Summer

Chapter 17

The weekend flies by and before I know it, it's Sunday night and we're making our way to the carnival. When we get there, I'm in awe of what I see. The town looks beautiful; like a giant lit up amusement park.

"Have you heard from Cassie?" Liam asks me as we make our way to the ticket booth.

"Yeah, she just texted me. They're parking now."

"Great. Let her know that we'll take care of the tickets."

Liam ends up purchasing 100 tickets, which basically means that we're going to be here all night. We play one round of the balloon pop game before meeting Cassie and Kyle at the Ferris wheel.

"Liam, this is my boyfriend Kyle. Kyle, this is my third favorite cousin, Liam," Cassie jokes as she pulls Kyle in to meet Liam's stance. "You already know Fee and Jacob."

"Nice to meet you, Kyle," Liam says, lifting his hand out.

"You too, man," Kyle says as he shakes Liam's hand.

"So, what do you guys say we ride the Ferris wheel first and then work our way around?" Liam proposes.

"Let's do it," Cassie says.

As we make our way to the entrance, I see Noah, Justin, Cecilia, and Samantha standing by the snow cone truck. I manage to avoid them for the next 2 hours, and after riding the Ferris wheel twice, the bumper cars once, and playing a few arcade games, my brothers are ready to call it a night.

"What?! You guys can't leave now. It's only 10," Cassie says.

"I'm so tired," Liam says mid-yawn. "Plus, I have to be up for a conference call tomorrow morning."

"Fine, but Fee's not leaving." I look at her skeptically and Cassie reaches for my hand, tugging at it playfully. "C'mon, this is when it gets good. The music gets loud, they give out free drinks. You're staying."

I look at Liam, who seems hesitant. "Kyle, you good to drive my sister home later?"

"Yeah, man, it's no problem."

"No drinking, right?"

"No way. I don't fuck around when it comes to drug tests."

"Aright then." Liam looks at me. "Fee, we'll see you at home."

"Try to stay out of trouble, will ya?" Jacob jokes, and I smile at my brothers before watching them walk out.

"Let's go get a drink," Cassie says as she pulls me towards the bar.

"Cassie, noooo," I whine, but we're already halfway there.

"Two Heinekens, please," she tells the bartender.

"Oh, no, not for me," I say. "I have so much schoolwork to do tomorrow."

"And you'll get it done," Cassie says.

"No, really, I can't, I-"

"Yes, really, you can," she says and turns back to the bartender. "Actually, make those two tequila sodas." The bartender looks at me for confirmation, and when I don't say anything, he takes that as his sign to prepare our order.

"I don't drink tequila," I tell her.

"You do tonight," Cassie says as she whips out her wallet.

"Let me then," I offer, but she fights me with her hand.

"Don't even think about it. You guys got the tickets, I got the drinks."

Cassie takes the drinks from the bartender and hands me mine. "Cheers to a good night," she says, raising her cup.

"Cheers," I worriedly say, clinking mine to hers.

As I sip the tequila soda, I see Noah standing by the bumper cars with Cecilia. She's looking at him, but he's staring at me.

It's safe to say that Cecilia and I have completely different styles when it comes to clothes. She's all about the short, tight dresses and I'm into jeans and cardigans.

"I gotta pee," Cassie spits the straw out of her mouth and says. "Want to come with me to the bathroom?"

"No, but I'll wait for you here."

"Okay, be right back." She slings her bag over her shoulder. "Don't move."

I turn back around to face the bar, whip out my cellphone, and scroll through Instagram. The last thing I need to watch is Cecilia holding onto Noah's waist. I don't know why I care when I can't stand him. Because, I can't stand him...right?

"Can I get you anything else?" the bartender asks me about 5 minutes later.

"No, I'm go-"

"Yeah," a voice interrupts. "She'll have the punch."