14 Days

5

Apparently, Beau wanted to be at the amusement park with those his own age too because, there he was, interacting with Johnny while in line for a ride when evening came around.

When we met up with our parents for lunch earlier, it was hella awkward and painful for my eardrums. Mom discovered the truth. Although the volleyball attack was an accident, she gave a lecture about how competition is great and all, but keep your head on straight, or something along those lines. I wasn't listening all that much. Contrary to popular belief, I did continue to feel like shit, especially when spotting the light bruising around Beau's nose.

We didn't associate the rest of the afternoon. Hell, he didn't even say hi when meandering towards us at the front gates of the park at six o'clock that night. The only reason he knew where we were going, and what time, was because he overheard me talking at lunch, but I didn't even get an acknowledgement of my existence? Ok, cool, whatever.

He was steering clear of me, speaking mostly with Johnny as we went from ride to ride and stall to stall. Not that I cared. Avi was shit at the games so watching his failures turn into cries of anguish over lost money was hilarious. Tara was pretty shy, hiding mostly behind Jill, but when she did get excited she'd forget what quiet meant and shout or squeal. Jill was about as rowdy as me so while the others needed a break from the rides, we kept on truckin'.

Thinking back, there was nothing exceedingly special about that evening. No signs that our lives would change from a few actions. I was laughing with new acquaintances that, if we had the time to get to know each other better, may have been friends one day.

And Beau? He was suddenly missing. So was Johnny.

"Hey, where'd Beau and Johnny go?" I asked upon discovering that the two quiet ones of the group had somehow vanished.

"Huh?" Avi spun around in search of our missing companions.

"They probably got tired of us and went off on their own," said Jill between bites of her cotton candy. Tara was pulling a few pieces of the fluff off as well. "Johnny just broke up with his boyfriend before the trip so he has disappeared on us a few times when he needed the space. Maybe Beau followed him somewhere to relax for a bit."

"Or make out." Avi sniggered.

Tara's shoulders slumped forward resulting in Avi poking her childishly in the ribs a few times. She didn't so much as flinch, only shoved another handful of sweet rejection fluff in her mouth.

"They'll probably pop back up later, come on!" Jill grabbed my arm. "Let's ride the ferris wheel!"

With no time to argue, I was tugged along by the group that weren't nearly as shocked by the idea of Beau sneaking off with Johnny as I was.

Although I laughed and smiled on the ferris wheel and through the crowded pier, my thoughts did not mirror such happiness. In a sense, I almost felt guilty for denying it; Beau didn't go off with Johnny. They weren't alone together. They weren't doing anything. There was no need to worry because it was Beau, as if that somehow proved anything.

Besides, even if they were together...it wasn't any of my business. What he did was none of my concern. Who he decided to do anything with wasn't any of my business, nor was I saddened by that fact. I didn't care.

More like I didn't want to care.

When the evening came to an end, Beau and Johnny were nowhere to be found. Neither were answering their phones either. Jill, Avi, Tara, and I separated around eleven since they were leaving early in the morning to return home. I overheard Avi betting with Tara on whether or not Johnny would even show up until morning. My chest tightened. I pretended not to notice, just like I pretended I didn't go to the dark beach to mope.