His stare meets mine.
We both nod our heads reluctantly because we knew this was coming.
It’s time.
Chapter Forty-One
KAMILA
Graduation night…
Ihate being the designated driver. I’m always chosen for it too. Well, it’s either Cam or me, never Ana.
Almost everyone from our grade is here. Graduation night is held in a small town in New Jersey every year. It’s impossible to find a beach in New York City that allows bonfires; therefore, it’s been held here for years. Not many people know how, nor do they care as long as they manage to sneak booze in.
Bonfires have to be put out at eleven, meaning things die down about an hour later. Usually, there’s an after-party at a hotel, but knowing how Ana gets, we’ll be heading straight home after midnight.
I take a sip of my one and only beer for the rest of the night while walking toward one of the many small bonfires across the beach. Jordan is with his girlfriend, Maddy, sitting on the sand across from Cam and Ana. I plop down next to them, trying to ignore their conversations, while I get cozy.
It’s only eight, and the sun is almost done setting. I should be able to see the stars clearly if I get far away enough from the small fires that line the beach. Taking a closer look at my surroundings, I see nothingbut couples cuddling, people making out, or groups of friends getting drunk. Then I realize that I am the only single person in this circle. Awkward.
In an instant, I’m standing, craving a walk along the shore alone.
“Where are you going?” Cam’s eyes are droopy, and I can tell that he’s tired from the long day we’ve had. I smile and squat down next to him and Ana, who looks a little tipsy but not drunk yet. My sister is thankfully a more responsible drinker when her boyfriend’s around.
“I’m going to take a walk near the water.”
“We’ll tag along.” Cam attempts to stand until Ana pulls him back down while shaking her head at us.
I roll my eyes at my stubborn sister. “I was actually hoping to go solo anyways, hermanita.”
My best friend looks at me concerned. I give him a reassuring smile. He hesitates before giving me one in return.
Making my way towards the water, I inhale the fresh air I rarely get back home. As fun as today has been with our morning graduation, family lunch, and the drive here with a playlist I made, I can’t help but continue to feel sad. I guess everyone gets sad when they graduate. Not because I’ll miss the homework or am going to miss most of my classmates, but because of a boy named Cameron Kahlo.
He got accepted into every college he applied to and so did I. I should be jumping for joy and a part of me is. Driscoll University is the right path for me, I can feel it in my gut. The only thing that’s stopping me from throwing a big ol’ party is my best friend, who is thinking about putting his dreams on the back burner just to stay near my sister.
Ana got accepted to our local community college and I’m truly proud of her, still she’s pressuring Cam to stay behind.
He told me that he could do two years in a community college in Nassau County and then transfer to Driscoll. Unlike him, I already sent my acceptance letter to the elite university and am nervous about having to start my journey there without my best friend.
He and Ana have been fighting constantly about this for months. If it really was a secure relationship, wouldn’t they be able to handle the distance? Shouldn’t she be happy for him?
Then again, this is Ana-like behavior. She can be stubborn, bitchy, and honestly, selfish. Yet I understand her frustration. She’s been in love with Cameron for so long now, it has to be hard trying to let go. I guess I’m being a little selfish too.
I’ve kept my opinions to myself about what I think Cam should do, and I’ll continue to. It’s his decision and I want it to be whatever makes him happiest.
The sun has finally set and the stars are making their grand entrance. The thought occurs to me that I’ll be able to see them every night upstate, and I smile.
Checking my watch out of curiosity, my eyes widen when I see that I’ve been gone for about half an hour now. Thankfully, I walked slowly and didn’t go too far away. I step towards the firelight coming from a distance while dipping my feet into the ice-cold water and clear my mind of all things Ana and Cameron.
It takes me another half an hour to get back and I can’t seem to find my best friend or sister anywhere. After searching for a while, I call both of them and both calls are sent straight to voicemail. Maybe they’re in the car. We only parked a couple of blocks away, but I don’t feel comfortable walking there alone in the dark. My eyes scan the area, looking for somebody I know, when I come across one of Cam’s friends and his girlfriend. They both agree to walk me to the car. While passing a couple of bonfires before reaching the stairs, something—or should I say someone—familiar catches my eye.
I stop dead in my tracks at my current view.
Cameron is sticking his tongue down a girl’s throat while squeezing her ass. Someone who is clearly not my sister.
Oh my God, it’s Olive. The girl who’s been obsessed with him for years. The one he always told Ana not to worry about.
