Audrey
We walkalong the shore until the shouts and music from our classmates fade away. I probably should have stayed to make sure Tiffany isn’t out of control, but she’ll have to learn to handle herself after I graduate. Besides, I left her in Stella’s capable hands. She’ll get a taste of what I deal with all the time when she’s not visiting us. Though, I’m sure those visits will become fewer and fewer since she’s starting college soon. At least, until I move that direction. Both Justin and I plan on going to Hilltown University as fast as we can.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Justin bumps into me, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Sorry,” I look up at him and get an eye full of sunshine. “Just wondering if leaving Tiffany was a wise decision.”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “She’s going to have to learn one day. She won’t always have your conscience around to keep her out of trouble. I’m sure she’ll be fine. It’s not like anyone will do anything, or mess with her. She may be your younger cousin, but she’s mean as hell when push comes to shove.”
He would know. She’s popped off at him on more than one occasion when he’s done something to piss her off. “You’re right.” I lean into him despite it being hotter than hell. We’ve been dating for what seems like forever and he’s my comfortable space when everything seems too much. “Do you think it’ll be weird when we go off to college and we’ll be around people we haven’t known since they were in diapers?”
“Sure,” he says and pulls us to a stop. “Even though the college isn’t technically in a huge city, it’s still a lot of people we don’t know. I mean our town is the size of an ant hill. Anywhere would be an adventure compared to this. I did hear some whispers that some of our classmates are going there, too.”
A shudder works its way through me. “I hope they are in completely different classes than me. I’m trying to escape this place. Not run straight back to the people who think I’m some mousy girl with no ambitions, or the ability to take care of myself.”
Justin grabs my shoulders and turns me until I’m facing him. “Number one, you can take care of yourself just fine. Who cares if you don’t like to party and get wasted like the rest of the people here. That doesn’t make you mousy. It makes you smart. You don’t get caught up in any of the gossip that happens in town. None of that is a bad thing. It means you’re strong in your convictions, and if any of our classmates were smart, they’d respect that about you.”
Wow. That wasn’t what I was expecting. I never realized he felt that strongly about how others perceive me. “Do you like to do all the dumb things everyone else does?” We’ve always been together since we’ve been old enough to go to parties. I never thought to ask him before. Maybe I’ve been holding him back from all these things he’s wanted to do and experience while we’re in high school.
“I’m here with you, aren’t I?” He responds as soon as the question is out of my mouth.
“True,” I sit down on the almost muddy bank and put my feet in the water with my flipflops still on. “But that doesn’t really answer the question.”
“No, I don’t like doing all that stuff.” He takes his shoes off, tosses them aside, and sits down next to me. “That’s one of the things that I love about you. You don’t need all the drama that so many of the girls in our town crave. Everything isn’t about you, and I love being where you are. I love you.”
This boy. Even when I’m second guessing myself and worried about everyone else, he has a way of easing my mind. He still gives me butterflies even after these past few years we’ve been together. I feel like the luckiest girl in town knowing I have him in my corner. Knowing he has my back no matter what my mind tells me at times. “I love you, too.”
He pulls me toward him and I try to pull away because I’m hot and sweaty. It’s gross, but he’s not having any of that. He only holds me tighter. “We’re both gross,” he mimics my thoughts. “Might as well be gross together.” I look up at him and he’s wearing his usual smirk when he thinks he’s being funny.
“I guess,” I try to pull away again, but it’s half-hearted. The only place I ever want to be is wherever he is. It’ll also be amazing when we’re on our own and our parents aren’t interfering. Mine love him and think he’s the best thing since sliced bread. His dad isn’t my biggest fan. I wish I knew what I did to make him hate me so much. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. I don’t think I really want to know. All it would do is drive a wedge between us.
“You better cheer up or I’ll throw you in the lake.”
“You wouldn’t.” In all actuality, I wouldn’t put it past him.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out.” He grabs my hand in his and puts them in his lap. “Have your parents said anything else about you going off to college?”
I’m about to answer him when I hear Tiffany’s voice. “There you are,” she screeches. “We’ve been looking all over for you.”
I turn toward her, “I see you didn’t hurt yourself.”
“Yeah,” Stella snorts. “She almost fell and it scared the shit out of her so she got down as fast as she could.”
“I just didn’t feel like jumping into the lake,” Tiffany argues. It’s not a good one, though.
Justin’s shoulders sag when he realizes they are going to stay for a while. I know them being around all the time gets annoying, but he also knows when Stella is in town it’s a package deal. He usually doesn’t mind them, but when Tiffany has been drinking, she’s grating. And we were in the middle of a conversation.
My cousins sit down next to me, and put their feet in the water. “What are y’all doing all the way out here away from the party?” Stella asks.
“You know I don’t like large crowds of people.” I lean back a little to bask in the sun. “We just wanted to get away for a bit.”
“That makes sense,” she nods in agreement. “Your classmates seem more unruly this year than they have in the past.”
“It’s their senior year,” Tiffany laughs. “They are ready to get the hell out of here. I don’t blame them at all. I’m sure my class will be the same way when we get to that level.” She peers at both Justin and I, and squints her eyes. “But we can still have fun without them. How about a game of chicken?”
Justin looks at me and shrugs. “Let’s do it. Y’all are going down.” He knows as well as I do Tiff will keep nagging. Might as well get this over with. I have the power of sobriety on my side so this will be a quick game. Then I plan on spending some more quality alone time with my guy.