"Just Friends"

Chapter 1

SAM

"Okay, guys! Have a nice summer. Remember the summer reading list!" the teacher said when the bell rang, although everyone was already leaving the room. It was the last day of junior year, meaning the first day of summer break. I picked up my books and saw Julie at the door waiting for me, her hazelnut eyes shining with a smile. I put the texts in a bag and went to the locker. She came with me and remained silent as I put the remaining books inside my locker in the bag. When I closed the locker's red door she finally spoke: "So?" We started walking down the hallway.
"So what?" I asked.
"What are we doing today?"
"I don't know," I said, turning to her. "Any ideas?" I shrunk my brows.
"Well, my cousin Elle invited me to a party a friend of hers is having. We could go there."
I thought about it for a few seconds before answering. "Yeah, sure." We walked through the door and arrived at the school's parking lot. "Wanna go to my place and get ready?" I suggested.
"You know I do." She gave me a kinky smirk and I smiled back.

"Guys!" Cheryl called us. We turned around and saw her standing next to us. Julie scanned her. From her red hair and stunning blue eyes; to her curvy body, shown off in that black, tight dress.
"I got my mom's car today, do you need a ride?" the redhead asked. We shared glances, consulting.
"Yeah, sure," I answered. Cheryl smiled at Julie, and she smiled back. I rolled my eyes. They were totally hitting on each other. Just kiss already, I thought. They had been flirting for over a month, but that's all it was: flirting. We got a ride to my house, and I watched them consistently hit on each other the entire time. Sarah, a girl from my history class, was seated next to me. While the two lovebirds were sitting out front, laughing and talking like they spent every day together, we sat awkwardly in silence, watching. She gave me a look, and we both chuckled. I guess I'm not the only one who noticed the flirting.

We had some cereal and went upstairs to my room.
"So..?" I said, and she gave me a look full of both annoyance and confusion.
"What?" she replied. I chuckled.
"I'm talking about Cheryl, girl." She shrugged her nose. "I'm not blind, you know? You've been hitting on each other the whole ride." She rolled her eyes at me.
"I don't know. She's cute."
"I already know she's cute! I'm asking for details," I cried out to her, sparkly.
She giggled. "I don't know. She's hot. I'm definitely into her. She's fun. I just- I don't think I wanna date anyone."
"What about hooking up?"
"Yeah. Totally." I snickered as she cocked her eyebrows with a wide smirk that said: 'I'm the freakiest person you'll ever meet. 'That's Julie.

We showered—me in my bathroom, she in Liam's, my brother's. We then did each other's hair and makeup, and chose our outfits. I picked an open, breezy blouse with lemons and peaches drawn on it, a basic white mini-skirt, and flavored the look with an orange belt and a matching flowered hair scarf. Julie wore a red lace bra and some mom jeans. Then, she borrowed a silver necklace with a tiny dagger surrounded by roses.

"Shall we?" she asked me before opening my mom's car door to let me in the copilot's seat.
"We shall," I grinned at her and sat down. She went all the way back and entered the car by my side.
"This is our summer, sweetie." She drew for me a gentle smile before starting the car.

We arrived at the party and entered the house. Straight on from the main door, the living room was filled with drunk people dancing and making out—the typical sweaty teen bodies in heat. Elle saw us in the distance and came our way to say hi. "Hey, guys! You made it." I smiled. "Do you want me to introduce you to someone? Or you can socialize alone?" she asked with an amusing grin.
"I don't know. Maybe introduce us to a couple guys?" I answered with a look that gave back to hers.
"Yeah, sure." She walked outside, and we followed her. "Guys!" she called to the group sitting beside the pool. "This is Julie." She pointed at her. "My cousin." Then, she pointed at me. "And her friend, Sam." Julie smiled.
"Hi," I said.
"This is Evan, Santana, Morgan, and Jackson," she introduced them and left.
"We're playing Dare or Drink. Wanna play?" they suggested.
"Dare or Drink?" Julie questioned, confused.
"Yeah, it's like Truth or Dare, but instead of Truth, it's Never Have I Ever." We both agreed and sat next to them.
"Dare or Drink?" Santana asked me with a kinky smirk.