46. Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Sloane
O n our last night of Spring Break, we once again walk down to The Summit to hang out with the large crowds of high schoolers, many of which are our classmates. "I'm so sorry Ky couldn't make it here," Maggie says as we sit watching the sun inch further down the horizon while Beth and Annalise are off somewhere together.
"Me, too," I say as the glorious coastal breeze blows my hair back. "I get that he has work, and I'm just so excited that he's coming to prom." My friends told me I need to trust Ky, so I put my disappointment about not seeing him this week behind me. After all, I’ve had a great time with Maggie, Beth, and Annalise, and thanks to them, I’ve mingled with other classmates who I never thought would be interested in hanging out with me.
I think about going to my first school dance ever and feel a rush of excitement. "While it kind of stinks that no one has ever asked me to a dance, I'm glad Ky said yes when I asked him. I can't wait to do the limo, dinner with you, Beth, Annalise, and your dates, prom pictures…It's going to be so much fun!"
Maggie's eyes light up, and the golden sun looks so pretty on her face which is almost not pink anymore…almost. "I know. We're going to have a blast. I'm so excited we connected this year." She gets a pensive expression. "I love that you are reserved like I am and not a big partier. It's so hard to find girlfriends who are like me." She puts her arm around my shoulder. "Thanks for being such a good friend."
"Aww, Mags!" I say as I hug her back. "I'm so glad we became friends, too. And I feel the same way. Girlfriends can be hard, and I've lost some because I'm just not going to be half drunk, chasing boys. It's just not who I am, and I'm so glad I've found a kindred spirit." I give her a gentle squeeze. Maggie and I did partake in some drinking, but not much. Personally, I don’t like the feeling of not being in control. Plus, I’m a worrier and have been called “mom” once or twice by Beth and Annalise. Since those two like to party, I feel like I need to watch over them.
We sit in silence as we watch the remaining sliver of the sun disappear below the horizon. The sky still glows with pinks and oranges. My skin feels sticky with humidity and salty air, but I feel so peaceful right now. I think about how I so wanted to be sitting here in Ky's arms, cuddling with the boy who makes me feel special and desired, a feeling that I've never felt from another boy, ever. While it would have been so cool to have him here, even for a day, I'm grateful that I have a friend by my side who appreciates me and understands me.
"Hey girlies!" Maggie and I turn around to see Beth and Annalise tromping through the sand toward us, beers in hand. They plop down beside us giggling. "We found out about a bonfire down the beach. Do you wanna go?" Beth says.
"Sure," I say and look at Maggie.
"Yeah, that sounds like fun," Maggie nods.
"Awesome," Annalise says. "We'll meet some new people, it'll be great."
"Cool," I say. "It'll be good to get away from the Dunwoody crowd for a night."
We head down the beach just past The Summit, and there's a huge crowd of kids at the bonfire. "Remember," I say to my friends, "don't accept a drink in a plastic cup from a stranger, only something sealed like a can of beer."
"Okay, Mom!" Annalise jokes.
"She's right," Maggie says, "we don't want to get roofied."
Beth and Annalise's expressions grow sober as they look around at the crowd of kids we don't know. "Yeah, you're right. We don't know any of these people. Good call." Beth says.
Music is pumping from a stereo somewhere in the crowd. When Annalise recognizes the song, she grabs our hands and starts dancing. Of course, we all start dancing with her as the chorus begins to TLC's "What About Your Friends." This is normally not my kind of music, nor do I dance in public, but I don't know any of these people, and I'm having fun with my friends on the beach. I can get lost in the crowd, and that's what I prefer. I look at Maggie who is smiling, and I'm glad she's feeling relaxed, too.
The four of us are in our own world when I realize that random guys have come up and started dancing around us. Nothing threatening, just guys dancing, and I think about how funny it is because we don't get this kind of attention from guys at our own school. I say to Maggie, "I think my theory is right." She gives me a questioning glance. "That at our own school, we're classified from middle school and stuck into groups." I nod to the cute boys dancing with us. "These guys are interested in us because they don't know us. They must find us cute and fun, something that doesn't happen back home."
Maggie looks around, and I can see the wheels spinning in her head. A smile spreads across her face. "You're right!" She pauses before excitement fills her eyes making them sparkle in the firelight, "I can't wait for college."
"Me neither." Her excitement is contagious, and I think about all the possibilities of a fresh start in a place where no one knows me. I think about Ky and how he was definitely attracted to me when he first saw me. "It's going to be amazing," I tell her and grab her hand, twirling her around.
When Maggie spins back and faces me, her eyes are wide. "Do you see that cute boy dancing behind me? He's so hot."
I can't help but smile. "Go dance with him." I nod to Beth and Annalise who are dancing together, but a pair of guys are trying to dance with them. "Just keep an eye on them."
Maggie nods. I know she will look after them and she hasn’t had a drink all day. I turn and head toward the water since my friends are having a blast dancing. Even though Ky couldn't come down here, I respect him and am not going to get jiggy with some random dude. Dancing in a group with my girlfriends is one thing, but now that these guys are here, this is a good time for me to bow out and sit in the sand and soak in the beautiful water for one last night. I walk away from the group, closer to where the waves crash on the sand. The dark, inky sky is clear tonight and stars begin to dot the sky. I feel a pang of loneliness as I think of Ky and wish he were here. I've longed for a relationship for so long and while I'm so grateful to have one, it would have been so different to have a boyfriend from my school. To hold hands with in the halls, to go to dances together, to cuddle with under the stars at the beach on spring break. I'm lost in my thoughts when I hear a laugh that I recognize, and my stomach clenches anxiously. I turn toward the sound and see Amber Gates with two guys just down the beach. "Ugh," I think to myself, "I guess we weren't the only Dunwoody kids to find out about the bonfire."
As I watch Amber drink from her plastic cup, I can see the boys seem to be holding her up. I sit up straighter. "What's going on?" I think to myself, now on high alert. It looks like one of the guys is groping her, and I feel so unsettled. This doesn't feel right. Instinct takes over, and I hop off the sand and jog down the beach. When I approach the trio, I realize these boys aren't from Dunwoody and Amber looks like she doesn't know what's going on.