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Oh geez. Lou, Connor, Pat, and Chris were only a few of the group of assholes always spreading rumors about me and who had labeled me the school slut, even though I had never slept with any ofthem. I think they were upset that I wouldn’t touch them with a ten-foot pole. But Alex wasn’t all bad, and he wouldn’t show up to a party alone. Lou, Connor, Pat, and Chris wouldn’t come to a party if they knew I threw it, since it was a pride thing, so I had to get another girl, Cassey, who at least two of them had a thing for, to tell them it was her party.
Lori continues, “You even managed to get kegs. Everyone said it was the party of the year, evenJennawas upset she wasn’t invited when she heard everyone talking about it at school. But you spent the entire time hyping me up to talk to Alex, and when I chickened out, you somehow got me and Alex alone in the backyard.”
I chuckle at the memories of that night. By “somehow,” she means I ordered pizza, told everyone who was outside to go in and grab a slice, asked Alex to wait because Lori wanted to talk to him about something, threw Lori outside, closed the sliding door on them, then stood guard in the kitchen and didn’t let anyone else outside. I knew they would hit it off, and Lori always needs a little push, or else she’d never talk to the guy she liked or do the things she totally can but thinks she can’t.
Lori bites her lip. “I got my first kiss that night. It’s one of my favorite memories, and it’s because of you.”
I shake my head. “It’s because ofyou. I got you guys alone, but you did all the talking.”
“But it never would’ve happened if you didn’t orchestrate that whole thing. I still can’t believe your parents were cool with you throwing a party while they were out of town.”
“Ha ha. Yeah, me too.” My parents had no idea, and Adam was out that night. My house ended up getting destroyed and I was grounded for like, ever, but I told Lori I was grounded for a different reason because I didn’t want her to feel bad. “What does this have to do with our current situation?”
The corners of her lips curl up. “It means I know the hoops you’ll jump through for me. I know, in your heart, you’re a good person and a great friend, but sometimes you lose sight of things.
I know you’d never try to get with Dean if you knew I liked him, but in the moment, it didn’t look good. This thing with Kellan is driving you crazy; you should really talk to him.”
“I know, I know. Dylan said the same thing when I told him about my stupid plan. I’m going to sort everything out today.
And to make up what a terrible friend I’ve been to you, I’m going to pull an Alex Castillo on you and Dean.”
She laughs and playfully shoves me. “You do not need to orchestrate an entire night to get me to kiss Dean.”
The weight on my chest lifts. I’m so grateful to have Lori.
She’s the yin to my yang, the bread to my butter, the chocolate to my strawberry; one would be incomplete without the other.
“Are you sure?” I ask. “Because I’m already envisioning a scenario that includes a boat, a roasted pig, a wrench, and maybe a tame lion.”
“Stop it.” She giggles at my teasing. “You focus on fixing things with Kellan. But . . .” She pauses and bites her lip, and I know she’s trying to figure out how to say something I won’t like.
“Just spit it out.”
“You should apologize to Kiara too. You’ve been really mean to her, and she’s been nothing but nice.”
My mouth drops open. “I will not! Did you forget she pulled my bikini top off for everyone to see at the pool party two nights ago?”
“She did what?!”
Oh, I guess I never told her about that. “It doesn’t matter. Kiara and I will never get along, and that’s fine with me.”
But shewaskind of helpful last night.Andshe told me Kellan friend-zoned her.AndI don’t have definitive proof it was her who pulled my bikini top off, but still. We can stay out of each other’s way and that’ll be that.
“Fine. But I told her we’d meet her and her friends at the pool today, so you’re going to have to get over it.”
I groan and fall back on the bed. The last thing I want to do is spend time with Kiara, but I kind of owe Lori, and I guess Priyasha and Anaya aren’tterrible.
“All right. Let me get my stuff, and we can go down.”
I wonder if I’ll run into Kellan today. What would I even say to him? Thanks for not laughing at my drunk ass? Sorry I’m such a fuck-up? Yeah, I don’t think so.
—
Turns out, I didn’t have to worry about what I’d say to Kellan, since I didn’t see him or any of the guys all day. They must have been on one of the beaches, whereas Lori and I, plus Kiara, Priyasha, and Anaya, stayed at the calmest pool of the three, not the party one or the red-wristbands-only pool. Apparently Priyasha is fighting with one of the guys they came with, so they wanted to avoid the beach where he went.
With my headphones popped in and eyes closed as I lounge on a pool chair, it’s almost like Kiara isn’t there. Everyone asked me how I was feeling when we first came down, but other than that, no one made any comments about last night, which I’m grateful for. I’m sure if Dylan hadn’t been even worse than me the night before, he’d beitchingto make fun of me.
The day goes by quickly, and before we know it, we’re grabbing dinner and heading back to the room. Lori and I take turns showering and decide to take a quick nap before the night’s activities. By the time it’s almost dark out, Lori and I are changed and ready to go to the event at the red-wristbands-only pool. We head down to the pool dressed in bikini tops and short shorts. I ditch the flip-flops and walk barefoot since I’m down to only Kellan’s pair, and I really don’t want to lose those.
