Chapter 2

Senior Year

“But mom, it’s the last bonfire of the summer!” She hands me a bowl filled with lettuce and I begin tossing in the chopped-up vegetables automatically. “Everyone is going to be there. This one is extra important because senior year starts tomorrow. All of the underclassmen are getting kicked out at 11 pm and us seniors get to spend..”

“Kicked out?” Mom interrupts me. “How do you get them all to leave?”

“I don’t know. It’s a tradition, it happens every year.” I wave my hand, dismissing the concern. “So pleaaaase, can I go?” I plead.

“Fine,” mom pauses mid-slice, turning to face me and leaving the slab of the meat on the marble cutting board in front of her. “But, you have to get your backpack and summer assignments ready for your first day tomorrow.” I nod excitedly. “AND,” mom says to get my attention back, “and you have to be back at midnight.”

“YES! Thank you, mom, thank you!” I throw my arms around her for a tight hug.

“Careful,” she chuckles and sets the knife down just in case. She turns to face me and looks me over. “I’m serious, be careful.”

“I’m always careful, mom,” this elicits a snort of laughter from her. “I’m careful most of the time.”

“I suppose that’s true. Are you joining us for lunch?” Mom joined a book club at the beginning of summer but I’m not sure they’ve actually read anything. Every time I see them together, all they are doing is eating lunch and gossiping. I never see any books at these events.

“Not today, I’m going to the mall with Emily and Elizabeth. We need new outfits for tonight.” I grab a piece of meat from the sliced piled on the cutting board and munch while mom finishes preparing everything. The doorbell rings and I wipe my hands off before going to answer the door.

“Mom! Your book club is here!” I call out and let the two women into the house. I leave the door unlocked knowing there are a couple more that will show up soon.

“I don’t like the way she said that,” Margot laughs as she makes her way into the kitchen to help my mom set out everything. “It is a real book club.” She winks at me.

“Of course,” I wink back at her and offer a smile as well. She gives me a side hug then takes the salad bowl from me and grabs another plate off the island to bring to the dining table. “Okay, I’m off to the mall! I will text you when we head to the bonfire. Don’t wait up!” I call on my way out the door.

“Oh, I will!” I hear mom call after me and I roll my eyes then jog down the walkway to where Emily is parked by the curb.

“Hey, about time, I texted you like ten minutes ago.” Emily locks the doors behind me and pulls back into the street, heading towards the mall.

“You could have come in, you know?” I put my seatbelt on as she floors it out of my neighborhood and onto the highway.

“No thanks, that book club scares me.” Emily comments which makes me and Elizabeth laugh. “I’m not even joking. Those women are vicious, I’d probably get torn apart for what I’m wearing.” I look over her outfit and nod in agreement.

“So what are we thinking for our outfits for tonight? Because I am starting to freak out, Jeremy hasn't noticed me all summer,” Elizabeth sighs and scrolls through outfit ideas online.

“He has definitely noticed you. You practically threw yourself at him last week.” Emily teases Elizabeth as she pulls into the parking lot for the mall. I laugh remembering that day.

“Hey! I did not throw myself at him, I literally tripped and he caught me. Like the gentleman that he is.” Elizabeth sighs, in love, then dramatically throws open the car door and heads towards the mall entrance.

“Come out, Emily,” I lean against the wall with my new outfit slung over my arm.

“Guys, I’m hungry,” Elizabeth whines and flops down on the ottoman outside the changing rooms. We’ve been trying on clothes for about two hours and Elizabeth has been sucking air through the straw of her empty smoothie cup for around an hour. She also finished Emily’s smoothie and mine.

“One last option, then we can go get something to eat before the bonfire. I doubt there will be anything substantial to eat there. Nothing except s’mores and chips.” Emily finally steps out of the changing room, she’s wearing a cute sundress. She does a spin in front of the mirror, admiring the look.

“Ooo, s’mores sounds good.” Elizabeth sits up and looks over Emily, ready to make her judgment. “It’s perfect.” She states simply.

“Char, Em, Liz! You all made it!” Tiffany grabs us all in a tight hug. We all mumble hellos and eventually get ourselves detached from her grip. “Where have you girls been? The party started like over an hour ago.”

“Just getting ready for the first day of senior year!” Emily responds in a happy tone.

“Oh, there’s Jeremy!” Elizabeth squeaks and Emily smiles politely at Tiffany before Elizabeth drags us away to talk strategy.

“Why can she never say anyone’s full name?” Emily rubs her arm where Elizabeth grabbed her but takes long strides to keep up with us.

“Guys, focus.” Elizabeth waves her hand in front of us and then gestures toward Jeremy. “What do I do? Should I approach him? What should I say? What if he rejects me?”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down. You jumped to rejection way too quickly. Just go over, say hi, ask if he’s ready for senior year. He plays football, right? Ask him how the team is looking this year. Stuff like that.” I nod in approval but Elizabeth still looks extremely nervous.

“Elizabeth,” I say softly and she turns to look at me. I’ve only ever done this once but Elizabeth needs this. I take her wrist and look into her eyes. “There is no reason to be nervous, you are amazing and he will not reject you.” I place the words into her head and see her eyes glaze over, there’s a fog around us, making it look like we’re just talking. Once I let go of her wrist, her eyes clear up and she smiles at me.

“What am I so worried about? I’m amazing!” Elizabeth cheers happily and Emily laughs. Elizabeth walks over to Jeremy and he smiles as she approaches. I want to get closer and listen to their interaction but before I can move, Emily hip bumps me behind a tree.

“Hey! What was that for?” I grab the tree to keep from tripping over its roots.

“Shh!” Emily shushes me and points a couple of feet to our right. “Looks like someone decided to crash a high school party.”

“Oh no, what is he doing here?” I sigh as I watch my ex-boyfriend, Axel, walk towards the center of the party with his crew in tow.