by McKayla Box
“I think I would've rather seen Wheeler pissing in his pants,” Maddie says.
“I don't really wanna see either of them ever again,” I say. “I just kind of want to have a fun end of summer. I don't need to be doing this shit for the next couple of weeks.”
“I don't know,” Bridget says. “I feel like I'm going to start calling you Nancy Drew. You can start charging people money to help them solve their cases.”
I laugh. “People don't have cases.”
“You don't know that,” she says. “We need to advertise and see what happens.”
“Oh my god stop,” I say. “This is absurd. It wasn't that hard and Matt caved because Brett threatened to kick his ass. It wasn't like we had to drag it out of him. And, honestly. Trevor still has a lot of shit to get untangled.”
“Whatever,” Maddie says. “We're going shopping and getting lunch and then getting drunk tonight. Deal with it, Nancy Drew.”
I laugh.
My friends are off.
And true to their word, we spend the day shopping and eating and goofing off. It's the polar opposite of the day before. I'm laughing and acting silly and everything feels normal. We get sandwiches at a deli and ice cream cones from the ice cream shop and spend the better part of the day walking the outdoor mall, window shopping and talking. I know how much I'm going to miss them – to miss this kind of thing – but I try not to focus on that and instead, just enjoy the day.
They drop me off at home around dinner time. Gina says there's an impromptu party down near the pier, so we all go home to clean up. I take ninety minutes to shower, dress, and do my makeup. My dad's already texted, letting me know he's working late. I tell him I'm going down to the beach, but I'll be home later on.
Maddie is back in my driveway at eight and the sun is setting over the ocean as we pull into the parking lot at the beach, an explosion of purples and oranges on the horizon. I love a lot of things about living near the beach, but the sunsets might be on top of the list because they're different every single night.
For an impromptu party, there are a lot of people on the sand. Music is playing, people are grouped in clusters, and the bonfires are raging. Trevor is already there and he's halfway up the sand as we're crossing the parking lot. He picks me up and kisses me.
“I missed you,” he says. “You ditched me last night.”
“I passed out,” I tell him. “I'm sorry.”
“Your dad offered to wake you up,” he says. “I told him not to.”
“I would've woken up.”
He kisses me again. “You were worth the wait.”
“Oh god,” Jake says, coming up the sand. “You two are like an old married couple.”
“Old married couples don't look at each other like that,” Maddie tells him.
“That's fair,” Jake says. He glances at Gina. “You still owe me from the other night.”
“I don't owe you shit,” she tells him. “I said I'd think about it.”
“How long does it take to think about having the best sex of your life?” he asks.
“Not long at all,” she answers. “But it's taking awhile thinking about having sex with you.”
We all laugh and Jake just shakes his head.
We make our way down to one of the bonfire rings. The fire is crackling and Brett is lounging in one of the chairs set up around the ring. He holds up the beer in his hand when he turns and sees us.
“Chairs?” Bridget asks. “This is new.”
“We went all out,” Brett says. “Jake's tired of getting sand in his ass.”
Jake kicks at the back of his chair. Brett laughs.
We grab chairs. The fire is warm and I end up scooting back in the sand. Trevor's fingers are interlocked with mine. I'm happy to sit quietly for awhile and listen to my friends chat and laugh and give each other a hard time. I want to take a picture of the night so I don't ever forget it.
The sun dips below the ocean and the fire burns brighter. More people show up and the beach is crowded. I wonder what my life would be like if I'd stayed in Virginia and never come to Sunset Beach. I wonder what I'd be doing at the exact same moment on other side of the country. It's a weird feeling thinking about how my entire life changed when my dad told me we were moving.
Now, it feels like I've lived here for forever and I barely remember my old life.
I like the new one.
“You're quiet,” Trevor says. “You alright?”
I smile at him. “I'm good. Just taking it all in.”
“What does that mean?”
I lean over and kiss him. “It means I'm happy. That's all.”
His hand brushes my cheek. “Me, too.”
“Did you guys talk anymore about the rest of the...stuff?” I ask. “After I left yesterday?”
He shrugs. “A little bit. Al made some phone calls and he was trying to see if they could do anything with the other charges. I have no idea.” He pauses. “But I was thinking about something else.”
“What?” I ask.
“I haven't said anything to my dad or Al yet, so don't say anything,” he says.
“I won't. You know that.”
He looks at the fire for a second, then moves his gaze back to me. “I was thinking that maybe I might change my plea.”
I'm surprised. “Really?”
He nods.
“You're talking about pleading guilty, right?” I say. “Just so I understand?”
He nods again. “Yeah. Maybe that's just the smart thing to do.”
“Okay,” I say. “But why now? After all this time, why change your mind now?”
He shuffles his bare feet in the sand. “I don't know. I've just been thinking about things and maybe it's just the smarter thing to do. It'll kill me, but maybe it just makes more sense.”
I squeeze his hand. “It won't kill you.”
He shrugs. “It might.” He laughs. “I know it won't. And I hate that I'd basically be losing to some shithead like Derek.” He pauses. “But maybe you've been right all along. It's not about winning something. If I can just end it all and move on, maybe that's the best thing to do.”
“You know that's what I've said all along,” I tell him.
“Is that your way of saying I told you so?”
I shake my head. “No. It's really not. I just mean that if that's what you want to do, I'll support you. You know that. I'm with you no matter what you decide.”
We watch the fire. It cracks and pops, bits of ash drifting up into the air like fireflies.
“I mean, if Al can get it down to a misdemeanor or something and all I have to do is pay a fine or do some community service or whatever, then that just seems smarter,” he finally says. “He's said all along that no matter what, he was confident he could get a suspended sentence if I admitted guilt. And that's at the very worst.” He looks at me. “So maybe I just need to do that.”
“You still haven't answered my question,” I say.
“Which one?”
“About why you're changing your mind,” I say. “You said you've been thinking about things. What things?”
He looks at the fire. “I don't know. All of them, I guess. Some of the stuff we've talked about. You leaving. Me figuring my own shit out. Probably easier to deal with those things if I'm not sitting in jail.” He turns back to me again. “But it's also just that I'm sick of the bullshit. And I think realized that yesterday when everyone realized I wasn't lying about Derek. I'm tired of everyone looking at me like I'm the bad guy. But I sort of encourage it, right? If I'm going to be arrogant and stupid, why would anyone think of me any differently? I'm always going to be that guy until I decide not to be that guy.” He pauses. “And I think maybe I'm tired of being that guy. If Al can get it all sorted out and we can end it, then fuck it. I feel like that's the way to stop being that guy.”
It's probably the most mature thing I've ever heard him say.
I lean over and kiss him.
“Jesus!” Jake yell
s. “Enough already!”
I laugh and pull back. “If that's what you want to do, then do it. But you aren't that guy. I know better.” I put my hand on his cheek. “But I also don't want you sitting in jail and being haunted by this for the rest of your life. I'm all on board with you ending it. And I won't say that I told you so.”
“You already did,” he reminds me.
“Then I won't say it again.”
He laughs but leans over and kisses me. He starts to pull away, but I hang onto him for an extra second.
I love this boy so much it makes my heart ache.
And right at that moment, I feel like my life is awesome.
Like it can't get any better and that I'm the luckiest girl walking the planet. I feel like it's all going in the right direction and I can see the path in front of us.
And then, just like that, it all goes to complete and utter shit.
TWENTY FIVE
I hear his voice before I actually see him.
“Is this an actual party?” Kane Tressle says. “Looks more like an asshole hangout.”
I turn in my chair in the direction of his voice. He's walking toward the fire from the edge of the water. There are four other guys with him, all of them big and bulky, like an offensive line in football. They've come from somewhere up the beach and emerged in the darkness like one big nightmare.
Trevor's hand grips mine.
Kane looks down at the pile of wood next to the fire ring, grabs a small piece, and tosses it into the fire. The flames hiss and pop and rise a little higher.
He grins. “Just wanna make sure we keep this party going.”
No one says anything.
He looks across the flames at me. “How you doing, honey?”
“Go fuck yourself,” Jake says, standing up.
Brett gets up next to him.
“Okay, Jake,” he says, chuckling. “If you say so.” It's condescending and shitty and his friends laugh behind him.
A couple of the other guys with us stand up.
I can already feel where this is heading.
“Trev, you got a bad knee or something?” Kane asks. “How come you haven't gotten up with the rest of you buddies here? Show some respect, dude.”
I put my hand on his forearm.
He doesn't move, but he's staring across the fire.
“Ladies, maybe you should get up, too,” Kane says, grinning. “Let's get a look at those asses.”
“The only asses here are you and your buddies,” Gina says.
He laughs and looks across the ring at Bridget. “Bridge. Come on now. I know what a fine ass you have. Let me get a look at it. Again.”
She bites her bottom lip and looks down at her lap.
Kane laughs.
“Take a walk,” Brett says.
Kane looks at him. “Shut the fuck up.”
Brett smiles. “Make me.”
“In a minute,” Kane says, looking toward Trevor. “Trev. Really? You're too much of a pussy to stand up? You don't want any of this?”
I squeeze his forearm. “Don't move. This is the same thing as the other night. Let it go.”
“The fuck are you telling him?” Kane says. “Jesus. Do you keep his nuts in your purse? Does he have to ask for them when he wants them?”
His friends laugh.
“Don't,” I say again. “He's not worth it.”
Trevor doesn't say anything, just stares across the fire, his face illuminated by the flames.
“Heard you beat the crap out of Derek Morgan,” Kane says, grinning. “Man, buddy. I didn't know you had it in you to go after someone like that. Kid is sipping through a straw now.”
His friends laugh again.
“You did that,” I say. “You did that.”
“Hey, you do still talk,” Kane says, pointing at me. “I didn't do anything, sweetheart. Not sure what you're talking about. I just heard about what your boyfriend did to poor Derek.”
I know he's baiting me, too. He's pushing. He wants a fight and he wants a response from us. He's just looking to cause trouble. It's what he does best. He's really good at finding the right buttons to push.
I have to make a decision.
Ignore him or let it go? Do I take my own advice or do I ignore it?
“Jail's gonna suck, my dude,” Kane says. “Can't believe you'd be so dumb, Trev.” He shakes his head like he's sad. “So, so dumb.”
“I talked to Matt Wheeler yesterday,” I say.
His smile flickers and he puts his hands on his hips. He shrugs. “Who the fuck is Matt Wheeler?”
“You don't remember him?” I say. “That's weird. He was with Derek when you kicked the shit out of him. You don't remember?”
“I didn't kick the shit out of anyone,” he says.
I know that if I go further, any hope that Matt had of keeping distance between himself and Kane will be gone. Kane will know Matt's talked and that'll be it. I don't want to put Matt in his crosshairs, but just like he made his decision to lie to the police, I have to make mine as to how to handle this.
“That's weird,” I say. “Because Matt says you did. He distinctly remembers having a conversation with you after you attacked Derek. And it had to be you. No one ever forgets your ugly fucking face.”
A few people on our side of the fire laugh.
Kane does not.
“You didn't hear?” I ask. “I really thought you were in the loop. The charges against Trevor were dropped.” I wait a moment. “After Matt went back to the police and told them he lied and Trevor was never there.”
For the first time, Kane looks unsure of himself. Up until that moment, he's been all confidence and cockiness. Now, he looks like he doesn't know what to do.
Which just pushes me further.
“Hey, and this is a super big fucking coincidence,” I say. “I had no idea Matt's mom worked for your dad. Totally weird, right?”
The anger takes hold of his expression and it's obvious, even on the other side of the fire ring.
He knows that I know.
“But maybe Matt was just confused,” I say. “Maybe it was some other dickhead holding him down in the sand and blackmailing him. Possible, right?” Then I shake my head. “Actually, it's not. It was you. He wouldn't get that fucking ugly face wrong.”
“And the fucking smell,” Gina says.
“Fuck you,” he snaps at Gina.
She laughs.
He looks back at me. “You need to stop running your mouth.”
“Do I?” I say. “I don't think I do. I mean, you aren't even a good villain, Kane. You're a fucking amateur. You make threats, you puff your chest out, you try to scare people. But you're so dumb you can't even do it right.” I shake my head. “So maybe rather than asking Trevor about going to jail, you start trying to figure out who's going to visit you when they arrest your big, dumb ass.”
More people laugh and I'm not sure if it's because they think it's funny or because they're nervous.
Brett and Jake are still standing, along with the others.
Trevor hasn't moved from his chair.
I'm not even sure he's blinked, his eyes locked on Kane.
“You've got a big fucking mouth,” Kane says.
“Yeah, I do,” I say. “And I love talking. Like, say, to the police. And lawyers. It's kind of fun.”
His jaw locks and the look in his eyes is murderous. He really is a fucking psychopath.
Gina stands up. “Maybe you girls should leave now. I think she's undressed you enough already. Anymore would be super fucking embarrassing. Go home and suck each other's dicks or whatever you clowns do.”
There's more laughter.
Kane stands there, his friends behind him, watching him.
Brett's hands flex at his sides.
Jake licks his lips.
Trevor is frozen in his chair.
Kane bends down and grabs another piece of wood. He tosses it into the fire. The fire rises again, the flames snapping and hissin
g in the dark. The flames reacher higher for a moment, then sink back down.
“Trev, your girl needs to learn to shut the fuck up,” Kane finally says.
“I think she's doing just fine,” Trevor says.
It's the first time he's spoken and it's odd to hear his voice.
“Hey, did she give you permission to speak?” Kane asks. “I didn't hear you ask her.”
Trevor smiles but doesn't say anything.
“Must be rough,” Kane says. “Being so whipped like that. I always knew you were a pussy, but I didn't think I'd ever see you like this. Fucking sad, dude.”
I grip Trevor's forearm. I know it has to be killing him to just sit there and listen to Kane, but I also know that after getting the charges dropped, he's this much closer to having everything straightened out. He can't let an asshole like Kane Tressle undo all of that. He just can't.
“The only fucking sad thing here is you,” Gina says, walking around the fire. “You're just pathetic.” She stands right in front of Kane and he looks down at her. “Honestly. Just pathetic. You stand here and try to be funny, but all that happens is everyone sees how fucking stupid you are. Take your boy band and go home.” She raises her hand and pokes him in the chest. “Go. Home.”
People snicker and, for a moment, I think she's embarrassed him enough that he's going to leave. Put his tail between his legs and go. That would be the smart thing to do.
But Kane Tressle isn't smart.
He's an asshole.
He grabs her arm and shoves her to the side. Hard.
She stumbles and falls to the sand.
And all hell breaks loose.
TWENTY SIX
Jake is on Kane seemingly before anyone else moves.
Brett is right behind him.
Trevor starts to move and I launch myself out of the chair at him. I wrap my arms around him and we tumble to the sand.
“No!” I say to him, my nose inches from his. “No! Do no do this!”
He's staring at me, fury in his eyes, his chest heaving, but he doesn't move.
Yet.
I hear all of the commotion behind me and I turn around.
The girls have scattered away from the ring and most of the boys are in various states of punching and wrestling and fighting. It's a battle royale on the other side of the fire.
