"It's just kinda slow today," my best friend, Lyndzi, says to me as I walk into the pool. My friends and I come to the pool almost everyday throughout the summer. "It'll perk up around two-ish."
I shrug. "I don't care, Lyndz."
She nods in the other direction. "Slater is over there with Hermione. Surprising, huh?"
"A little," I say. "Where's Madison today?"
"Probably screwing around with other guys," Lyndzi says. "That's not surprising."
"I just don't know why Slater would want to get back with her when she does this shit all of the ti--"
"Hey, Sydnei!" I hear a deep voice call my name in the distance. And sure enough, it was Slater. Hermione at his side, arms crossed, a blank stare my way, I surely can't read. But Slater, his smile to see me is priceless. And I miss seeing that everyday.
"Go get em, girl," Lyndzi smirks. "You had him once, you can get him again."
Lyndzi begins to walk away before I can scream, "That was before I told him to stay focused on one girl!"
I walk over to where Slater and Hermione are at the basketball court. Slater gives me a hug, and Hermione just waves to me.
"Missed you, Syd," Slater says. "Where've you been?"
I scoff at him. "Me? I'm always here, and lately, you haven't!"
"Been busy with soccer and basketball camp for the past few weeks, Sydnei," he laughs and smiles. "I--"
"Yeah, no I totally get it, I--"
Lyndzi comes over and taps me on the shoulder. "Hey, can I talk to you for one brief moment? Sorry, Slater."
"It's cool," he says. "You can take her for a minute, but don't keep her too long." He winks and smiles, and goes back to chatting with Hermione.
Lyndzi tugs on my wrist and takes me over to the breezeway. "What, is this like the first time you've talked to Slater at all this summer?" She giggles.
I shrug and say, "Well, you heard him. Like he said, he's been busy. And so have I, and you know--"
"He doesn't go to camp, you lame-o," she laughs. "That's a guy excuse to basically say, I've been hanging out with other girls, but I don't wanna tell you because you're in love--"
"Shhh!" I quickly cover Lyndzi's mouth and look back at Slater to see if he had heard. I noticed he didn't, and I take my hand away from Lyndzi's mouth. "I prefer you not say the L word so goddamn loud, please!" I whisper-yell.
"But it's true, and you know that it is true," she smirks at me. I roll my eyes.
"Oh, cmon, Lyndz, can't you ever just shut up for a quick two seconds?"
"Occasionally." She laughs and takes my hand.
"I love Slater, but only like a brother," I specifically say. "There's a difference."
Lyndzi shakes her head. "I'm still going to put the word in ahead of the L word."
"I'm done listening to you," I giggle, punching her arm lightly.
"Sydnei, you'd be the first girl in all of Portland to admit that you've never even had a tiny crush on Slater Stallone," Lyndzi sighs in awe. "Every girl he's ever met has singlehandedly fallen in love with him, and you'd the first to say you haven't."
"There's a first for everything," I sarcastically wink at Lyndzi.
She rolls her eyes at me and nods towards Slater. "Here comes your boy, Syd."
I roll my eyes and push her away as Slater nears.
"Hey, uh, sorry about Lyn--"
"You wanna go do something?" he interjects, throwing me off a bit. Slater? Wanting to do something with me? We haven't talked at all this summer. "I'm bored, you look bored, I haven't really hung out with you in a while, do you want to go and do something with me?"
I innocently tuck a piece of hair behind my ear and say, "Sure! Why not?"
"Great," he says, grinning handsomely over at me. "I think I'll go home and take a shower. Freshen up a bit. Can I pick you up around five-ish?"
"That sounds alright," I smile. "See you then."
And as he gathers his things and leaves, it was like lightning fast, I swear, Lyndzi prances over to me with the widest grin on her sun-kissed face. "You have a date with Slater!"
"Shut up, Lyndz," I say, "it's not a date."
"Yes, it is!" she nearly screeches, taking hold of my wrist and swinging it around excitedly. "You're the new Madison!"
"Lyndzi, will you calm down?" I say, bursting into light laughter. "He hasn't hung out with me all summer long, he wants to just hang. I'm not his new girl-toy."
"I didn't say you were his new girl-toy," she smirks. "I said you're his new girlfriend!"
"Lyndzi Rae, you are going to get so--"
"Hey, guys," a light voice nears before I could finish my sentence. It was Hermione. "What are y'all up to tonight?"
"She's going out with Slater tonight," Lyndzi quickly says, almost trying to rub it in Hermione's face.
Hermione smiles and says, "Really? You're going to the party, too?"
Lyndzi looks at her like she's crazy. "No, no, no. She's actually going out tonight with Slater. Like on a date."
Hermione looked at me, blocking out Lyndzi. "Is he picking you up at five?"
I nod, almost disappointedly.
"Then you're going to the Stallone's house for a party," Hermione corrects, almost snooty-like. "It's Slater's older brother, Heath's, party. He invited a lot of people."
"Are you invited?" Lyndzi annoyedly questions her.
"No, but I heard--"
"Then shut up," Lyndzi interjects. I widen my eyes at her, stifling a laugh. How does this sassy girl work up the courage to just talk to people like that?
Hermione rolls her eyes and walks away. "Don't listen to her," Lyndzi sighs. "She's just jealous because she isn't invited."
I shrug. "I'll bet you any money Madison is going to be there."
"Who cares?" Lyndzi smirks. "You don't like him like that anyway, right?"
I shake my head at her.
Do I?
