Skipping Stones (Book I: Smoke + Mirrors)

10 | Every Night | Zoey

      I glance over at the clock.

                   11:09 pm

      'Shouldn't Niki have been home by now?'

      I open my phone to text Platz. Maybe they went back to the bands house?

      Hi, you there?

     I am now. What's up?

       Are Dan and Niki at your place?

       No.. they aren't at yours?

       Nope. That's why I asked u...

        Dan said something about the beach before he left...maybe they're there?

      Maybe. I'm going to find them, I'll swing by if you want to help.

        See u in 20

      I shut off my phone and go downstairs, exiting through the back door where our car sits. I try calling Niki, but she doesn't answer. Soon I pull up to the bands house. The street is sketchy, and I decide to not get out of the car. Movement comes from inside the house, and then the front door opens. Platz stands there, and looks like he's talking to someone for a few moments before getting in the car.

"Where'd you say they were going? Niki told me he was going to take her to a restaurant." I start driving down the street, passing the stop sign without a second thought. "Dan said he was going to surprise her, and take her to the beach." I nod and start driving to where Platz instructed. After a few minutes of silence one of our phones buzzed. "It's Dan." Platz opened his phone and read the message aloud. "Just had dinner and swam - going to the south side beach, be back in an hour 30."

We exchange knowing looks. "You don't think-" "you can never tell with Dan." I nod and keep going until we get to South Side Beach. The parking lot is vacant except for one car tucked away in the corner. Platz takes one glance and nods. "That's them."

We both get out of the car and start walking down to the cool sand. Since it's dark, it's unlikely they'll see us until we're right next to them. I look around and see a weird figure on the beach father down. "That's probably them." I grin and start walking over to them.

It takes a few minutes, but we're finally close enough to make out faces. We both crouch behind a scrawny bush and try to get a clear view of them. I can make out Niki laying on Dans chest, and Dan asleep facing towards us. When I look closer I can see that Niki isn't wearing her dress anymore, instead a shirt that looks 3 sizes to big. Dan isn't wearing a shirt, so it must be his.

Platz and I exchange another look, trying to not make any noise as we walk over to them.