Saving Him • editing/rewriting

twenty seven-the kids aren't alright

"Clubbing. As in at a club?" I asked stupidly.

Tom raised an eyebrow at me while I heard Lauren snort. Like she was one to talk. Well, snort. She has said stuff way dumber than that.

"Yes Summer. It's kind of in the name." Tom said slowly as if I were five years old.

"But not all of us are eighteen yet." I reminded him. "What are we gonna do, get fake ID's?" I said and snickered at my own joke.

"Exactly." Tom, Lauren, Hunter and even Lola (!!!) replied in unison.

My eyes widened, "Did you guys smoke pot while I wasn't looking?! What do you mean we're getting fake ID's?!" I exclaimed. The driver gave us a look and Tom clamped a hand over my mouth and shushed me.

"Apparently Lola knows a person who can get them for us." He told me in a hushed voice. I turned to look at Lola, bewildered. Lola. Oh sweet, innocent Lola. Am I in some kind of parallel universe?

"Yeah, I know. I'm as surprised as you are." Hunter muttered.

Lola huffed, "I don't know what kind of image you have of me in your minds but I'm not some kind of goody two shoes."

We all exchanged looks.

"You are a goody two shoes." Lauren said.

That's when those two started bickering, Hunter and Tom started talking about some game and I went back to my zoning out.

I smiled to myself. As crazy as they all were, I loved them.

•••

"Viva las Gold Coast!" Lauren exclaimed as she skipped around the hotel lobby. Probably around the fifth time she has made a scene in public today.

While Lola and Tom were at the counter checking us in, Hunter and I were left to Lauren-sit. We should've been paid triple the price of normal babysitters because, frankly, Lauren was a handful with a capital H.

"I swear, I don't even know how I became friends with her." Hunter said with a roll of his eyes.

"Mmhm." I hummed with a grin. I knew despite what he might say about everyone, he loved them just as much as I did. He was just a grouchy bum.

He sighed, "Anyway, how are you going lately?" He asked me.

I feigned surprise, "Is Hunter Ray being," I gasped. "Nice?"

He shot me a glare, "Hey, I can easily go back to moody, scowly old-"

"No-ope, we don't want that." I cut him off quickly. I liked this side of Hunter. The one who doesn't hurt my feelings. "I've been doing good. Everything's calmed down now I think."

Hunter nodded, "Yeah, I think so. And hopefully it stays that way."

"Yeah..." I echoed as silence passed between us and we looked away from each other.

No denying that the past few weeks had been chaotic and exhausting. I'm just glad we had this mini vacation to blow off some steam.