PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  “Hey,” he said, nodding at me. A brown curl slipped down his forehead, adding to his annoying charm.

  “Hi,” I muttered before shoving a glob of half-melted ice cream in my mouth to avoid conversation. Must. Not. Fall. I reminded myself.

  Ethan was tall, olive-skinned with dark, messy curls. Easily the best-looking guy in Stoneville. And also the biggest player in town. He knew the effect he had on girls, and he used it to his advantage.

  “So, we’re all set for the beach tomorrow,” Nicole told them. She sounded a little too smug, and I rolled my eyes.

  “Something in your eye, Allison?” Ethan asked, seemingly amused at my attempt at indifference.

  I clenched my jaw and almost rolled my eyes again. “That must be it, Ethan.”

  “Oh, come on. I know how bad you want to see me with my shirt off.”

  I knew it didn’t warrant a response, but I could never keep my mouth shut when Ethan provoked me. And he knew it.

  “The entire female population of this town has seen you without a shirt on. Not that exciting.”

  A slow smile spread across his face—he saw through me. I really needed to work on my sarcasm.

  He turned back to Nicole and Jeff, who were debating whether to head northeast to Hampton Beach or southeast to Horseneck Beach the next day. Not a debate I had any interest in. Though, maybe it could be okay . . . it was a day off after all.

  Nicole’s petite nose scrunched up. “Hampton is full of screaming kids. Horseneck is better.”

  “What do you think, Ethan?” Jeff asked his brother.

  Ethan stretched, raising his arms over his head so that his sleeves fell and showed off his toned biceps. His eyes darted to me before answering. “The girls wear skimpier bikinis at Hampton.”

  A gagging sound escaped my mouth before I could stop it.

  Ethan grinned, obviously delighted to get another rise out of me. “But I’ll go wherever Al wants to go. I don’t want her to have any reasons to bail on us.”

  He would twist anything I said, so this time I managed to stay quiet. Nicole met my eyes and I nodded.

  “Horseneck it is.”

  ***

  Nicole left with Ethan and Jeff a little while later, all three of them excited about the band playing tonight at The Bean Counter. Ethan had made an impressive effort to convince me to come along, but going to the packed coffee house sounded horrible to me. Thank goodness I had my own car and could use needing to go get us food for the beach as an opt out.

  “I’ll be over at seven-thirty a.m. sharp!” Nicole hollered from Jeff’s jeep as he pulled away.

  Right. Sure, she would.

  ***

  I chuckled as I drove home from the grocery store, remembering Nicole’s claim that she’d be ready early. All of our lives I’d had to drag her out the door, kicking and screaming, just to get her to school on time.

  I pulled into the driveway, grabbed the bags, and headed up the stairs of the front porch. Twigs snapping in the woods broke through the quiet night. As I looked around to see what might have made the noise, a shiver ran down my spine. The yard was dark, and the porch light didn’t reach more than five feet off the steps.

  I shook my head, irritated by my paranoia and walked through the front door.

  Gram sat on the couch with a crossword book on her lap, and my mother was watching a game show on TV. Pop was slouched in his chair, eyes closed under the half-moon glasses that had slid down low on his nose.

  I smiled at them as I quietly set my keys on the sideboard.

  At that moment, it wasn’t hard to believe that my mother was the happy, carefree girl everyone claimed she was before I was born. The glow from the lamp brightened her partially damp hair. A stranger wouldn’t think she was much older than me she looked so young. Even staring at the TV with her mouth slightly open, she was beautiful.

  “What time will you be heading to the beach tomorrow?” Gram asked without looking up.

  “Nicole says she’ll be here at seven-thirty. “ I sighed, pulling a cooler out of the closet. “What do you think the odds are of that happening?”

  “No comment, Allie-girl,” Gram replied, a twinkle in her eye.

  ***

  Sunlight assaulted my eyelids, and I pulled the blanket up over my head with a groan. I’d been dreaming of cloudy, rain-soaked skies, but judging from the intensity of the sun, there weren’t any ominous thunderstorms getting me out of going to the beach today. It was only six o’clock, though, so I climbed out of bed, threw on shorts and a tank top and headed out for a run. At least I’d have a little time to myself.

  When I walked back in the house, my mother was already sitting on the couch watching TV. Pop sat at the table reading the Saturday paper. I didn’t see Gram anywhere—she was probably out back watering her garden before it got too hot.

  “Good morning, Allison,” Pop said, folding down the corner of his paper.

  “Mornin’, Pop,” I said as the smell of fresh coffee drew me into the kitchen where my favorite mug already sat on the counter waiting for me. When I returned to the living room, caffeine in hand, Pop continued.

  “I hear you kids are heading to the beach today,” Pop said, his face hidden behind the newspaper. My mother glanced over at him but quickly looked back to the talk show she was watching.

  “That’s right. Can’t wait.” I dropped down on the couch with my coffee.

  Pop folded down the corner of his paper again, peering at me over his reading glasses. “It’s okay to have some fun once in a while, Al.”

  I snorted in response. Going to the beach with Nicole and her friends didn’t really count as fun in my book. Other than Nicole, I didn’t really feel comfortable around anyone my own age. I’d never fit in, I’d rather just be alone or sit in the backyard with a book while Gram worked in her garden.

  “When Beth was a girl, she and Joanne went to the beach just about every weekend during the summer. They were inseparable.” Joanne still stopped by to visit at least once a week, so I could believe it. She also happened to be Jeff and Ethan’s mother.

  I raised an eyebrow. “Are you trying to tell me something, Pop?” I asked with a smirk.

  “Nah, sweetheart. Just thinking life is too short, you know? I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your share of fun before life gets in the way.”

  “I’m perfectly happy with a good book and a bowl of Double Fudge ice cream.” I grinned widely, trying to show my sincerity, though probably was pushing it toward overkill.

  “It sure isn’t that you’re not pretty enough,” he said, ignoring me. “Those eyes of yours are about the bluest I’ve ever seen. I think all the boys around here are just scared off by your sharp tongue.”

  “Think so?” I couldn’t help laughing as I stood up, patted Pop on the shoulder, and went upstairs to change into my bathing suit.

  ***

  I glanced at my watch. It was seven forty-five. If Nicole didn’t show up by eight, I was grabbing my book and camping out in the backyard.

  No sooner than the idea crossed my mind, the screen door slammed. Nicole burst in wearing a hot-pink terrycloth coverall and flip-flops. Her shoulder-length blonde hair was pulled up in a high ponytail.

  “We’re burning daylight here, Al. Let’s go!”

  “Good morning to you, too. You’re practically on time,” I teased.

  “It’ll be a good morning if you have some coffee left.” She whipped open the cabinet and pulled down a travel mug. “Mom and Dad aren’t even up yet.”

  I chuckled. “When was the last time you were up at this hour? I haven’t seen you leave the house before nine-thirty since high school.” The hair salon where Nicole worked at opened at ten o’clock, and she didn’t get up earlier than she had to.

  Nicole ignored me and took a long sip of her coffee, then peered out to the living room. “Whatcha watching, Aunt Beth?”

  “My shows,” my mother answered quietly.

  I kissed Pop on the cheek and walked o
ver to kiss my mother on the head. She didn’t move, and I gave her a tiny smile. “Grab the cooler, Nic. I’m going to get the umbrella and we’re outta here.”

  When the trunk was packed, I slammed it shut just as Nicole’s friend Rachel pulled into the driveway in her tiny red coupe. She was dressed just like Nicole, only in turquoise, and her curly dark hair was twisted up in an artfully messy bun.

  “Hey, girly,” she greeted Nicole, not even looking at me. She raised a perfectly shaped brow as she held up her beach tote.

  “You’ll drive, right, Allison?” Rachel said airily as she tossed her bag into my backseat.

  I clenched my teeth. “You bet!”

  Jeff pulled his Jeep in behind Rachel’s car, and her attention was quickly diverted to sticking her chest out for maximum cleavage exposure.”Hey, boys!” she lilted to the three guys in the Jeep.

  Nicole caught me as I rolled my eyes. “We’re gonna have an awesome day,” she stated. “So, don’t be a grouch!” She playfully stuck her tongue out and hopped in the car.

  ***

  I inhaled the salty ocean air, and the lingering scent of suntan lotion filled my nose. The sun was searing my legs, and it was time for a break in the shade. My skin burned easily and although I had sunscreen on, I was already looking a little pink. I put my bookmark between the pages and attempted to brush some of the sand off of my legs as I stood. Lifting my arms, I stretched before retreating to the chair under my umbrella.

  Down at the water, I could see Rachel with her arms wrapped around her middle, the wind whipping strands of dark hair into her face. She kept jumping and shrieking when Sean or Ethan stumbled on their boogie boards and splashed her. Ethan caught my gaze and motioned for me to come join them. I laughed as a wave collapsed on top of him and shook my head.

  Settling into my spot, I took off my sunglasses and closed my eyes, listening to the sound of the gulls. I sighed contentedly. This wasn’t so bad.

  A loud cawing interrupted my tranquil moment. I pried open an eye and looked at the kids building a sand castle next to our spot. There was a crow standing a few feet away, facing my direction. Weird. I’d never seen a crow at the beach before. Maybe there was a beached seal nearby.

  I started to open my book up, but the hairs along the back of my neck stood up, and a funny feeling came over me, like I was being watched. I glanced around, and this time, the crow locked eyes with me. Something about its beady eyes made me shudder, and I turned away quickly.

  On my other side, Nicole was just about done burying Jeff in the sand. All that was visible was his spiky brown hair and his Red Sox visor.

  “Just stay still for one more second, Jeff. I’ve got to get a picture,” Nicole begged as she grabbed her camera from her towel. She clicked a few times before the sand started to crack and crumble around him.

  “That’s it, let me out of here!” Jeff shouted. The sand broke apart around him, and he climbed out. Nicole yelped in surprise as he took off chasing her down to the water.

  “Come swim with us, Al!” Nicole yelled over her shoulder as she ran.

  I shook my head with a smile. “I’m good,” I called out before reopening my book.

  A few minutes later, I heard a quiet thud as Ethan dropped down to his knees on the blanket by my feet. He dug around the cooler and pulled out a soda.

  “Aren’t you having fun?” he asked breathlessly between gulps.

  “As a matter of fact, I am,” I replied, gesturing to the umbrella and my book.

  “Yeah? Whatcha reading?”

  I felt a blush rise on my cheeks as I held the book out for him to see. I was reading Gone With The Wind. Again.

  Ethan started laughing, nearly choking on his soda. “I imagined you up here reading The Guide to Modern Physics. I would’ve never guessed you were reading a romance novel!” He stretched himself out on the blanket and closed his eyes to the sun, his lips curved up in that mocking little smile. His dark hair was slicked back with water, and he was perfectly tanned. I couldn’t help noticing that his lashes were a thick, dark fringe. I forced myself to look away.

  When I glanced back at him—I couldn’t help it—Rachel had snuck onto the blanket and gestured to me with her finger to her lips. She flopped down onto her stomach and began running a piece of ice that had fallen out of the cooler along Ethan’s chest, causing him to shout in surprise.

  “You’re going down!” he yelled before hauling Rachel up over his shoulder and running down to toss her, squealing, into the ocean.

  I looked down to the water, wondering how Sean felt about Rachel’s not-so-subtle display. They had one of those on-again-off-again relationships. They were all friends, but her flirting with Ethan must have bothered him. If I wanted to be honest, it even bothered me.

  I pushed all of Nicole’s friends out of my thoughts and tried to enjoy the rest of the day. When it was time to leave, I walked up the old wooden steps to the parking lot with my arms full of beach gear. The others were lagging behind, but I could still hear the sounds of their laughter and teasing.

  “If you’re going with Jeff, I am too,” I heard Rachel say to Nicole in her whiny voice.

  “Sweet! Shotgun in Al’s car,” Ethan yelled. A smile crept onto my face—Rachel would be disappointed that she wouldn’t get to cozy up next to him in the backseat. Good thing no one could see my face.

  “Damn, man, I was just going to say that!” Sean said, a thump following. I could only imagine from Ethan’s grunt that Sean had whacked him upside the head. I laughed to myself that both guys were so desperate to stay away from Rachel.

  I opened the hatch and started loading it when Ethan gently pushed me aside. “I got this,” he said, winking at me as he hefted the cooler in.

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to break a nail,” I muttered, placing my bag in the back.

  Ethan just laughed and shook his head.

  “Meet us at Nic’s!” Jeff shouted out his window before tearing out of the parking lot.

  I started the car as Ethan and Sean piled in. As usual, Sean reached up front and ruffled my hair before settling in his seat. He grew up in the house on the other side of Nicole’s, and he’d always been nice to me, even if his sometimes-girlfriend was a jerk.

  “You coming over tonight?” Ethan asked as he flipped through the CD’s in my case.

  “Me?” I tried to swallow down the butterflies. “Are you kidding? My bed is already calling my name,” I replied, trying to keep an aloof tone.

  Ethan shook his head and smirked, no doubt trying not to laugh at me. “We’re just going to be watching a movie.”

  “Didn’t your mother teach you not to beg, dude?” Sean asked, teasing. “You probably have a hot date, right Allie-O?” He shook my shoulder lightly. I smiled at the old nickname from the days when we used to play hide-and-seek in our neighborhood.

  “Yeah, a hot date with Rhett Butler,” Ethan said. I kept my eyes on the road, but I couldn’t help the smile that played on my lips.

  “Poor Ethan,” Sean said. “I think Rachel wants to snuggle with you tonight, pal.” He was laughing, but there was an edge to his voice. The idea of Rachel and Ethan together made my chest squeeze, too.

  Ethan chuckled. “No, thanks. Rachel is all yours. She’s not my type.”

  “Since when do you have a type?” Sean asked, the tension lifting.

  “I’m twenty-three years old, man. Time to start thinking of the future.”

  I nearly snorted soda out of my nose . . . until he slung his arm around the back of my chair. Then it was all I could do to keep the car on the road.

  He had to know the way he affected me, how he got under my skin. Four years ago, in one of my weaker moments, I’d fallen for his charm. I couldn’t let that happen again. But the memory of that kiss still left me breathless.

  I pulled my car into the driveway, thanking the universe for getting me through the trip without too much drama.

  The guys grabbed the umbrella and cooler and headed for the house. I
shut the trunk and was about to scoop my bag and chair up when a raucous of caws and screeches broke out in the woods.

  Startled, I grabbed my things and hurried toward the porch. I watched the tree line as I went, where a handful of large crows were swooping up and down in the yard, knocking leaves and small branches all over the place.

  I had almost reached the porch steps when I walked straight into Ethan, who was squinting at the scene the birds were making, too. I stumbled back, nearly falling, and he grabbed my elbow to steady me, sending electricity shooting through my body.

  I yanked my arm back as though he’d burned me. He held his hands up, palms facing forward.

  “Easy. You all right?” He laughed, and I felt my cheeks flare.

  I pushed past him, embarrassed that I’d practically fallen over backward and annoyed that he had laughed at me.

  “Hey! Allie . . . ”

  I stopped with my hand on the screen door. I didn’t know why I was overreacting like this—it wasn’t the first time he joked around with me—and it made me even more flustered. I heard his footsteps as he climbed onto the porch behind me and tried to keep my cool. My hand dropped from the door, and I turned around.

  Ethan looked at me, his warm brown eyes searching mine. “Don’t be mad.”

  I took a deep breath and looked away. “I’m not mad,” I said. “I was just sort of freaked out by the birds.” I looked at the spot they’d been tearing up just seconds ago. They were nowhere to be found.

  He opened his mouth to speak just as Sean appeared at the screen door. I stood aside to let him out and internally thanked him for saving me from another self-induced awkward moment.

  “You sure you can’t come over tonight?” Ethan asked, his usual wry expression back in place.

  Sean just snorted and gave my shoulder a squeeze as he walked by. “Later, Allie-O.”

  I shook my head at Ethan. “I’m sure, but thanks for the help carrying the beach stuff inside.”

  He grinned and nodded. “Well, have fun with Rhett then.” He followed Sean toward Nicole’s house.

  “Did you have a good time today, honey?” Gram said as she pushed the door open and held it for me.