Page 6 of Elemasters

The worst night of Dustin’s life.

It was only then that he realized that he’d just been standing there, dumbfounded for like ten uninterrupted seconds. He tried to form words, to think of a witty reply, but he was totally disarmed. The way James just stood there, existing with the firelight glowing against his soft, glowing skin. Completely unbothered by the sea breeze ruffling his loosely curled hair; it was magical.

“I… uh, y-yeah. I know. I was just, getting a bit of fresh air,” Dustin stammered.

“Really? You guys just got here though,” James said, raising a curious eyebrow, “you’re more socially awkward than I expected,”

Dustin just blinked dumbly at that. It wasn’t an insult; James just threw it out there like the casual observation it was. But still, Dustin wasn’t quite sure how to respond.

“Oh, uh… well, what makes you say that? Is it because you know my brother? Because trust me, me and Chris are nothing alike,”

“Oh no, it's not that. I remember Chris from when we were both on the dance team in Freshman Year, before he became the big basketball star. And yeah, you guys are two different donut flavors, that's for sure," James said with a chuckle, "I used to watch you guys, your band, Colorful Trauma? You guys were fucking tight. But seeing you on stage singing? I don’t know, I guess I just expected you to be a bit bolder in person. I’m kinda digging the Cobain vibes though,”

There it was; the feeling like someone had just detonated C4 next to Dustin’s head, just by uttering a simple name…

Colorful Trauma.

That past incarnation of himself that he’d buried alongside his eyeliner pencil when he fully committed to swimming and trying to get into a good college. The band that he and Bailey poured their souls into, before the night it all came crashing down.

Memories ran through his mind at top speed.

Arguing with Chris in the pouring rain as they left the Junior Prom afterparty. A sudden head-on collision. Dustin pulling a limp, bloody boy out of the passenger’s seat of the other vehicle and giving him CPR…

“I… uh… I haven’t thought about that in a while,” Dustin mumbled, his voice wildly uneven. James’s eyes widened.

“Shit, bad memory huh? Sorry man, I didn’t mean to…"

“It’s fine,” Dustin cut him off, more sharply than he intended, “seriously don’t sweat it,”

“Uh, okay,” James said, looking nervous for what was likely the first time in his life, “well, I didn’t come over here just to make you uncomfortable. I was actually gonna ask you if you wanted to…”

Before he could finish the sentence, a bright spotlight hit both of them like a burning accusation. Dustin’s hands flew up to shield his eyes, as James instinctively stepped in front of him. He barely had time to process what the hell was going on, before he heard the slurred scream of one of his fellow students.

“COPS!”

Chapter 3

Lake Effect Kid

It was astonishing how quickly things could go to shit.

The second the police boats started to approach the island with their sirens wailing and spotlights beaming, it was every teen for themselves. Solo cups were abandoned, beer cans tossed aside, and lawn chairs flipped over in everyone’s rush to get back to their boats before the cops made landfall.

Dustin found himself scrambling across the sand, trying to find Chris in the middle of the pandemonium before it was too late. Unfortunately, the wild crowd made it virtually impossible for him to see anything; he was lost in a haze of weed smoke and frantic limbs… which is why it was entirely unsurprising when he collided with another person hard enough to knock them both flat on their asses.

“Shit, sorry, are you…” Dustin’s words trailed off when he realized who it was he’d practically headbutted, “wait, Chloe? Do you know where my brother is?”

“He ran off to find you!” Chloe said, rubbing her forehead with one hand and holding her heels in the other, “this is a huge fucking mess. Krissy, Kristen, and Kamden ditched me as soon as shit went south,”

“You can catch a ride with us as soon as we find Chris,” Dustin offered, helping Chloe to her feet, “we gotta move, now!”

Spotlights continued to slice through the fog like blades as the cops got closer by the second. Someone shouted something about them having breathalyzers, but it was drowned out by the blaring megaphones coming from the police boats.

“This is the Pacific Cove Police Department! Stay where you are. Attempting to flee will be considered resisting arrest! This is your only warning; proceed to the shoreline in an orderly fashion with your hands visible!”

“God damn it, I knew I should’ve stayed home,” Dustin muttered to himself as he and Chloe continued through the crowd. It seemed absolutely fucking helpless; there was no sign of Chris anywhere.

However, just before the first police boat reached the shore, a shrill voice called out into the darkness.