would be different but I guess not."

 "Mom he's 16 he-" "And you're 18" she interrupted. I rolled my eyes, I can never win with her.

 "Okay, sorry." I turned to go upstairs. "Were you drinking?" "No" "Come here" I kept walking upstairs, "Kirsten Stark" she said sternly. I stopped and walked over towards her. "Let me smell your breath" I opened my mouth, she sniffed. "Can I go upstairs now?" I asked annoyed. She shooed me away. 

There she goes again, making me feel like shit for Kamdens actions. I'm just glad I got to talk to Jeremiah again.