I've known Reed Whitlock since Kindergarten. And from the moment he opened his mouth, I've hated him. We may have the same friends, but he is not one of mine, that is for sure.
But, the week before we start our senior year, something changes between...
"She acts like summer and walks like rain, Reminds me that there's time to change." Drops of Jupiter — Train
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TYING MY HAIR INTO a ponytail, tucking my curtain bangs out of my face, I scan my appearance.
After my shift at my parent's beach café and shop, I drove home and began getting ready for the barbecue my parents are hosting.
Everyone should be arriving in the next hour or so, and now that I've quickly put on a comfy outfit and re-did my hair and makeup, I'm ready to help my parents organize everything.
I head downstairs, entering the living room; the doors leading to our deck and garden are wide open, the barbecue visible from where I'm stood.
Marley and Henry are sat on the couch, the former watching a show on the TV while the latter is stuck in his own world of reading.
Someone is rustling about in the kitchen, the smell of food wafting from the open door.
Dad enters through the back garden, Luka following behind, probably helping with the barbecue and setting up tables and chairs.
"Hey, sweetie," Dad greets me as he kisses my head.
"Need any help?" I question, following him into the kitchen, where Mom is taking food out of the oven and Addie is helping with the drinks selections.
"I'm not sure. Babe, you need anything done?"
Mom looks up from where she's plating food into multiple salad bowls, "could someone grab some cutlery for people who would want to use them, just set it on the big table outside."
I open the drawer and do as she says, getting all of the knives and forks, and some spoons for the dips, before heading outside.
Right as I place the cutlery on a place mat, the gate that leads from our backyard to the beach opens.
"Aurelia, how are you?" My aunt, Christine, and Stella's Mom says as the whole Woods gang come through the gate.
She has two bags full of who-knows-what, and she sets them down to hug me.
I've always been close to Aunt Christi, especially since our mothers had me and Stella so close together. We always were at ours or the Woods' for play dates.
"I'm good, do you want help bringing those in?"
"No, you're fine, darling. Greg can do some of the heavy lifting, "she jokes, gesturing to her husband, and my Uncle Gregory.
I laugh as Stella rolls her eyes. Her younger brother, Alex, follows behind her, smiling at me.
"Hey, Henry's inside waiting for you," I tell him.
"Thanks, Lia." With that he scampers off behind his parents, heading to the couch where Henry is sat.
An hour later the garden is full of all our closest friends and family, the only people missing being the Whitlocks.
