I Did it For Love (On Hold)

Chapter Two | Fireball

It had been almost an hour since The Pool Incident and June was nowhere to be found. America had lost her in the crowd when Meghan pulled her over to a corner of the backyard to talk.

"I've kissed a girl once before," Meghan continued on a topic that America wanted nothing to do with. "Doesn't that make me, like, an honorary lesbian or something?"

This topic wasn't an unfamiliar one to America. Over the course of the few years she had been in high school, countless straight girls have implied or outright asked the same questions. The answer, to her, seemed like common sense but the girls never failed to be baffled at why America didn't embrace and appreciate their desire for answers on the subject of sexuality.

"No, making out with girls to get a guy's attention doesn't make you a lesbian." America rolled her eyes.

"Shite. That's unfortunate because I'm sure if I was a lesbian, lads would be attracted to me, like, way more than they are already."

"Oh wow. I don't think I can talk to you for much longer." America began to slowly back away.

"I'm sorry, wait! Did I say something wrong?"

"Yes, you did. Being a lesbian for a guy's attention doesn't make sense!" America was getting frustrated but also knew that it was extremely rude to just walk away. She assumed that Meghan didn't know any better, like a child who asks a stranger how much money they make. She exhaled deeply before stepping back towards Meghan. "I can only talk to you if you stop with the fixation on me being gay."

"I just have one more question."

"What is it?" America braced herself for whatever dumb statement was about to come.

"Can I kiss you in front of everyone?"

"What?" America tried to clarify but it was too late. Meghan had already grabbed her by the face and forced her into a heavy kiss. The sounds of a few whistles from surrounding boys reached America's ear before she could push Meghan away. "Fucking gross!" America wiped her mouth while walking away quickly. She decided to begin her mission to find June. Sticking close to the fence when passing the pool, she weaved her way through all of the moving bodies that took up every square centimetre of space. It was evident that the weaving strategy wasn't going so well when America felt herself being pushed every which way and not moving forward. "Stop," she grunted. Miraculously, the pushing came to an abrupt halt which led her to stumble into the tall, lanky Polish guy that she had met earlier.

"Well, well, well, look's like it's fate that keeps bringing us together. I'm Michael."

"And I'm not interested. Actually, I'm less than not interested ever since you called me a whore." America tried to walk past him, pushing the annoying boy out of the way.

"I didn't mean that. That was just my dumb man brain forcing me to say offensive things when I felt offended. I'm sorry." Michael smiled and rested his hand on America's arm.

"That's not an excuse. Apology denied." She swiped his clammy hand off of her bicep almost immediately. She made another move to leave but he stopped her.

"I know where your friend is. If I help you find her, will you accept my apology?"

"Fine, but I'm not an idiot. Someone else has to come with us." America rolled her eyes. She had no intention of forgiving this guy but if saying she would could lead her to June, she'd say anything he wanted.

"That's a great idea. But why stop at one other person? Lets bring five. Seven. Twelve?" Michael turned around, tapping on the backs of a few people that surrounded him. He asked them if they would come and help him search for a friend. The teens at this party would have done anything to have an excuse to get away from the big sweaty crowd, thus most of them agreed. Four more boys and five girls had turned around and agreed to help Michael.