Page 13 of Ask No Questions

“Okay,” I grinned.

“Okay,” they agreed.

I glanced around the fire and wracked my brain for something to say. “What do you guys do here, like for fun?”

Talia spoke first, leaning toward me and Alexis since the music and talking had gotten louder. “Alexis and I are partners for beach volleyball during the summer, and we are on the school team too. We all surf, but Mckayla is definitely the best out of the three of us, and we spend most of our time here at the beach or shopping.”

Alexis shrugged and added, “Yeah, normal stuff, I guess. The majority of everyone here goes to our school, and since it’s on the small side, everyone kind of knows each other.”

I nodded as they spoke, but I was really focusing on the other people that had shown up. I was watching them interact, trying to guess which groups of people were friends, who were couples, and who seemed to stand out.

I noticed someone standing away from the group, facing the ocean, but it was too dark to tell if it was a guy or girl. Something about the solitary figure called to me. Maybe it was loneliness or isolation that I recognized. I wanted to get up and investigate, but Alexis shook my shoulder getting my attention. When I looked up at who she was introducing me to, I froze.

“So, you’re the infamous Aubrey I have been hearing so much about. You definitely live up to the hype that has been going on since Mckayla spread the word her hot cousin was moving here.”

I was trying desperately to focus on what he was saying, but I got caught up in trying to understand what he was doing here. Was the world really this small? This night had turned into a soap opera within seconds.

“And you’re the infamous Tucker who saved the party from being canceled. I’m sure Mckayla appreciated your help.” I couldn’t stop smiling up at him like an idiot. I wanted to ask him what he was doing here, but Alexis interrupted and saved me from the humiliation of him pretending not to remember me.

She shifted, nearly blocking me from him. “Nice of you to come over and stake out your prey Tuck, but you can leave now.”

He smirked. “Oh, come on, Lexi. We’re about to start a new year. Let’s forget the past and start over.”

“Not a chance. Aubrey isn’t interested, so go bother some other girl now, ‘kay.”

“It was good seeing you again, Aubrey.” He gave me one last smile and winked as he turned away heading off toward another cluster of people.

Talia laughed and looked at Alexis. “Still not going to forgive him? That was freshman year, Lex, I know he can be a creep, but you can’t hold a grudge forever. It will cause premature aging.”

I lifted a brow and glanced between Alexis and Talia, clearly missing vital information to understand this conversation.

Alexis was staring at me trying to piece together the conversation. “How do you know Tucker?”

“I don’t really… I met him on the plane here from Chicago. He got my bag down for me. I had no idea he lived around here.”

Talia looked between me and Alexis while holding back a grin. “How unfortunate! But you managed to break free unscathed. See, Alexis had a little crush on Tucker when we were freshmen, and he finally asked her out after she spent months dropping not-so-subtle hints that she was into him. I guess he assumed the date was less for getting to know each other and you know, talking or hanging out, and more about getting to know each other.” She wagged her brows adding to the suggestion of her words. “When our little Lexi here didn’t put out for him, he made up a rumor she was lesbian and spread it around the school. It lasted like a day before other guys she had dated stepped forward and told everyone she was most definitely not.”

Alexis snorted. “If I was, I would totally own that. But not all girls would. It wasn’t okay. What if he actually outed me before I was ready? He’s an idiot.”

Talia nodded and sighed. “Most guys our age are, but they’re not all bad. Most of the guys at our school are protective of the girls since we’re such a small group, but there always has to be one jerk. Anyway, the rumor died, but Alexis never forgave him. It’s understandable to a degree, but I think it’s time to let it go.” She leaned over me, enunciating the words at Alexis.

“Fine, I will try to forget about it. Tucker isn’t worth my time or energy.” She stood up and held out her hands to us. “Let’s go mingle.”

As we approached the group, I noticed I was the only person around wearing pants. It seemed there was a unisex wardrobe of shorts and hoodies. I tried to not let my discomfort show as I smiled at the various people Talia and Alexis were introducing me to. It was so overwhelming trying to remember names and faces, so I decided to focus on surviving this night and I would make an effort to learn people's names when it wasn't such a large crowd.

We moved to different clusters of people, and it seemed that the girls knew everyone and everyone knew and liked them. We had been talking to some of the girls on their volleyball team when two large shadows approached them. I noticed them getting closer before the other girls, and just before I opened my mouth to warn them, the shadows stepped into the light from the fire. They were actually two guys that looked about our age, just super-sized. They snuck up and picked up Talia and Alexis from behind and took off running down the beach. The girls laughed and mockingly hit them on their backs. Moments later, the four of them made it back all laughing and talking animatedly about something.

"Aubrey! These two jerks are Donny and Bear. They're on the football team and enjoy torturing us for some reason."

Talia smacked Donny on the arm, as if he even noticed it. Despite her being just shy of six feet, Donny was at least a head taller than her. Bear definitely lived up to his name. He was about the same height as his friend but had another forty pounds on him.

I glanced around feeling somewhat out of place. Mckayla caught my eye from across the fire and held up one finger. I nodded and turned to see Donny stepping forward to shake my hand. Apparently, he was distracting me because I was suddenly grabbed from behind. I twisted and saw Bear’s sly grin. I was amazed he was able to move that fast, given his size, but before I could think, my feet were off the ground and I was being thrown over his shoulder upside down.

"Everyone, I want you to meet Aubrey. She is the new girl and has been claimed by me!"

Bear continued jogging around the bonfire, making sure everyone heard him. People started laughing, and eventually he brought me back to my feet, holding my shoulders until I was steady. I didn't know whether I should laugh or cry at that moment, but instinct took over and I pushed him playfully before looking back for a familiar face. I realized the majority of the crowd was now staring at me, some looking confused, others amused.

"Thanks for that intro, Bear. Maybe next time I can be on my own two feet, though."