Ally.

Chapter One

I handed the middle aged man his strawberry and banana smoothie with a smile and a thank you. This he did not return. He handed me two dollar bills and walked along the beach in his sandals and socks. This was a long week at work, I'm so glad it's finally over.

"Ally! Ally!" My best friend Kathryn ran up to me with her long brunette hair swaying behind her and her iPhone in her hand.

"My boyfriend has asked us if we want to go to a beach party at Manhattan Beach tonight! We have to go!" She exclaimed. Manhattan beach was a 35 minute drive from our home in Long Beach, but I couldn't let her down when she was so excited. I asked my boyfriend, Jonathan, if he would drive us over since he doesn't drink, and after some complaining, he agreed.

I called my parents to let them know I wasn't coming home 'till early morning. My dad, Steven answered and asked the usual questions that parents do. Where are you going? Are you with people you know? Are you sure you'll be okay? I love my dad, well technically he's not my dad, my biological father is called Zach. Zach is an alcoholic who left us with nothing when I was three years old to run away with an Italian woman. He moved to Rome with her, but I think he's back in the USA now. To be honest I really don't care. As far as I'm concerned, my dad is Steven and he's more of a father than Zach could ever be.  

On the journey to Manhattan Beach, We put on the radio and The Kooks blasted out of it. Kathryn, or K as she preferred to be called, was waving her arms in the air whilst talking in short intervals to sip her vodka and Coke. She opened the window and rolled her hand out in the wind. She had her eyes closed and I could see the detail of her brown eye shadow against her beautifully long eyelashes as she sang along to the songs. K's phone vibrated, and she looked at her screen with a saddened look on her face and turned away.

"Are you okay?" I asked. She replied with a sweet and quiet "Yeah" accompanied by a warm smile. Kathryn had been arguing with her sister who lives in New York City. It was hard for her but she didn't like to dwell on it much; the only reason I knew is because she told me when she was drunk. She doesn't like to talk about the negative things in her life. 

Jonathan drove with a focused look on his face, his green eyes were fixed on the road and his blonde hair waved in the breeze. He did not speak for, he wasn't fond of Kathryn. I could tell he wasn't looking forward to this party because he had been cold towards me since I asked him to come. 

We arrived at Manhattan Beach at around 9pm, There were so many voices and screams and the music was so loud. We could see many people dancing and drinking and everything was a golden orange colour from the light of the bonfires.  Suddenly, Kathryn ran away from us and into the arms of a well-built, blonde, tall man. That's Jay, her boyfriend. She introduced us to him and he hugged me so tight I thought I was going to explode, then he offered us a drink. 

After being introduced to some of K's and Jay's friends, we found a spot next to a large bonfire with approximately 16 people around it and gathered some drinks. Across the burning inferno, I could see what looked like someone waving at me, so I decided to walk around. After all, it doesn't hurt to meet some new people!

As I walked clockwise to the other side of the fire, feeling the warmth on the right side of my face, someone grasped me from behind and covered my eyes. I was in such shock that I screamed, just to find out that it was my old neighbour, Ben from when I lived in Santa Barbara! I hugged his now bulky frame and we started chatting for what seemed like 10 minutes, but then I could see a figure storming towards me in the corner of my eye. 

Jonathan exclaimed "You have been talking to this guy for an hour! Who even is he? How dare you leave me sitting on my own for that long when you knew I didn't want to be here?!"

"I...I'm Sorry! I thought I'd only been talking for 10 minutes! This is Ben, my old neighbour, and this is Jonathan, my boyfriend."

I could Ben's eyes drop when I said the word 'boyfriend', and I could also see that Jonathan was extremely angry at me. I went to sit with him after apologising to Ben, where a very drunk Kathryn sat cuddling her slightly less drunk boyfriend. 

"Hi K, you alright?"

"I'm fucking wonderful Ally, I love you." She slurred while flopping on my shoulder and hugging me tight.

I giggled and looked at Kathryn, and her deep brown eyes stared back at me. She got up and took my hand, and we danced around the bonfire for at least 30 minutes when Jonathan stopped me. 

"I'm going home, and we seriously need to talk when I next see you."

How could he leave me so far away from home just because I asked him to give up one night so I could have some fun? I was so sick of him being constantly miserable. I shrugged it off and continued dancing with my best friend.

I took a shot of some sort of concoction of alcohol and exclaimed that we should go skinny dipping. Of course, Kathryn jumped at the chance, and ran towards the sea ripping her clothes off. Around 25 people followed us and we were splashing each other. I was quite intoxicated at this point, and I felt like I was having the best night of my life, despite Jonathan. 

Me and K looked across at each other simultaneously, I knew she felt the same and we knew our night was only just beginning. 

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Feedback greatly appreciated, new chapter on May 12th!