Second Chances

Chapter 3: Staying cool by the pool

(Author's note)

A: so the fourth chapter may not be out for a few days... yeah, lack of ideas :(

N: Partayy :D

Chapter 3

I sat in my bed looking out the window thinking about how fast summer has gone by. My summer started off like any other one. Bonfires on the beach with friends, tanning till sunset, and shopping for cut off shorts, flip flops, and sundresses. Then once my parents died it seemed like I wasn’t even living. I felt empty. A body without a soul, the ocean without water, a crab without a shell.

The ringing of my cell phone cut off my sorrowful ramblings. I opened the message and read. “Hey, Lacey! There’s a party at Alicia’s. Come at 7 and, btw, you are on alcohol supply duty.” I deleted the message instantly. I already felt detached, the last thing I needed was for Julie to think I was drinking too! Besides, I didn’t see the point in drinking until you can’t even walk straight! I mean all it does is make you do stupid things that you’re going to regret.

I went down to the first floor and started watching some TV. I got incredibly bored within seconds so I started flipping through some photo albums that my aunt had on her ottoman. They were mostly of her and her husband on their honeymoon, but as a got farther back I started seeing more photos of my mom and dad. They looked happy. I could feel the tears stinging at the back of my eyes. I missed them. I hated feeling like this. I felt so secluded like I haven’t been in contact with anyone for years.

I texted back Marissa, before I could change my mind, “Sure I’ll be right over!”

I called Cullen and he said he was going to be over any minute so now I just had to decide what I was going to wear. I finally decided on a blue sequined Nike bathing suit and shorts and a t-shirt to go over. I grabbed my favorite pair of flip-flops, two bottles of Tequila, an eight pack of beer, and a diet coke for myself. 

Cullen was at the house within 2 minutes not leaving me time to grab a towel.

“Hey do you have an extra towel?’ I asked.

“Yeah, sure.” He said with a smile.

“What?” I asked.

“Oh nothing I just haven’t seen you go to a party in a while.”

“And---?”

“And it’s nice.” He said giving me a grin.

I agreed with him by smiling back. When we got to the party it was in full swing. Nobody was too drunk and people haven’t pushed each other in the pool yet. So that was a good sign.

I wonder if someone has ever died drowning at a party like this.

Cullen decided to stick by me for a while because my friends were trying to avoid talking to me in order to skip the depressing conversation about my parents. Most of the guys from our grade were there and they all cheered when I got out the alcohol.

“Hey, Lacey!” A boy named Bryson said as he swayed towards me.

“Hey, Bryson! I thought you were in Florida with your parents?” I said knowing it would start a different discussion other than the accident.

“Oh no we had to come back early because my mom got food poisoning. It was a total drag!” He said while bumping into someone else.

“Hey are you okay, buddy?” The guy that Bryson had run into said.

Wait, I’ve seen him before! Oh my God. This is not happening, that same guy from the mall is here! And he is standing right in front of me. All I could do was stare.

“Hey, Laney” he said, turning to look at me, a devilish smirk on his face.

For a brief moment I considered turning around and running away. Instead, I looked him in the eyes, mustered as much fake enthusiasm as I could, and said, “Adam! It’s nice to see you again. \. So what are you doing here? I mean besides the fact that it’s the end of the year party before school starts and----wait are you going to Lowell High School?” I ignored the fact that he still thought my name was Laney.

“Yeah, I believe that’s the one.” He said while staring right into my eyes.

“Uh..uhm well that’s nice. I-I guess we will be seeing each other a lot more often then.” I said blushing at my stutter.

“Ha yeah I guess so” He said also blushing. I could only wonder what for.

“Hey! Did you know that this guy is going to be the new lacrosse captain?! He’s like, amazing at it!” Said Bryson eagerly while clapping Adam on the back. I had almost forgotten he was standing there.

Oh shit. This is NOT good. So you know how I told you I had my first kiss? Yeah that was with my ex-boyfriend, Riley. He is the captain of the lacrosse team, but now I guess that he officially isn’t. And Riley has a really bad temper.

“Uhm what about Riley?” I said trying not to seem so interested.

“Oh, coach is putting him as co-captain.” Bryson said almost as if realizing right then and there that Riley might not be too happy about it. “Well I’ve got to go, duty calls. See you later, Lacey” He said, winking, as he sauntered away towards a group of girls, leaving me alone with Adam, who gave me a questioning look. "Uhh, did I mention that my name is Lacey?" I said awkwardly.

Adam was about to answer when Alicia came over and practically jumped on Adam.  “Ohmigawd!” she squealed, “You two have met? Good” she continued without giving either of us a chance to answer. “Well, it was nice seeing you, Lacey! Hey Adam there are some like, really awesome people I want you to meet…” She continued while dragging him away. I don’t know how guys stand her, or anyone for that matter.

I rolled my eyes. Whatever, at least she saved me from a very uncomfortable situation.

“Hey Lace!” Cullen called to me from the other side of the pool deck, “Come swim with us, last swim of the summer!”

I smiled ran over to the pool and jumped in, clothes and all, might as well enjoy the last day of summer while I can