Worth the Ache

Chapter 1

July 22, 2016

It was hotter than normal today, and my anxious nerves weren't exactly helping me cool down. I wasn't a hundred percent sure he would be there tonight, but a big part of myself knew he would be. I was sitting across the street with my best friend watching the boys splash around the pool. I had gotten up all my nerves to put my swimsuit on, but I still couldn't quite get myself to actually cross the street and get in the water.

"Come on dude, they're gonna leave before we even get there." Said Lizzy. She was my best friend, but she also was extremely annoying at this moment.

"I'm working on it." I groaned. She didn't understand the bubble of anxiety that was filling my chest. I could feel my heart beating in every inch of my body. She has never had any problem talking to guys, hell she's never had a problem landing a guy. She was tall, blonde, and a size double D. Not that that made a difference or anything.

I was about to push myself to take that first step when I noticed all the boys were already getting put of the water. I had missed my shot. He still might be there tonight, but right now was my only sure thing with him. 

"See, look they're leaving! Can we go swim now?" She whined. 

"Yeah, let's go."

I started my walk over with Lizzy at my side. She took the lead and I stayed behind following her from a slight distance. 

"Hey Ethan, I'll see you tonight," She purred as she passed him. He was way to young for her, but that never kept her from being on full flirt mode 24/7. Besides Ethan was madly in love with me. To bad he was about a foot shorter and a year younger. Following suit of Ethan were several other boys, including Alex. Not that I was looking or anything. He had his head down looking at the phone of one of the other boys, not paying any attention to me walking past him.

Once we were past the boys and setting our things down at a table, the urge to swim had completely left me. 

"Maybe we should just go get ready for the bonfire, I don't want to have to wash my hair and do it again before tonight." I said, hoping she wouldn't be to upset at the suggestion. 

"We literally just got here." she sighed "but fine, let me just stand in the water for a minute to cool down." I watched her pad away and into the water. 

All I could think at that moment was how it would be so much easier if I could look like her. She has the look and the attitude that all guys wanted. Ever since Lizzy and I met she had always taken the guys I liked. Not that it was on purpose, but she couldn't help it. Guys just flocked to her side and I don't blame them. 

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Once we were back to my house, I could feel the pain in my chest return. I needed to figure out what I was going to do with my hair and what I was going to wear. 

"You should put half your hair up, that way it stays out of your face." Izzy knew best of course, so I listened. 

"Okay." I pulled the top half back into a bun and ran a straightener through the hair that stayed down.

I started rummaging through my drawers to find my shorts while Izzy looked through my shirts. We ended on a pair of denim shorts and a white lace shirt with a white shirt underneath. It felt perfect. I wanted to look good, obviously, but I didn't want to look like I was trying to hard either. 

"It's five minutes until seven, we should probably head over now." I told her as I padded lip gloss onto my lips. 

"What do you mean? I'm not going dressed like this. We have to stop at my house first." She told me. 

"Dude, what the hell? Were gonna be late." I started.

"I don't care, hurry up, I need clothes now."

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It was 7:30 when we had finally shown up to Ethan's house. He lived only a block away from me, and Alex was a few houses down from him. When I corned his house and saw the back gate, that's when I saw him. Alex was standing on the swing set, looking like he was about to jump. I flipped the latch on the gate and walked through. There was about ten boys there and they all stopped and looked at me. 

"H-hey," Ethan stuttered.

Alex jumped from the swing set and the rest of the boys followed suit to the fire in the middle of the yard. I awkwardly followed as well and sat in a chair next to Izzy. 

"So, what have you boys been up to?" Izzy said to the group.

All the boys looked at her, but none said a word. This was going to be an interesting night.

Izzy and I looked at each other, not quite sure what to say or to do.

"Let's play truth or dare." Said a deep voice. I had to admit it was deeper than I had imagined, but sweeter. He sounded older and wiser, but the edge in his voice told me he was just itching for a good time. 

I looked at Alex and saw the grin playing at his lips, and I knew I was in trouble.