"You think?"

"I know so."

"It's my last option anyway. I need to lose weight, or buy new clothes and I refuse to buy new clothes." She grimaced. "My bank account won't allow it and I can't live down the fact that I'm a size larger since last year."

"You could go running with me."

She shot me a dark look. "I'm not that desperate. I'll try walking first."

When she pulled on the black dress, it fit her. It was snug in places it was supposed to be and loose in places that she was embarrassed about. After a few twirls in the mirror, I gave her the thumbs up and waited until she finished her make-up.

I called to her in the bathroom, "This is a beach party, right?"

"Hmmm mmm." Her voice was muffled from the bathroom.

"So why are you putting make-up on?"

Then she came into the room. "Because it's waterproof and because Adam's taking us."

I frowned at that logic. "He's picking us up?"

"Yeah, in thirty minutes."

"Why'd you have me come over two hours earlier?"

She posed with an arm on her hip and rolled her eyes. "Are you serious? You're my girlfriend. Aren't we supposed to get ready together?"

"I'm ready."

"Yeah, well, I needed the moral support. And besides," she flashed me a smile and a wink. "My mom has wine. I thought we could raid her cabinet."

"Oh." I surged upright on the bed. "Why didn't you say so in the beginning?"

Becky giggled as she led me downstairs and we both had a glass. We'd had our second when her phone vibrated and she continued to giggle as she knocked over her mother's lamp. "Adam's outside."

When she stood, her knees buckled and I caught her arm. "Are you okay?"

She gave me a weak wave. "Oh, no worries. This has more to do with Adam than the wine, but I didn't eat all day. Oops." She giggled again and her face was lobster red.

When we got outside, the silliness was gone and her limbs became rigid. Her back was stiff, her chin down, and she walked like a robot. Adam gave her a small frown, but shook his head slightly. When we climbed in, he asked, "Are you guys ready?"

Becky giggled into her lap.

I sighed from the back. "What party is this?"

"It's a Public party. Is that okay?"

Her head popped back up. "They're only the best kind."

Adam chuckled and rested an arm on the back of their front seat. His fingers scraped her shoulder before they fell against the headrest. I saw her almost faint.

"I guess so. More people, right?"

"And the Kades."

My scowl was back.

Adam mimicked my reaction.

Becky was clueless as she bobbed her head up and down. "I heard it's their party. They're actually inviting people at our school."

"Wait, what?" I shot forward and clasped onto their seat.

"Yeah." She was a grinning idiot. "They're usually so exclusive. I mean, I heard no one's allowed in their house, but I guess they live on the beach. It's in front of their home."

Every tendon in me wanted to snap. By the time we got to my house, the tension suffocated me and was weighing me down. Becky hot-footed it out of the car, but my legs couldn't move.

A party. At my house. By my soon-to-be-stepbrothers.

Adam had grown silent too as he glanced back. "You okay?"

Becky shoved her head next to his. "Yeah, you look pale, really pale."

"I'm fine." My voice was calm, but my body trembled. My knees buckled an inch when I got out of the car, but Adam caught me and held me upright. I flashed him a smile in thanks and then turned to see Becky's grin falter a bit.

My stomach dropped. That wasn't good.

A crowd of people had congregated at the bottom of the driveway, but they started to head around the hill and down to the beach. I let out a small breath in relief. I remembered their other party. No one had entered the house then and I hoped no one would this time.

When we bypassed the gate around the pool, Becky grabbed one of the bars. "Look at that. They have their own pool and a hot tub." Her eyes were wide as she took the rest in, the sand volleyball and basketball courts.

Adam touched her shoulder. "I think they have a bonfire started down here."

"Oh, wow…" Becky was lost in stardust as she followed the line downwards.

I breathed another sigh of relief when I saw the divider door was still closed, not to mention locked.

Then we were on the beach and there were three bonfires. A keg had been hidden in some bushes towards the back of the beach with coolers placed all over. When people quickly congregated to them, I figured they had alcohol inside.

"Oh, look!" Becky pointed to the farthest bonfire.

Logan and their friend were there with others grilling over the fire. Soon music blared from speakers placed by the pool.

Adam suggested we sit around one of the smaller bonfires and after we snagged some lawn chairs, Becky jumped back up. She was all smiles. "I'm going to get something more to drink. You guys want?"

She hotfooted it away before we could answer and Adam looked over with a hesitant smile. "More?"

"We got into her mom's wine."

"Ah, I see. Nancy. She does love her Moscato."

I grinned. "My mom's decided she loves tea, not the coffee she's been drinking since I was born, but tea now."

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