My Summer with New York

All in It

Colby's POV:

"Hey Colby what are you doing tonight?" Ryan called out. It's the first time that we've worked together in a few weeks. "I was probably going to Rose's." I tell him. He makes a face at me, and I know that he's about to tease me for being whipped. "You're always with her these days." He tells me. "Well you and Aubrey are always together too." I snap. He was the one who pushed me to her at the beginning of the summer, and it seems like now he wants me to back off. "Well Bree didn't get me thrown in jail." Ryan says softly. I tense. I didn't know it had already gotten around the island. "It wasn't like that dude. I promise." I tell my childhood best friend. "I know man, but it was just scary to hear that had happened to you." He answers. "It was scary to be in that situation." I admit honestly. "Come out to the Shack with Macy, Aubrey, and me." He offers.  I haven't seen or talked to Macy since graduation, but I found myself agreeing to go.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

The Shack was on the north end of the island. It's something of a local oddity because it's the only North Shore building that didn't need to be built again after every hurricane season. It was the only bar that accepted teens, but Hale never served alcohol to minors. Unless it was me, Ryan, Macy or Cassidy. When we pulled up, the crowds were spilling out of the building. The bouncer, Macio, was working extra hard tonight. "The three musketeers are back!" He calls as soon as we're up to the doors. "Hey Macio!" Macy cheers. She hugs him fiercely, and his hands linger on her longer than usual. "Where's your blonde best friend?" He asks her with warm eyes. "Up on the mainland now." She tells him. He looks sad for her, but he doesn't say anything else.

Once we get inside, we sit at our favorite and order our specialty: a basket of broiled shrimp and Coronas. I haven't drank since we graduated, and Ryan laughs at the face I make when I drink for the first time. He's sitting close to Aubrey, and Macy looks uncomfortable. Hale has the music turned up loud tonight, and I remember how much Macy used to love dancing. "Wanna dance?" I shout over the music to her. She grins a devilish grin and pulls me onto the dance floor. We dance closely together, letting the music take over everything. "Hey you guys! Our high school sweethearts are on the dance floors, so we need to slow things down." Hale calls out over the song. The bass pounded music is replaced by something sweeter and slower. The closest thing The Shack has to a spot light is pointed down onto Macy and I, and everyone's attention is drawn to us. I pull her close to me, and she dances with me as she did at prom.

"I can't remember the last time I was in your arms." Macy joked. I spin her away and pull her back before saying "Graduation." She smiles at the memory, and I look around the Shack. More people have come to the dance floor, and I see Ryan and Aubrey dancing as well. "Do you love that girl that's causing you so much trouble, baby?" Macy asks me. I spin her away so I can compose my face again. Her question was incredibly intrusive, but her questions usually are. "Yes I love her Macy." I tell her. She can sense the mood has shifted and signals the DJ to speed up the song. Drunk by Ed Sheeran starts to play, and the irony isn't lost on anyone. We continue to dance together, but I'm not present in the room anymore.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

After awhile I go back to the table. Aubrey and Ryan are there finishing the rest of the shrimp, and I sit down with a grunt. "What happened to Rosie?" Aubrey asks me. I take a swig of my drink before I answer her. "She's probably at home. What time is it?" I say. Aubrey laughs and tells me it's going on 1. Rose will definitely be pissed because I've been out this late. "You're not thinking about running off to her are you?" Ryan taunts. "No of course not." I lie. Ryan and Aubrey burst into laughter, and Ryan orders more drinks for the three of us. "Where's Macy?" Aubrey asks. "She went outside to talk to Macio." I answer. She nods and doesn't say anything. But I know the question she's dying to ask. It's the same one Macy halfway asked. "She was worth going to jail for." I say. The glimmer in her eyes tell me she's about to lie before she even speaks. "I wasn't going to ask Colby." She says. I smirk and drink the drink Ryan bought me. "Aubrey would you like to dance?" Ryan says coming back to the table. She giggles and tells him she'd love to, and I'm left alone once again.