“I mean, my mouth is very good at some other things as well.”
“Ewww, gross.”
“I did not mean that, you little perv.”
I was lucky we were already at the parking area of the lake because the way my shoulders shook from the laughter that erupted from me would not let me drive any longer.
“I can’t with you.” She huffed. “I can’t take you anywhere.”
“I’m sorry,” I cried as I killed the engine, my parking skills long forgotten. I wouldn’t be surprised if I actually parked across two spots instead of only one. “Just… The look on your face.”
“Shut up.” She snorted.
“I’m gonna pee myself.” I let my head fall onto the steering wheel, and I had a feeling that the entire car shook from the force of my laughter.
“And you say that I’m the nasty one.”
She opened the door, getting out first, letting me calm down all by myself. I loved Bianca like the sister I never had, and this was exactly why I knew that she was the perfect person for me to spend my evening with.
No matter what, she always made me feel better about, well, everything.
I wiped away the tears that spilled down my cheeks, still cackling, and turned around to take the hoodie I picked up from my house, from the back seat.
March was a freezing motherfucker, especially at night, and I wasn’t going to risk getting the flu or pneumonia tonight. My immune system was already fucked up, and the last thing I wanted was to wake up tomorrow with a sore throat.
I pushed the door open and got out, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness outside. Two streetlamps in the distance cascaded their light onto the cars parked closer to them, and I realized that this party was not as small as I initially thought it would be.
Which, in a way, made me feel better about not running into Noah tonight. If I stuck to the shadows and avoided his group of friends, I could go through the entire night without seeing him. Maybe Bianca had a point in coming here tonight.
I could use some fun, especially right now. It wasn’t like I would get wasted. I didn’t have to drink to have a good time.
“Who is coming tonight, do you know?” I asked Bianca as soon as I stepped outside, loving the cold breeze. Being here at Alkey Lake always brought up memories I tried so hard to forget, but tonight they didn’t hurt as much as they used to.
Tonight, I could look at this place as a beautiful piece of nature, which we often used for parties and gatherings, and whatnot. The ice was going to melt soon, and I wasn’t sure which view was better here—the one right now or the one during the summer.
It was just too bad that none of us would be able to see it fully tonight.
“What are you thinking about?” Bianca asked, looking in the same direction as I was.
“How beautiful it is here, no matter which season we’re in.”
“It really is. I mean, I’ve been here with you guys whenever you skated on the lake. I’ve spent countless summers here as well, swimming in that lake. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful it is.”
“Right?” I grinned. “It’s like a small piece of heaven.”
And if this was what heaven truly looked like, then no one should be afraid of dying.
“Shall we?” Bianca asked as she started walking in the direction where I could see a small bonfire going on. Our hockey team, Whitebrook Wolves, loved bonfires. It didn’t matter what time of the year it was; they always found an excuse to have one.
The town people didn’t really mind us having them here, as long as no one got hurt, which did happen from time to time, but nothing too serious.
I nodded and started slowly walking after her, my trembling hands by my sides. The need to run and hide was stronger than I anticipated, but I promised myself I would have this. I promised myself I would have one normal night that didn’t involve thinking about Noah, about skating, or about things that I couldn’t change.
The loud music we could hear as soon as we got out of the car started becoming louder and louder, until I started bobbing my head to the sound of the music, and the familiar song.
“Can You Feel My Heart”by Bring Me the Horizon was blasting in full force as we came to the area that led down toward the beach side of the lake. Teenagers roamed around, some in groups, some in couples, all of them with drinks in their hands, moving to the rhythm of the music.
The cacophony of their voices was smothered by the music, but I was sure that if it wasn’t for that, we would be hearing all of them laughing, talking, and cheering each other on.
