Caught (5 page)

“Nikki, I hate to be the one to tell you, but your handy shouldn’t be so dry that you start a fire, try a mouth hug here and there.  It can do wonders for the purple headed yogurt slingers. Sorry,” she scoffs, “I digress, but I can give you a few pointers afterward if you’re interested.  Just let me know.”

I pat the tops of Quinn’s thighs with my hands, signaling for her to simmer down, but I know it’s already too late.  She’s seething and she will get even.

Dan comes over to referee.  Greg and I are practically nose to nose already as we wait for the go ahead.  “Ladies, let’s have a clean fight,” he says, placing his hand between us.  I know that a clean fight was not about to happen, but who was I to stop a little revenge?  He looks back and forth between us before calling out, “Alright, go!”

I feel my body hitch as the two girls grab onto each other.  Upon contact Quinn snakes her feet behind my back, causing her legs to wrap even tighter around me.  We jostle about for a few seconds before I hear Nikki scream.  Almost instantly there is a splash in front of me and I hear Quinn whooping above me.  Nikki surfaces, her arms wrapped tightly around her body.  “You whore!” she screams.

Quinn’s laughter causes my whole body to shake.  “Au contraire, my dear.  I’m not the one topless here.”  I watch in awe as Nikki’s top drops to the water in front of me.  Nikki glares up at Quinn, still perched safely on my shoulders, before grabbing it and swimming out to deeper water in order to dress herself.

Shaking my head, I toss Quinn into the water.  She’s still laughing when she surfaces.  “Can’t you play nice?” I scold.

She doesn’t even answer me, she just continues laughing.  Still bellowing, she leans forward, clutching her stomach.

Her laughter is infectious, and everyone joins in, myself included.  “You’re something else,” I manage to say between laughs.

She takes a deep breath, righting herself.  “Well, that twatwaffle was asking for it.”

I put my arm around her neck.  “What am I going to do with you?”

She looks up at me, stone cold serious.  “Feed me to the zombies.  Please.  It’s gotta be a million times better than being stuck out here with these plastics getting skin cancer.  They make me feel all snatchity.”

With a laugh, I gently push her shoulder.

“Or drown me.  Drowning would be good too.”

“How about a beer instead?” I ask, walking toward the shore.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she teases.

Still shaking my head, I lean over the cooler, grabbing three ice cold beers that we had one of the guys’ older brothers get.  I sure was going to miss this.  And by this, I mean Finley…and Quinn.  Definitely Quinn.

Bottom of the 3
rd

Quinn

The crackling of wood fills my ears, and I take a deep breath, inhaling the smoke that’s rising from the bonfire. This right here is the definition of what I will miss once college starts. As much as I tell myself and my parent’s that I want to get the hell out of dodge, it doesn’t mean I won’t often look back and reflect on all the fun. But here’s to letting the good times roll, and hoping there’s more to come in my uncertain future.

I grab the pliers and a handful of wired hangers and sit on a rock nearby. I begin untwisting the metal to make us some hot dog roasters.

“Yo, Fin. Hurry with them wieners,” I yell over my shoulder.

“I got your wiener,” Greg says, scooting up next to me. I give the guy props for effort even though for the most part he’s teasing.

“I’m not into cheap wieners, Greg.” I scrunch my nose up. “I’m more of a kosher type of gal.”

“And when did you become Jewish?” he asks and I laugh.

“Oh, Greg.” I smack his thigh. “Most words have more than one meaning, buddy.” I run my hand over his shaved head.

“Here,” I hear Finley say as she comes up from behind, dropping a pack of hot dogs in my lap.

“My hot dog poker brings all the wieners to my lap,” I start singing. 

“And they’re like, Quinn’s lap is better than Greg’s,” Fin chimes in, sitting next to me.

“You two, I swear,” Greg says, standing up and stretching. “Gimmie one of them magic pokers. I’m ready to get my roast on.”

“Whatcha think, Fin?” I open the bag of hot dogs. “Is he a one or two weeny kind of guy?” We both lean back and inspect Greg up and down, waiting for his reaction.

“Just give me what you like, Quinn.” He turns his body toward us, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

I gulp, unsure of how to even reply.

“One it is.” Fin grabs a hot dog and carefully slides it onto the metal.

“You did that like a pro,” Greg says, shaking his leg out.

“I’ve had practice.”

I gulp again. I don’t need to hear that or the double meaning she’s hinting at. Greg’s squirming catches my eye.

“Calm your boner, Greg. The only one I better see you sporting is this one.” I hand him his poker and stand. I sit everything down on the rock.

“You not eating?” Fin asks as she grabs one. I’m sure she’s being the doting girlfriend and making one for Chace. I hope she goes ahead and makes two. That’s how many he’ll want.

“I think I’m just gonna go straight for dessert.” I head off in the direction of the cabin, but turn for Chace’s truck instead. It’s dark and the stars are shining brightly. The area where the bonfire is has trees surrounding it. Right now I just want to drop down his tailgate and lie back, getting lost in the wonders of the universe.

It isn’t that I don’t enjoy the company of my friends, because I do. But sometimes I just enjoy the solace of nature and being alone with my thoughts. It’s when I’m able to find the clarity I need in life. The hardest thing in the world, or my world, is being happy about something you are insanely jealous of. I want to be happy for my best friends. For the most part I am. It’s not what they have that I envy. It’s what Finley has that I’m envious of. Before her, I never had to share Chace. That’s probably why I never told him about my feelings—I thought I had all the time in the world.

Then in strolled Finley, and a puberty stricken Chace turned into a lust wracked boy. I don’t blame him, Finley
is
gorgeous. She’s the reason I even got into the little bit of modeling I do on the side. And that’s just one of the reasons I’m able to be happy for what she has. She didn’t just leave me on the sideline when she got my best friend; she included me as well and made a duo into a trio. She’s been good to me and is my best friend. But no one is perfect, including Finley.

“What’s going on in that mind of yours?” The bed of the truck dips down as Chace hops up.

“I’m trying to pull a Mary Katherine Gallagher and use my telekinesis.” I start nodding my head forward like she does in Superstar. “To get Peter Pan to come and rescue me from adult hood.”

“Hold off until I at least leave for CCBL.” He lies back next to me. “Or better yet, never.”

I smile at the fact that he doesn’t want me to take off for Neverland. I hear the strumming of a guitar and my smile grows.

“I told Lewis to bring it,” Chace says, and I turn my head in his direction. He’s already looking my way with a knowing grin on his face.

“You know me too well.” I sit up and he follows behind me, hopping off and standing in front of me. His hands rest on each side of my ribs and I stop breathing for a moment.

“You
are
my best friend.” He lifts me up and tosses me over his shoulder. I want to be ticked and let down that he played the friend card as always, but how can you be disappointed when you’re playfully being hoisted over to where the fun is?

“There’s my gorgeous singer,” Lewis praises as Chace slowly drops me to the ground.

“Ahem,” I hear him clear his throat from behind me. My smile returns at the slight possessiveness he still has towards me.

“You can’t claim them both,” Greg whines from the other side of the bonfire.

“I can do whatever I damn well please,” Chace clarifies before sitting next to a smiling Fin and throwing his arm around her. She knows what’s to come and is just as excited as me. 

“Are we going old school?” Lewis asks as I sit down next to him.

“Nah. How ‘bout some 90’s to start the night?”

“Is that not old school?” Greg stands, heading to the cooler.

“Your mom’s old school,” Lewis mumbles from beside me.

“Over here, man.” Chace holds up his hand and Greg tosses him a beer.

The subtle strumming of the guitar surrounds me as Lewis begins playing Drive by Incubus, and I just want to close my eyes and mind and soak it all in. I start to lightly sway to the rhythm, getting as lost as this rock will allow. I begin to sing, and the words begin to etch themselves into me. The song hits me more now than it ever has before. Maybe because it’s talking about what I’m now facing—taking control over my life and decisions. I’m doing what’s best for me instead of what other’s think, and this song is resonating that within me.

The chorus starts and I stand, holding my hands out towards Finley. She eagerly grabs them as we sing and dance together. Everyone else chimes in as well, some more loudly than the rest. Ahem, Greg with his drunken baritone voice. Finley and I finish the song out as one, and the deepness that had begun to fill me is replaced with the playfulness that’s naturally brought about when it comes to the two of us. Chace remains sitting on his log, playing DJ as he air scratches to the song and throwing out a “wiggity wiggity whack” for effect every so often.

More singing and drinking take place. My stomach growls and I remember I haven’t even eaten. I make my way to where I see bags of marshmallows. Luckily, I find a poker to roast my marshmallow with. After catching the gooey white ball on fire a good seven times, I figure it’s crispy enough. With slight beer goggles, I maneuver the two pieces of graham cracker and chocolate to meet my burnt marshmallow.

“Score!” I hoot, taking pride in my accomplishment. I take a bite and let out a moan at how good it tastes.

Finley walks my way, holding a red Solo in her hand. She’s not much of a drinker, but every now and then she lets her guard down a little more than normal. I’m thinking tonight is one of those nights. Maybe I should remind her about those limits she’s always telling me about.

“You gotta a lil something,” she says, motioning to my face, but before I can even try to wipe it off her finger slides across my bottom lip and retreats to her mouth.

“Did you just lick chocolate off her?” Of course, of all people he’d be the one to witness it.

“Yeah, I did,” Fin replies with a wicked gleam. “And it was goooood.”

“If Chace only had a clue of how fuckin’ lucky he was,” Greg mumbles drunkenly, making his way back to where Nikki is perched.

“I already do.” Chace walks up from behind us, slinging his gorilla arms across both our shoulders. “I’m the luckiest guy in the history of lucky guys. Ever,” Chace slurs with a shit eating grin. “And by the way,” he whisper loudly at Finley. “Don’t think I didn’t see what you did.”

Finley bats her eyes, appearing innocent. “And what’d I do?” she coos, and I almost regurgitate my half eaten s’more.

“Chocolate. Lips. Finger. Licking. Hot,” Chace replies before tipping his head back, taking a drink of his beer.

“Me man. You woman. That hot,” I mock his lack of sentence forming skills.

“It was,” he teases before dropping his arm from my shoulders to fully encompass Finley. I take that as my cue to make my way somewhere else. Anywhere.

Everyone seems to be doing their own thing. The couples or people hooking up are dispersed about. I’m tired and not looking for any random sexual acts while here. At this point it’s safer for me and my eyes to go ahead and head inside. It’s late as is, and being out in the sun all day has worn me out. I walk into the cabin, and the first thing I see are two people making out on the couch. As long as no one is in my bed, or the room I’m in while getting it on, then I’ll be fine.

The loft area that’s upstairs is dark as I make my way up the steps. I don’t have any idea why I agreed to sleep up here with Fin and Chace, but I did. Not like it’ll be the first time we’ve all ever slept in a bed together. And plus, this bed is huge. I’ll have plenty of room to myself since Finley will be cuddling Chace all night.

The idea of changing is nice, but the point would be moot. You don’t put jammies on while you’re camping. Hell, you barely shower. I pull the blanket back and fall face first onto the bed. The mattress welcomes me as I stretch out, getting real good and comfortable. I quickly drift off into what I can only believe will be a restful slumber.

I feel the bed moving and it startles me, until a familiar drunken voice closes in on me. Finley completely presses against me, wrapping her arms around me.

“I love you, Quinny,” she begins. “You’re the bestest friend I’ve ever had. I’m going to miss you.” She lets out a yawn. “I’m going to miss you and Chace. He’s not even going to be here for his birthday,” she whines in her half sleeping state.

“We have to throw him a party before he leaves for the Cape,” I suggest, realizing I should have thought of it earlier.

“Yes. A surprise one.” She yawns again, causing me to yawn as well.