Twelve.

Claudia

I've always prefered to be unique. It's important to me. Way back when, I used to dress insanely to set myself apart from the crowd. Then, oddly enough, dressing weird became, well, normal. From goth to punk to lesbian chic to metrosexual... I realized somewhere near the beginning of junior year that it was not striking people the same way it used to.

So, in order to be unique in a society of labels, I began to dress normal.

Well, it sounds good. A lot less boring than "I realized I looked ridiculous and decided to tone it down."

Truthfully, I find it very refreshing to be able to talk to someone without them scanning my outfit and taking in the details.

Today, for instance. It's kind of important. More than I'll admit in public. Pete's coming. Ever since the party the other night I've been thinking about him, and suddenly the idea of a relationship sounds appealing. Do I plan an extravagant outfit to impress him? No. Do I wear wild make-up? No. Is my hair crazy? No. I am just plain, simple Claudia, unique in her normalness. I look like the kind of girl a man might consider entering a mature relationship with.

After perfecting my normal look I headed to the kitchen, where the smell of coffee was calling me. At the table I found Stacey and Mary Anne. Sitting together. Neither of them are dead. While last night may have played out as pretty tame, I know these two girls far too well to judge that book by it's cover. Mary Anne can hold a grudge like nobody's business, and Stacey can be the biggest bitch you ever met. They are my two best friends in the world, I love them both, but when they clash, things get scary.

I simply greet them. I don't want to start anything. Either they have made up (doubtful, but I guess slightly possible) or they have both entered into some game of "who's more manipulative?" with eachother.

Stacey grinned and began to talk about some store she and Mallory found in town, full of great vintage clothes. Stacey, much unlike Mary Anne, does not hold grudges. She gets over things as quickly as they happen. I feel bad about what I called her in the car, because she had, after all, been right. She could have worded it a little differently. I just felt this insane need to defend Dawn. I don't know why, the only thing we seem to really have in common is the fact that we didn't graduate. She just seems so weak to me, now. I feel like I need to take care of her.

Mary Anne suggests we head out to the beach. Sounds like a plan to me. Kristy, Dawn, Mallory, and Alan are still asleep. I don't mention that it'll be easier to watch for Pete outside. That would bring taunting and teasing, which I don't want right now. Not that I don't have a sense of humor, I'm just nervous.

I gave myself a mental slap in the forehead. Why am I nervous? Hello, this is Pete Black. It's not like I haven't commited plenty of sins with this guy already.

Pete said he would be in town around noon. When we settle on the beach it's fifteen minutes after. I posistioned myself at an angle I could see the street from, yet also not appear to be watching for him. I watched for about twenty minutes before I spotted Pete's black Suburban rolling slowly down the street. I stood up silently and slinked away without Stacey or Mary Anne noticing, and waved. I saw Pete wave back from the open driver's window. He pulled to a stop in front of the house and opened his door immediately, grinning at me. He looked great.

I began walking a little faster, until I saw his passenger door open. Oh, no, was my first thought. Grace.

But it wasn't Grace. In fact, I sort of wished it was. When I saw that head of shaggy blonde hair emerge from Pete's SUV I almost screamed. Of all the people in this entire world Pete could have brought with him, female or male, he had chosen Logan Bruno.

I stopped short and spun around to look at Mary Anne. She was still laying under her umbrella, eyes closed, oblivious. Stacey, on the other hand, was standing up and gaping with her mouth wide open.

Next I looked back toward the house, which somewhere contained Mallory Pike.

Pete embraced me at that moment, planting a kiss on me and slipping his tongue in my mouth. I should have been ecstatic at the greeting, but found myself opening my eyes and squinting at Logan, who still stood by the car. I end the kiss prematurely and Pete asks me if anything's wrong.

"Why didn't you tell me you were bringing Logan?" I asked quietly, keeping one eye on Mary Anne's still figure in the sand.

Pete shrugged. "He wanted to keep it quiet. I didn't think you would mind." He hooked his finger under my bikini shoulder strap and tugged with a grin.

Stacey was now standing next to me. "Uh, Stace, can you show the guys in really quick? I'm gonna..." I nodded my head toward Mary Anne.

Stacey nodded, still looking shocked. "C'mon, Pete. You guys are sleeping in the living room, sorry..."

I trudged slowly through the sand toward Mary Anne. Glancing back, I could see Logan still standing by the car, shielding his eyes to watch us.

That's not going to make it any easier. I sat down next to Mary Anne under the umbrella and she opened her eyes. "What's going on? You guys were gone for a minute, right?"

"Yeah. Pete just got here."

Mary Anne sat up. "Yeah? Where is he?"

"He's in the house. Mary Anne?"

She looked at me quizzically. I don't know why she and Logan broke up for the last time, she never really went in to detail. I do, however, know it was not on good terms. I also know that for whatever reason, Mary Anne thinks there is something going on with Mallory and her ex, and that for some reason it's driving her nuts. I don't know if Mary Anne still loves Logan or if she just hates him that much, but I do know that what I'm about to tell her will not go over well. Somehow, someway, this is going to blow up in everyones face, and it is going to be BAD.

How do you break that kind of news? There is no good way.

"Pete brought Logan." I blurted. There. Done. Quick and... possibly painless.

I watched her face, waiting for an explosion of some sort. I detected a bit of horror in her eyes, but her expression remained neutral. She nodded, ever so slightly, but said nothing.

"Is that, you know, okay? Because if not I'll tell them to leave..."

She smiled a little. "No, Claud. I know how much you want Pete here." She heaved a huge sigh. "It's okay, really. I'll just stay away from him."

"If you're sure."

"I'm sure." She chuckled. "I wonder if he came to see Mallory?"

I didn't answer.

"I'll bet he did." She said with a sort of stubborn satisfaction.