Misplaced (COMPLETED)

3. a sacrificial rain dance?

Waves crash over hidden sand bars, sending water spiralling out across the beach in long licks. Crash. Crash. Crash. The sound resonates in my ears, punctuated only by the light cacophony of birds chirping in the distance. Adjusting my dark sunglasses I shift to make myself more comfortable on the wide retaining wall I've ungracefully sprawled across.

"Blue or red?" Zoe asks, breaking Mother Nature's peaceful lullaby. Unlike myself, sleep is not infringing upon Zoe's mind - her stomach is. She too sits on the wall, her feet dangling off the edge and counting every coin we managed to scab from our pockets like our lives depend on it.

"Red, thanks." I respond.

Twisting my neck to the side, I allow the hot sun to beat golden waves of solid UV over my body. I've never been the biggest fan of the outdoors but as I bask in the afternoon light, my bare legs stretched out next to me, I realise I could get used to this. Let me rephrase: my quickly developing tan could really get used to it.

Zoe skips over to the small take-out shop not far from the retaining wall and soon returns with two bright red slushies clasped tightly in her hands.

"Thank you," I say taking one of the frosty drinks from her and sitting up to take one long slurp from it.

It's been a week now and I've somehow managed to avoid almost all forms of interaction with Zachary. I've encouraged my family to participate in having early breakfasts to promote a more productive use of daylight hours and, if timing is unkind to me, I also encourage them to sit at the table furthest from his brown mop of hair had we happen to be in any dining room the same time as him. Despite Zoe still managing to drag me off to cheap house parties and the occasional poolside hang-out, Zach has not made an appearance at any of these events, much to my relief.

"We should go shopping," Zoe announces a few moments later.

"Sure," I agree, "Any particular reason?"

"Perhaps," Her lips curl upwards in a slow smile known to occur before she introduces me to her newest, most controversial idea.  

"Yeah? And what's that?"

Crossing her legs over and shuffling so she's sitting directly opposite me, the small smile begins to excitedly unravel across her face. "So, I know a guy. A weird guy. Actually, he's kind of a cute guy-"

"Zoe." I urge her to get to her point.

"Right, right. I know a guy who's co-hosting this epic bonfire down at Southern Beach tomorrow. You know that one with all the giant mangroves? Anyway, its meant to be some annual party with a lot of dancing the locals hold to mark the beginning of some ancient ritual where certain objects are sacrificed to ensure the Gods supply plenty of rain for their crops or something. I don't know much about it. It's called The Vocatio, I think. He told me to bring friends along."

"The Vocatio?" My voice is thick with scepticism. "A sacrificial rain dance?"

"That's what it used to be," Zoe is quick to clarify. "Now it's just an excuse for teens to sacrifice their livers for one drunken night of rebellious freedom. It's gonna be fun, I promise!"

"I don't know Zoe. That sounds pretty wild, even for you . . . "

"Come on Kales! It's meant to be mad! And if it does get too crazy, then we'll just leave. Whenever you want to, whatever the time or circumstances. My guarantee."

I don't know if it's the slushie intoxicating me with unnatural sugar, if it was Mother Nature's perfect weather or just Zoe's infectious smile already blooming across her face at the thought of this supposedly grand night. But somehow, my own lips found themselves curling upwards in the same hopeful grin. "Alright. Let's do it."