“Sort of.Both are peaceful,” Jesse said as he floated with me.
We swam for a while, soaking up the sunrays while they lasted.Thomas and Darren had a cannonball fight that Jesse judged closely.Darren was a fierce competitor, and Thomas knew how to make huge splashes.The boys hit, wrestled, and made fun of each other while we girls pretended to do water aerobics on the other side of the dock.I spun around and tried to do front flips.Betsy showed off her famous handstand, and we all clapped like she won a Grammy.We split when the boys ruined our elegant dancing by jumping onto our side.
I floated on my back until I saw the woman sucking onto Jesse like a leech.I looked toward my friends for an escape and comfort.But I saw Betsy wrap her legs around Thomas, while snogging him.Darren noticed my misplacement and treaded water to get over to me.
“Why don’t we dry off by the fire, Copper?We should check on Ronny.”
He knew me too well.He knew that it was a boundary I did not want to cross, and he respected it.Most boys wouldn’t care what I wanted.
Darren placed his denim jacket around me like a shawl so I could warm up.
I slipped on my clothes from earlier and sat cuddled up in his coat as the flame’s heat dried my legs.I was happy we stopped swimming because the mosquitoes started flying around the grounds.The little bugs were the bane of my existence.I swatted some away with my hand, avoiding their bites.
“This is crazy!Look, I know this is not the time to talk about it, but I wanted to let you know that I am willing to be your boyfriend.We can work the distance until we are out of high school, and our friendship can stay the same.We will just kiss sometimes if that’s okay...”
“Can I get back to you on that?I want to think about it.I like the kissing part, though,” I said as I leaned in and kissed him.His wet lips radiated heat.It was a lot to think about.If it worked out, we would be high school sweethearts.If it didn’t work out, I would lose one of my closest friends.Some part of me still saw it as weird to kiss Darren.In my head he was still that little boy who gave me Fawn.
As a teal Volkswagen bus rushed into the campsite, I drew back from Darren's lips.The headlights flashed, and the brakes squealed when it came to a halt in front of us.
Ronny stepped out of the airstream to check out the commotion, and Fawn pranced up to me.
“Who is that?”I asked.
Ronny placed his hand on his forehead, flustered.“That is the Matches.”
Chapter Twelve
The Matches
Song: Stuck in TheMiddle With You—Stealers Wheel
9:00 P.M.
Ronny’s eyes bugged out of his head, and his leg twitched like a runner preparing for a race.“Oh, Shit.What am I going to do?Jesse is going to flip.”
The first person to get out of the bus was a man with curly light brown hair and a soft baby face.We knew this man as the keyboardist for the Matches.His eyes were content on the cover of every album.
