WE SAT THERE FOR A moment, staring at the one-level ranch-style house with white siding, blue shutters, and a matching blue door.

When he finally reached for the car door, I followed suit. We traipsed the walkway around the side of the house to the side door that led to our sunny yellow kitchen where fruit was stenciled on the walls. It was one of the last things my mom did before she died. The walls were in serious need of paint, but Dad just didn’t have the heart to paint over her hard work. I didn’t either. Dad said she’d wanted the house to be cheery and have a special touch from her so she could always look back and know she did that. It’s too bad she didn’t live long enough to enjoy it.

Dad grabbed a beer from the fridge and headed into the living room. A moment later, the television clicked on and some kind of sports game blared loudly. I heard the creak of the recliner and knew that Dad was now in his zone.

“I’m going to shower,” I told him, heading toward my room. I might’ve showered this morning but after sweating off what I’m sure was five pounds of water, I felt another shower was necessary.

The hiss of the beer can being opened was the only answer that greeted me.

I shrugged and headed into my bedroom and the attached bath.

The sweaty salt had created a film on my skin and I scrubbed it away with my warm vanilla sugar body wash before I lathered my hair and watched the bubbles run down the drain. Climbing out, I towel dried my hair. I knew there was no point in doing anything to it. Dani would deem it wrong and then fix it. It was best to give her a clean slate. I pulled on a pair of khaki shorts and an olive green top. Checking the clock, I decided I better head on over to Dani’s. Who knew how long it would take her to finish getting ready and then redress me, because I knew there was no way she’d ever let me go in what I chose.

“Dad, can I borrow the truck?” I asked, leaning against the doorway.

“Sure,” he said and raised up off the recliner, pulling the keys out of his pocket. “Be back at a reasonable time, no—”

“—drinking and driving, no getting in fights, don’t let anyone else drive the truck, leave my cell phone on, and let you know when I arrive home. Did I forget anything?” I asked, ticking the list of rules off on my finger, grinning at him.

“You got it, kiddo.” He gave me a thumbs up.

“Love you,” I called on my way out the door.

I closed the door behind me and climbed into the truck. It sputtered to life like the good rusty piece of American history that it was. I wasn’t good at changing the gears, but I was decent and made it to Dani’s without stalling even once. Dad would be proud.

Dani lived in a suburban neighborhood a few miles from me. Her house was large, two-stories plus a basement. It was nice, but it didn’t feel homey to me. I’d never tell her that, though. I guess maybe I preferred the smallness of my home, the fact every room felt lived in and necessary. We certainly didn’t have a formal living room to only use on special occasions.

I parked on the street, Dani’s car in the driveway, and strode up to the front door. I rang the doorbell and, a moment later, Dani’s mom pulled it open.

“Oh, hello, Mara,” she said with a smile, moving aside to let me in. I could hear the sounds of Dani’s fifteen-year-old brother, Levi, playing Xbox in the basement. “Dani’s in her room,” she told me before disappearing into the den, scolding Levi to turn the volume down.

I bounced up the steps and into Dani’s bedroom. I didn’t bother knocking. We were both so comfortable with each other that it didn’t matter.

Dani’s room was an explosion of color. The walls were painted hot pink with one wall done in lime green wallpaper with some kind of white fancy design on it. Her headboard was a Parisian style that was obviously expensive but her hot pink and green bedspread ruined the rich look. I had more subtle taste in clothes and well … everything compared to Dani. Dani liked to make a statement.

“There you are,” she said, dancing around her room to an obnoxiously loud pop song. She turned the volume down but continued to sway her hips. “Ugh, Mara, don’t you have any … I don’t know? Party clothes?” she scoffed at my shorts and tank.

I rolled my eyes and put my hands on my hips. “Dani, I agreed to go. Don’t push me. I can always go back home,” I warned.

“Fine, oh fine,” she said, taking my hand and dragging me toward her closet.

Clothes were spilling out of drawers and falling off hangers. In fact, I was pretty sure that half of her closet was on the floor.

“Having trouble finding something to wear?” I laughed.

She sighed and looked in her closet. “I have to look peeerfeeect,” she said, drawing out the word. “Ian’s going to be there, and I’ve had the biggest crush on him fooooreeeever,” she said in typical dramatic Dani fashion.

I also knew for a fact there was no way she’d had a crush on him fooooreeeever like she said because I hadn’t heard about him yet and she told me everything. To Dani, forever could be hours.

“Ian? Isn’t that Jules’ brother?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she said, and her cheeks darkened in hue. “But he’s sooooo hot, Mara.”

“Superficial much?” I joked with a raised brow.

“You didn’t let me finish,” she said, holding up a hand. “He’s hot, he’s nice, he’s sweet to kids, he’s in college, he’s—”

“Perfect, I know.” I sighed. “If we ever want to make it to the party we better hurry.”

“Oh, crap, you’re right,” she said, looking at the clock. “Sit down.” She pushed me onto the chair in front of the vanity. Her fingers began to tug and separate my hair. “Mara, you have such pretty hair and you just let it go to waste. It’s such a shame.” She clucked her tongue. I rolled my eyes.

She twisted my hair into an elegant braid then turned me in the chair to face her. So she could dab some makeup onto my face. Hopefully, she wasn’t going overboard. She swiped some gloss across my lips and stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Lovely. You look amazing.”

She then turned me to face the mirror.

My skin glowed and my hazel eyes looked greener thanks to some shadow she had brushed across my lids. My lips looked fuller than normal and my skin glowed. I looked like some kind of exotic creature. Dani could work wonders.

I started to stand but she pushed me back down. “Ugh, look at your brows. When’s the last time you waxed them? Where’s my tweezers?” she muttered, fiddling with the vanity’s drawer. She finally found the shiny silver object and held it up triumphantly. “A-ha!”

“Dani,” I whined, squirming, “please, no.”

“Hold still,” she commanded, snapping the tweezers like a crab’s pinchers. She held me in the chair with one hand and began to pluck my brows.

“Ow!” I cried when she pinched a bit of skin.

“Sorry.” She giggled so I knew she wasn’t sorry at all. “If you only kept your eyebrows waxed you wouldn’t be in this situation.”

She finished plucking my brows and we switched places. Dani already looked immaculate. Her black hair flowed down her back in pretty waves. Her dark skin looked flawless but glowed with a strawberry-scented shimmery lotion. Her pale pink tank top was flowy and stood out against her white shorts. Her feet were encased in golden flats. Like always, her makeup was perfect.

“Do you think this top looks good?” she asked, plucking at the bottom of it.

“Dani, you look perfect.” I sighed, knowing this could go on for hours with her. Once, she’d spent so long changing her clothes we ended up missing a birthday party entirely. “Like always. It’s sickening,” I joked.

Dani smiled at my compliment. She disappeared into her closet and returned with a sparkling gold shrug.

“Here,” she said, handing it to me. “Wear this over your shirt. It’ll dress you up a bit. Oh, and these.” She picked up a pair of shoes from the floor. I could never decide if it was a good thing or a bad thing that we wore the same size clothes and shoes.

I pulled the three-quarter-sleeved cardigan on and slipped out of my Converse and into her gladiator-style shoes.

She smiled at me. “That is so much better.”

I rolled my eyes; I didn’t see how a change of shoes and shrug could make my outfit much better.

She grabbed my hand. “Come on, let’s go.” She dragged me from the room. I realized it was starting to get dark. “Bye, Mom,” she called and pulled me out the door before her mom could question our destination.

Once in her car she backed out of the driveway so fast that I was surprised she didn’t take out the mailbox and my dad’s truck with it.

“Now, Mara,” she began, pointing her finger as she drove. “I really hope you’re nice to Eli tonight. That boy has it bad for you.”

I shrugged my shoulders and squirmed. “I like Eli. I do. He’s a nice guy but I just don’t feel that way about him. I don’t think it’s right to lead him on.”

Dani sighed dramatically. “Mara,” she said my name like a mother scolding an unruly child. “Just give him some summer lovin’. He’s going away to college and you’re going to stay here. You’ll never see him again.”

I laughed. “Dani, I love you but you’ve got some twisted logic.”

She smiled at me. “I hate seeing you alone.”

“I’m not alone,” I defended. “I have you and I have my dad.”

“Really, Mara? You don’t ever picture yourself with a guy?”

I started to say no but then the image of the boy at graduation invaded my mind. His dark hair, those gray eyes, lean hips, and those lips.

“I do,” I finally answered, “but I don’t want to waste my time with someone I don’t have feelings for. Doesn’t that make any sense to you?”

“Yeah, I guess. But—” She bit her lip and glanced at me.

“But you want to track down Ian and spend your time with him. I’ll be fine Dani. You’re not the only person in the world that I know.”

She gave me a sympathetic smile and said, “I’m such a lousy friend.”

“Yes, you are,” I laughed. “Lord only knows why I hang out with you.”

She laughed and playfully punched my arm. She flicked a piece of hair from her eye and said, “You know you love me.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Sometimes, I’m not so sure about that,” I jested.

She smacked my arm.

“Eyes on the road,” I commanded.

“Yes, Mother,” she mocked.

* * *

The party was already packed. Music thundered, and the fiery sparks of a bonfire could be seen. Recent high school grads and some college students stood around, drinking from red plastic cups.

The moon reflected off the lake making the water glow white. Looking up at the sky I was certain that I could see every star.

“Mara, you’re so weird,” said Dani, grabbing my hand. “Who stands around looking at the sky?”

“I do,” I defended.

She huffed and let go of my hand.

“I’m going to find Ian,” she said. “Will you be okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” I replied.

She turned to walk away. “Wait,” she blurted, turning back. She had that pleading look on her face. “Can you please, pretty please, be the designated driver?” She gave me puppy dog eyes and pouty lips.

“Dani, I don’t drink. I’m always the designated driver.”

She smiled and started to leave again.

“Keys?” I called after her.

She tossed them to me. After a few drinks, Dani tended to forget that she couldn’t drive. I had learned a while ago to make sure she didn’t have access to them.

I stuffed the keys into my pocket and walked down to the lake. Everyone was dancing, laughing, and having a good time. I hated it. I didn’t know why I always let Dani drag me to these things, especially when I knew I’d inevitably be ditched.

Actually, I did know why. I was worried about what might happen to her if I wasn’t around.

I plopped down in the grass and watched the water ripple. I instantly felt calmer. Looking at the water, the stars, and the moon, it was easy to drown out the party.

I noticed a swing set and made my way over, plopping in the seat. My legs propelled me up and I felt like a little kid again, going to the park and having my dad push me, as I giggled and screamed, “Higher!”

“Hey,” said someone, taking the swing next to mine.

“Hi, Eli,” I mumbled.

Of course he found me. This must be a record.

“Dani said I might find you out here,” he supplied when he caught my tone.

Curse that girl.

I didn’t mean to be overly rude to the guy, it wasn’t his fault that he liked me, but man, shouldn’t he have gotten the message by now? I’d never done anything to lead him on.

“Do you need something?” I asked. I tried and failed to keep the edge from my voice.

He sighed. “I just wanted to see you.”

“Here I am.”

Eli looked at the ground and I watched his feet drag little pieces of grass. “Why don’t you like me?”

Wow. Straight to the point for once.

I closed my eyes and swallowed. “I like you, Eli.”

“But you don’t like me, like me?”

What was this? Third grade?

“No,” I answered softly and chewed on a piece of nail to avoid his eyes. I sighed and said, “Eli, you could have any girl you wanted. Why do you want me?”

He smiled. “You’re different. Most girls around here are so superficial. But you’re not. You care about people. I like that about you.” He laughed. “I think I fell in love with you a bit in fifth grade when Stan fell off the playground swings and started crying. Everyone wanted to make fun of him but not you. You stood up for him. Right then, I thought, that’s the girl I want to marry.”

“Eli—” I started.

He held up a hand. “I know you’re not interested but you asked why, and I wanted to answer honestly. Friends?” He held out his hand.

“Friends.” I took his hand.

Just then, fireworks erupted over the lake making me jump.

“It’s okay. Just fireworks,” he told me in a soothing tone.

I laughed. “Sorry, I’ve been kinda jumpy today.”

Eli started to swing. “Where are you going to college?”

I sighed. “The community college. It’s only one course, that’s all I could afford, but it’s a start.” I lifted my feet in the air and tilted my head back as I swung so I could see the stars. “We don’t have the extra money for me to go and besides, my dad needs me. I need to stay here and work and help him out. Maybe one day …” I let the sentence fall away. I had never liked the word maybe it was too open, too vague.

Maybe I’ll do this, maybe I’ll be that, maybe, maybe, maybe. It was all so tiring.

“That’s very admirable of you.”

“Hardly,” I snorted.

“I’m sure your dad is very proud to call you his daughter.”

“I hope so,” I replied. “I love my dad and I know he loves me very much but sometimes I wonder if he regrets me. I mean, I was a baby when my mom died. If he hadn’t had to take care of me there are all kinds of things he could’ve done.”

“But none of them would have had any meaning without you,” Eli supplied.

I laughed. “This got deep fast.”

Eli chuckled. “Yeah, sorry.”

“Mara! Mara!” I heard called in a panicked tone. I sat up in the swing and the metal chains twisted around each other.

“Dani?” I hollered into the darkness.

Eli stopped swinging.

“Mara! Mara! Mara!”

“Dani?” I screamed back, turning in every direction. I couldn’t pinpoint where her voice was coming from. It was like it was coming from everywhere all at one time.

My beautiful friend appeared through the darkness.

“Dani!” I rushed to her, grabbing her. Her hands and legs were covered in blood.

So much blood.

“Are you okay? Where are you hurt?” I asked, looking her over.

She sobbed, her body shaking. I’d never seen my friend like this—so unhinged. But I guess I’d be pretty upset too if I was covered in blood.

“N-Not mine,” she swallowed thickly. “Ian.”

Eli joined me, looking Dani over. “What happened?” he asked.

She moved her hair out of her face and I noticed then that there was blood splattered on her face too.

“I-I don’t know. H-He was fine one s-second and the next he was mumbling all these things. It didn’t even sound like any language I know. Almost alien. T-Then blood started coming out of him. First it was just a trickle out of his mouth t-then his shirt was drenched with blood. I-I tried to stop it I held his chest, but the b-blood kept coming and then he started choking. Before I k-knew it, he was g-gone.”

I looked from her to Eli, both of us horror stricken.

Things like this didn’t happen in our town.

First my dream.

Then the sword.

The guy.

Now this.

Something big was happening. Something I believed none of us were prepared for.

In the distance, sirens could be heard, and everyone scrambled to hide the alcohol.

“It happened so fast,” she whispered, her eyes glazed over.

“We need to leave,” I told her, grabbing her arm.

I knew the normal thing to do would be to stay and talk to the police, but my gut was screaming to get away from there. That it wasn’t safe.

When she started to stumble and shake, I put an arm around her to hold her steady.

“It’s okay,” I whispered.

“Jake! Jake, wait up!” Eli called after a retreating truck. Eli slumped. “There goes my ride.”

“Come on.” I nodded toward Dani’s car. “I’ll drive you.”

He perked up. “Thanks, Mare,” he said.

I flinched. Did we have nicknames now? This friend thing was going to be harder than I thought.

I unlocked Dani’s car and helped her in. She was a blubbering mess. Eli climbed in the back. I started the car and raced out, at a safe speed, hoping to avoid the cops.

“He was fine,” mumbled Dani. “It was so strange.”

“Dani,” I said softly. “It’s okay.”

Eli leaned between the two front seats and patted Dani’s shoulder. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Of course she didn’t,” I snapped. Eli held his hands up in surrender and sat back. “Buckle up,” I told him.

“You got it, boss.”

“Where do you live?” I asked him.

He rattled off the address. I pulled in front of his house, located in a neighborhood not far from Dani’s.

“Thanks for the ride,” he started. “Mara, maybe we could—”

“Goodnight, Eli,” I snapped. I’d officially reached my limit with him.

He shook his head and closed the door.

I parked Dani’s car and helped her inside.

“She’s not drunk, is she?” asked Dani’s mom coming from the hallway. Instead of worrying about underage drinking, Mrs. Danielson—yes, Dani’s name was Danielle Danielson—was probably more worried about Dani throwing up on her floors.

“Someone died,” I explained softly. “Ian Gordon. Jules’ brother.”

Mrs. Danielson’s face paled. “Goodness,” she said and put a hand to her chest. “That’s a tragedy. What happened?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged, edging Dani closer to the stairs. “Dani was with him when it happened.”

Mrs. Danielson’s eyes widened even more. “Let me run you a bath, sweetie,” she said sympathetically and took Dani from my arms. I watched them disappear upstairs.

I was turning to leave when Levi collided with me.

“Did you say someone died?” he asked. He looked up at me with wide eyes.

“Uh … yeah,” I hedged.

“Cool! That’s awesome!” he cried.

My jaw dropped open and I shook my head. Fifteen-year-old boys.

I placed Dani’s keys on the foyer table and pulled my own from my pocket before heading out the door.

I kept my head ducked as I walked down the driveway to the truck. An uneasy feeling that someone was watching me took over, but I was scared to look—afraid if I did it might convince them to jump me if someone was there. I reached the truck and it started right up. Breathing a sigh of relief, I headed home.

Exhaustion was swallowing me whole and my bed was calling my name.