"I'm outside!" Stephanie just about yelled through the phone.
"Okay, I'll see you in a sec," I replied. I ended the call, grabbed my bag, and hustled out my front door towards the silver Honda waiting on the street.
"How've you been?" Stephanie squeaked as I shut the car door.
"I've been good, just really busy with work. When do you leave for Europe?"
"About two weeks. I'm so excited to go! I can't wait to get out there and see the world, and maybe meet some cute boys." Steph was always in a chipper mood, very rarely was she cross about anything, with the exception of her ex-boyfriend. She had just been broken up with right before break. She'd been constantly looking for a new boy to date, but, to all of our amazement, hadn't had any luck. She was a beautiful 5'10 girl with auburn hair and dark green eyes. She modeled and competed in beauty contests frequently, winning the highest title every time.
We kept up some friendly small talk for the 20 minute drive to the local beach. Stephanie and I met up with our other friends from school on the sand volleyball court near the pier. Aaron, Jack, Lana, Patrick, Blair, and Wesley greeted Steph and me as soon as we set down our things near the cooler. Every year we'd all go to the beach the first Wednesday of summer, even back in preschool when it was only the original four: Blair, Wesley, Jack and me. Lana and Stephanie moved to town and befriended us around the time we were 10. Aaron had met Wesley and Jack on the junior high basketball team. Patrick was Aaron's best friend, so by default, he became all of our friend as well.
It was a beautiful day, the whole town seemed to be there. While the others played a game of volleyball, Blair and I sat in the sun, tanning our skin.
"So how's that boy of yours?" Blair flouted, tying her natural bleach blond hair up in a bun. She never did like Greyson all that much, nor did any of my friends as a matter of fact.
"He's lovely." I flipped over to my front, concealing the bruise on my back.
"Hide those bruises and scratches all you want, but all of us notice them. Really, Nadia? He's not worth it. Why on earth would you put up with that?" We were now facing each other on our sides. She had placed her sunglasses on the top of her head, her deep blue eyes concerned and upset. "You know as well as I do that if Ethan and Evan ever saw those, they'd kill him."
"Good thing I haven't seen or heard from either of them in seven years," I icily muttered. She was the only person who knew everything about my family situation and although it hurt both of us when she brought up my family, she knew I would listen.
I didn't say anything else for a while, only gazing out at the ocean, getting lost in the waves crashing into shore until I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I craned my neck to see a shirtless Greyson and his buddies jogging in my direction.
Blair groaned loudly and stood up, strutting over to the rest of the group by the volleyball net. She was mumbling to everyone, probably warning them about my fast approaching boyfriend. As I slowly rose from lying on the sand, Greyson picked me up off my feet and spun me around in the air.
"Hi sweetheart," he giggled in my ear. He placed me down in front of him and kissed me gently as I ran my hand down his shoulder to his chest. His friends hollered loudly, making us break apart, but still smiling widely at each other.
I glanced over my shoulder to my friends, all of whom had blank expressions on their faces, minus Wesley, Jack and Blair who were full of discontent. Blair bit her lip, her eyes angry as they found themselves observing the marks on my body. I gave her a weak smile and she responded with raised eyebrows along with a slight head shake.
