Summer

Chapter 13

Kyle and Cassie are lounging on their striped towels when Jacob and I find them on the beach. For reasons I can't even begin to explain, they've decided to pick a spot on the sand that's right next to Justin and his crew, which also happens to be adjacent to the lifeguard stand where Noah's sitting. I shoot a quick glance his way to find him flirting with some red-head in a turquoise bikini that's one size too small. Go figure.

Justin's sitting with Cecilia, her friend who I believe is named Samantha, and some guy with a buzzcut. Both girls are laying chest-down on their towels with the strings to their bikini tops undone, while the guys are sitting on folding chairs in their Vilebrequin swim shorts drinking rosé out of plastic cups.

"Trust me, Fee, it wasn't our choice to sit here. This was the only spot that wasn't occupied," Cassie says as she catches me staring. It's scary when she reads my mind sometimes, but I'm glad to know that we're on the same page.

"No worries," I tell her. I'll just have to turn up the volume on my music to block out their obnoxiously loud conversation.

I air out my beach towel before laying it down on the sand and sitting on it with my knees up. I grab the sunscreen from my woven beach bag and hand it to Jacob once I'm done applying.

"No one bother me," he says as he sits back on his towel.

"So, how'd you feel this morning?" I turn to Cassie and ask, hugging my knees into my chest. She was so drunk last night; I was convinced she wasn't going to make it home without puking in Kyle's car first.

Cassie brings her CELINE sunglasses down to the tip of her nose. "Remind me to never have the punch again. I don't even want to know what kind of shit the boys put in there." She shakes her shoulders in disgust.

"Babe, don't even start," Kyle interrupts. "I tried pulling the cup from your hand numerous times, but, when I did, you told me to go fuck myself."

"Cassie!" I playfully hit her arm.

"I did not," she contests, but even she knows she's guilty.

"Hey, whatever you say. Don't take the sober guy's word for it," Kyle jokes as he continues to skim Men's Health.

Jacob's already out like a light and Cassie and I continue to make small talk until some random guy in orange swim trucks and round sunglasses crouches down next to us. "Hi ladies," he says, ignoring Kyle, who glowers at him. "If you're free tonight, my friends and I are throwing a pool party at my crib. Alcohol will be provided, but you'll need one of these babies to get in." He dangles several neon green plastic wristbands in front of our faces. "What do you say? Can we see you there?"

Before I can decline, Cassie hastily agrees and collects 4 wristbands from his hand.

"Nice!" the guy exclaims. "9 pm. Don't be late." He winks at us before walking away.

"I'm not going," I tell Cassie.

"Like hell you're not. You want to meet a hot guy? Then you've got to show your pretty face at parties like these."

"I don't even know who he is."

"Greg Sanders," she explains. "One of Justin's minions. Sick house, by the way."

I look at Kyle, who appears uneasy. "Sophia's right, Cass. Screw them. We don't need to be going to this." He gives Cassie a stare like he's implying something, but she dismisses it immediately.

"You're both no fun," Cassie says. "You know what? You guys do what you want, but I'm going. You can either join me or sit home like losers. You decide."

I look at Kyle the same way he's looking at me — like we both know that we don't have a choice in the matter.