At the lake

Chapter 5: A Jagged Edge

After lying dazedly on the beach for the rest of the afternoon, we decided to head back up the hill towards our accommodations. The sun sank lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over us.

Golden hour.

"Your favourite time of day." Tyler mumbled. I smiled warmly that he knew that. I guess he knew good bits of me too.

As I stood, I wobbled, my head adjusting to the rush I got from the sudden movement.

"You good?" He asked reaching out and pinching the excess material of my sleeve in attempts to hold onto me. I burst out laughing as I tripped over a pebble and fell right back down onto my ass. Tyler laughed at me then, a full belly laugh. "You're still stoned." He chuckled, as he reached down and pulled me up with both arms.

"No. I'm just...yeahhhhh." I couldn't think of an excuse this time.

"C'mon let's get going. I'm starving and I need to eat something before tonight." He said.

We clambered up the pebbles and back onto pavement. My back was saw from lying on all the pebbles and shells for who knows how long. I frowned, concentrating on my legs as I walked along side Tyler.

"What's wrong with Anna?" I randomly blurted.
I watched Tyler's face closely for a clue but he was as cool as anything, revealing nothing.

"I dunno." He said, and took a subtle glance my way.

"Really? I think she might have a crush on you." I didn't feel great about planting any seeds that, that might be an option for him, but at the same time I wanted to know if he felt the same way.

"I wouldn't be surprised." He said confidently.

I smacked his arm which made him smirk at me and bite his lip like he was trying not to laugh.

Twat.

"You're so cocky man." I said and elbowed his ribs. He darted out the way defensively.

Tyler scratched the back of his head and then pulled up his hud. "She kissed me at this birthday party over the summer, been weird with me ever since." He confessed, shrugging.

I wanted to stare at him with wide eyes but I broke my gaze to watch my footsteps as walking was taking a little more concentration at the moment; an almost weed-free summer had affected my tolerance a bit.

"Erm- she didn't tell me that. What party? Why wasn't I there?" I questioned. My mind was racing but the weed was also slowing everything down. It didn't feel great.

"Well it was one of the nights I didn't sleep over. Your mom told me not to tell you about it otherwise I wouldn't be aloud round anymore." He explained. I felt a rush of anger for my mom as I knew it was her fault I had missed out on something, but at the same time I was hurt by my friends for not even telling me about it.

Tyler was looking at me, his eyes still a little red from smoking but he looked...cautious?

"Why did you kiss her?" I asked, it came out angry but I was angry at my mom not him. I think he was a bit taken aback from my tone but I couldn't control it.

"Er, she kissed me in game. Not exactly gonna embarrass her am I?" He smirked, but side eyed me to see how I was going to react.

We were getting to a steeper part of the hill now and I was getting a bit out of breath. "So, you kissed her back? Like properly?" I asked. What is wrong with me?

Tyler let out a laugh, he seemed pleased by my mood. "Yeahhh it was a game, at a party. I was a little drunk and she's... not bad looking" He was smirking now, a little pleased with himself.