Chapter Four:

After school, I found Coral by her car. "I'll pick you up at ten tomorrow morning," I said to her, making her jump, but she smiled at me.

"Okay, I'll be ready," she smiled and got into the front seat of her car, starting it and driving away. I waved at her before going to my own car and seeing Frank sitting on the hood.

"Hey!" Frank called, waving in the air. "So, you ditching the new girl and getting back together with Kate?"

I shoved him. "No. Kate asked me to the dance but I told her no. I'm going with Coral and that's it."

"Whatever. You going to the beach?"

"Yeah."

"You are giving me a ride, right?" he asked. "Like always when we take trips to the beach."

I shook my head, and he stared at me. I sighed. "I'm taking Coral to the beach. Sorry, man."

Frank didn't get mad. In fact, he started laughing. "So does Kate know you're taking her to the beach? 'Cause if she doesn't, she's going to flip out!"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Yeah. She knows. I'm just kinda scared of what Kate's going to do or say to Coral. She's a harsh girl, you know." I sighed. "I gotta get home, Frank. See you tomorrow."

"Sure. Just don't let Coral take your man card, like Kate did." He laughed and punched me in the shoulder before hopping off the hood and stuffing his hands in his pockets, walking to his car.

"You're going to catch a cold, Ray!" my mom nagged, trying to shove a windbreaker in my direction, and I was pushing it back at her.

"Mom, it's not like I'm going into the water. I'm not stupid. And besides, I'm taking a jacket." I held up my plain gray sweatshirt. She looked at me, skeptical, but sighed.

"Oh, alright. But when you have a cold tonight at the dance, don't blame me." I rolled my eyes and hugged her quickly.

"Bye Mom. I'll be back later to change for the dance." I grabbed my car keys and my jacket and went out to my car, getting into it and trying to remember my way to Coral's home.

When I pulled into her driveway, Coral was standing outside in a black sweatshirt, shorts, and black Uggs. Her aunt Ripple was standing next to her, her arms crossed and eyes narrow. She walked up before Coral did, as I got out of the car. "Are you Ray?" she asked, looking me over carefully.

"Yes," I replied, glancing at Coral, who shrugged and sighed. "I'm Ray."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Coral's aunt, Ripple. And I'm sure you'll treat my niece the best you can. Or else." She paused. "And keep her out of the water." She shot a glance back at Coral, who looked down and avoided meeting her aunt's eyes. "I don't want her to get sick."

"I will. And it's nice to meet you too, Miss Reese." I smiled. "I'll take good care of your niece." Coral looked up at me and smiled. Ripple sighed and waved Coral forward.

"Have fun. And remember, Coral; you'll have to deal with major consequences if you set so much as a foot in that ocean." Coral sighed and nodded, and I opened the door for her as she got into the car.

"I remember, Aunt Ripple," Coral murmured as I got into the car in the driver's side. I looked at her.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah," she mumbled, buckling her seat belt. "Let's go." I pulled out of the driveway, and Ripple was sure to watch us until we were out of sight.

"The beach is going to be fun," I said, glancing at her. "Just promise me something, okay?"

She frowned. "What?" She looked at me suspiciously, obviously wondering if I was going to make her promise something stupid or impossible.

"Kate's going to the beach. Promise you won't let anything she says to you offend you at all." Coral sighed.

"I'll try. But answer me something, Ray. Is she your ex-girlfriend or something?"

I nodded. "Yes. But we broke up months ago. But Kate likes to make other people's lives harder. That's all."

"She's nothing to you?"

"Nothing at all," I responded immediately and reached over, taking her hand in mine, smiling. Her cheeks turned red and she placed her other hand over mine. "I really like you, Coral. I hope you know that."

She was silent for a moment, bringing her eyes up to my face. "I like you too, Ray," she murmured, but pulled her hands out of mine and turned to stare out the window, her hands now in her lap.

I smiled and looked ahead of me, towards the road. We weren't far from the beach, but that thought didn't comfort me. I wasn't prepared for what I would say or do if—when—Kate started harassing Coral. It wasn't like I could hit her, like I would hit a guy if he started terrorizing Coral. Kate was a girl, and if I hit her I could very well break her in half. And she wouldn't listen to me if I said anything. She might stop if Coral and she fought, and Coral one, but she was so tiny and frail-looking that I knew that Kate would come out on top if they started fighting.

I realized I had been squinting my eyes and holding the wheel tighter than usual when Coral spoke. "What are you thinking about so hard, Ray?"

I smoothed out my expression and shot a quick smile her way. "Nothing. The sun's just bright and I'm trying not to hit anything."

She raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. I sighed and pulled up at the beach, where I saw Kate's car, Frank's, and a couple others belonging to people I knew. They had taken up a spot close to the water, and a guy was chasing Carrie, who was Kate's best friend, around. Kate was standing near Frank, bikini on and not so much as a shirt to keep her warm in the December chill.

I let out a breath. Let the battle begin.