Shooting star

Lake Party

Beau's POV

Beau Kennedy stood at the edge of the living room at Jenna's lake house, the lively sounds of the party buzzing around her. The whole school seemed to have shown up, including her basketball team, the soccer team, and countless other students looking to unwind after the first week back at school. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the water, and Beau couldn't help but appreciate the beauty of the scene.

Dressed in a bathing suit top and a pair of shorts, Beau felt comfortable and confident. She wasn't drinking tonight, a personal choice she adhered to strictly ever since losing her dad. While everyone else was indulging, Beau was content with a bottle of water in hand.

"Beau! Over here!" Eden, her best friend, called out from a group gathered near the pong table.

Beau made her way over, exchanging high-fives and hugs with her teammates. Eden handed her a ping pong ball for a celeb shot, her usual bright smile in place. "Having fun?"

"Yeah, it's a good time," Beau replied, scanning the crowd. Her eyes landed on Adeline Sinclair, who was standing with a few friends near the drink table. She looked stunning in a simple white sundress, her brown hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders. Beau felt a flutter of excitement at the sight of her.

"Looks like someone's got their eye on a certain soccer captain," Eden teased, nudging Beau with her elbow.

"Shut up," Beau said, laughing. "We're just friends. Besides, she's probably not interested."

"Well, it doesn't hurt to find out," Eden said with a wink before turning back to the beer pong game.

Beau watched as Adeline moved through the crowd, her usual guarded demeanor softened by the effects of alcohol. Beau noticed a guy, Josh, making his way toward Adeline with a cocky grin planted on his face. She felt a pang of irritation, knowing Josh's reputation for being pushy when he drank.

As Beau watched, Josh walked up to Adeline, leaning in too close. Adeline's discomfort was evident, even from a distance. Beau didn't hesitate. She set her water down and made her way through the crowd, determined to intervene.

"Hey, Adeline," Beau said, her voice cheerful as she approached. She slipped her arm around Adeline's shoulders in a friendly gesture. "There you are. I've been looking for you."

Adeline looked up, relief flooding her eyes. "Hey, Beau."

Josh frowned, clearly annoyed by the interruption. "We were just talking."

"Yeah, I can see that," Beau said, keeping her tone light but firm. "But Adeline and I have some catching up to do. Maybe y'all can talk later?"

Josh muttered something under his breath and walked away, leaving Beau and Adeline alone. Adeline let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Thanks for that."

"No problem," Beau said, smiling down at her as she caught Adeline staring at her abs. "Wanna get some fresh air?"

Adeline nodded, and they made their way outside, away from the noise of the party. They walked down to the dock, where the water lapped gently against the wooden boards. They sat down, their legs dangling over the edge.

"Why don't you drink?" Adeline asked after a moment of comfortable silence, her voice curious and gentle.

Beau took a deep breath, looking out over the water. "I lost my dad over 5 years ago to kidney failure due to his drinking addiction. It's just... not something I want to mess with."

Adeline's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, Beau. That must have been really hard."

"Yeah, it was," Beau admitted. "But it's one of the reasons I'm so into sports. It gave me a way to cope, my dad is the one who got me started and it is something that makes me feel close to him still, and to help me stay focused."

Adeline nodded, her hand brushing against Beau's on the dock. "Thanks for sharing that with me."

Beau smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Anytime."

They sat in silence for a while, just enjoying the tranquility of the moment. The sounds of the party were distant, the laughter and music blending into the background.

"Hey, you wanna head out?" Beau asked after a while. "I can drive you home."

Adeline looked at her, a grateful smile on her face. "Yeah, I'd like that."

They walked back to the house to grab Adeline's things and then headed to Beau's car. As they drove, the radio played softly in the background. The song "Talk Too Much" by COIN came on, and Beau couldn't help but sing along.

"You know I talk too much, I wanna come put your lips on mine and shut me up. We can blame it all on human nature..."

To her surprise, Adeline joined in, her voice light and carefree. They sang together, laughing at how out of sync they were, but it didn't matter. In that moment, everything felt right.

When they reached Adeline's house, Beau turned off the engine and looked over at her. "Thanks for coming tonight. I had a really good time."

"Me too," Adeline said, her eyes meeting Beau's. "Thanks for everything. For, you know, saving me from Josh and for... just being you."

Beau felt her heart skip a beat. "Anytime, Adeline. Anytime."

They sat there for a moment longer, the air between them charged with unspoken words. Finally, Adeline leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Beau's cheek. "Goodnight, Beau."

"Goodnight, Adeline," Beau replied, her voice soft.

As Adeline got out of the car and walked to her door, Beau watched her, a smile tugging at her lips. Tonight had been more than she had hoped for, and she couldn't wait to see what the future held for them.