Page 7 of Fireworks

*****

Katie

The sun was high in the sky by the time we got to the pool. Blankets had taken most of the chairs over as place markers for their owners. I had spent almost every day so far this summer laying out by the pool neglecting any real responsibility that I had.

It was the last one that I could spend being so carefree. Come September, I would be a college freshman. I did my best to push the stress of the impending school year from my mind as long as I could. Maddie, my best friend, had no issue with pushing out the thoughts revolving around the big life changes ahead of us. Out of the two of us, I was the studious worrier, and she was the carefree fun friend. We met when we started preschool and were together ever since. That's how things were in Summit Creek. You met a friend when you were in diapers and that was it. You were lifelong friends.

The thought of going to colleges on opposite sides of the country tore me up. We had spent so much of our time together; I wasn’t sure if I even knew how to function without her. She was there to tell me when to put the books down and relax. I was there to tell her to pick them up and turn down the music.

“You’re doing it again.”

Maddie’s voice snapped me back to reality. Her blonde hair, styled in perfect beach waves, cascaded down her bare back as she laid her blanket out on an empty spot in the grass.

“Sorry.”

I shook my blanket out, laying it down next to hers.

“You haven’t seen Collin yet, have you? He said he was here already, but I don’t see him.”

She lowered her glasses, scanning the water, hoping to find him first.

“Nope, probably went to get some food. Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll sense you’re here and come running over before you know it. You know he has puppy love radar so...”

A sarcastic laugh crossed her lips as she sat down, stretching her already overly tanned legs out into the sun.

“First, it’s not like that between us. You know that. And second, I am going to miss this.”

Settling down next to her, I leaned my head back, closing my eyes, taking in the sun's warmth.

“Katie, tsk, tsk, we aren’t talking like that today, remember? Soak up the sun, dip our toes in the water, and watch any eye candy that may pass by. Or, in your case, sit up in the lifeguard chairs. You know he’s looking at you again.”

I was glad I had my sunglasses on so no one could tell where my gaze was around the pool.

“No, he isn’t. We’ve been through this Maddie. I’m pretty sure he has a girlfriend, granted, knowing how much of a dick he is that probably wouldn’t stop him from checking out every girl here.”

My heart pounded harder every time I had to walk past him. He would always say hello in his usual annoying manner, and I’d give a snarky response, if I answered at all. It was our usual exchange for as long as I could remember.

He was the most infuriating person I had ever dealt with in my life. I don’t know why I let him get under my skin and bother me so damn much. He was arrogant, rebellious, bossy, and careless. All qualities I hated in a guy.

I’d spent most of my childhood annoying my brother and him. The older we got, the more he would successfully avoid me. Clearly, he would have no interest in any kind of friendship now or ever.

“Girlfriend or not, that boy is fine, and he definitely has checked your ass out at least three times today.”

She pursed her lips, raising her eyebrow before she spoke again.

“Odd for someone who isn’t looking at you. He seems to be headed our way.”

I shot up off my elbows much quicker than I had planned and panicked that he was going to come over to us.

“What?”

She clutched her midsection, bursting out in laughter.

“For someone who says she doesn’t care, you sure get pretty bothered by that boy.”

Sticking my tongue out at her like a child trying to mask my embarrassment, I tried to even my voice.

“I do not. He has always been a jerk to me ever since we were kids. I just hate dealing with his attitude. I already have an overprotective brother sticking his nose in my business. I don’t need two of them. It’s just so annoying and ruins my relaxation time.