Tides

{ chapter six: bonfire }

6.

bonfire

{ Hazel } 

I've been in Clementine Port for two months and the Summer is coming to a final close. With the arrival of September, I'll be starting school next week and honestly I don't think I'm up for it. Reese and Blake have been helpful, though. They told me the High School isn't that bad and it has a lot of students, so I'm not as worried. 

I'm sort of scared of just being there. After what happened in the Spring, I don't feel comfortable around schools. The thought of Erica is in my mind and I just don't know what to do about her. The reason why she jumped was because of me and it is all my fault. I didn't want her to jump at all - I just wanted her to know what she did was wrong and that betraying me was a horrible thing to do.

But she did it, and now I'm here. 

*~*

Reese and Blake invited me to the beach that night to go to a bonfire party - with my Dad's permission of course. I was really excited, mostly because it was my first High School party and I could go alone.

Except, I wasn't really going alone. Per Dad's request, Bryce had to take me. 

I really did not want Bryce to come at all. Even though two months have passed, our interactions with eachother were both limited to dinnertime and the morning and I still remembered what he had done to Noel. 

Speaking of Noel, I've seen him a few times since the incident. We talked a few times and he thanked me for 'saving' him, I guess. I don't want to call it 'saving', I'd rather call it just me helping a friend out. I guess we're now friends - which I'm perfectly fine with.

*~*

Bryce and I went in Dad's car at around six o'clock at night just as the sun began to set. Our destination was Orchid Beach that was near the store but hidden from the homes of nosy neighbors and annoying tourists like myself. 

When we got there, the sky was a bright orange and the sun was setting by the horizon. The lot where we parked was a little crowded with Jeeps, Priuses, and one minivan. Some teens lingered at the lot with beers in hand and a cigarette in the other. 

Bryce turned off the engine and went to the trunk to get a cooler of "soda" (which was actually beer, if you didn't know) and tugged it to the entrance of the beach. I looked down at my hands which were not steady at all and instead were shaking. Surprisingly, I was really nervous. I never drank before and I sure as hell don't smoke so I felt like I wasn't going to fit in at all. 

I was also insecure about what I was wearing. Reese recently took me to Anchor's, a boutique much like Head-to-Toe in town to shop for a swimsuit and I bought a red and white polka dot bikini that drew attention away from my pale skin. Even though it did match my skin tone, I never show that much cleavage and I did not want to be shown like that in front of a lot of people.

But, I'm new - and like Reese said, "There will be tons of people there, they won't notice you 'cause they've never met you before!". And, I'll take that advice. But for now, I'll wear a light hoodie and shorts over the bikini until the end of the party. 

I opened the door of the car and met up with Bryce at the entrance of the beach. It was a boardwalk that lead out to the sand and was concealed by tall palm trees and regular brush that hid the private beach from prying eyes. 

I suppose he could tell that I was nervous because he stopped halfway and gave me an assuring look. "Hazel, you don't have to drink if you don't want to." His eyes were bright and sensitive and warm - just like Natalie's. When he said this, I felt reassured. I gave him a nod and followed right behind him and into the large beach.