"What did you end up doing last night?" Adilynne asked Sarah as they sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy the breakfast Adilynne had made.
Piling pancakes onto her plate Sarah told her about the party at Topper's house the night before. "Another party? You all just had one at Kelce's Friday," Adilynne admonished, rolling her eyes.
"Well yeah but you know sometimes the alcohol flows all weekend," Sarah replied, shrugging. Snorting Adilynne shook her head, "So what did you tell Ward we were doing last night?" she questioned, referring to Sarah's dad, "Another round of UNO?"
Shaking her head Sarah laughed, "No, last night consisted of mani/pedis, facials, and reading cosmo," she answered.
"What about you? You and your pogue get into trouble?" Sarah asked, raising her eyebrow at the blonde across from her.
Rolling her eyes at the nickname for JJ Adilynne told her about spending time at the beach, "And then we went back to John B's place. I met his dad and helped with making dinner for everyone and then we just hung out. The guys fished off the pier and then we watched a movie before JJ brought me home."
"And was there a good night kiss involved?" Sarah questioned, "There was," she cried triumphantly as Adilynne's face flushed, "Tell me all about it," she demanded.
Biting her lip Adilynne shrugged, "There's not much to say. We've kissed a few times and it's nice," she responded. "Nice?" Sarah replied, scrunching up her nose, "Well he's doing it wrong if all you got out of it was nice."
Giggling Adilynne shook her head, "Okay well maybe it wasn't just nice. Maybe it was fucking amazing and I love the way he makes me feel," she admitted.
"You know he has a reputation of being a player, Adilynne?" Sarah asked. Sighing Adilynne nodded, "I'm perfectly aware of it and we've acknowledged it. My eyes are fully open on this one and we're just having fun together. We kind of agreed to be friends that may add some benefits into the mix," she admitted, to one of her oldest friends.
"Friends with benefits?" Sarah asked incredulously, "Now that really doesn't sound like you." Chewing the inside of her cheek Adilynne placed her fork down as she looked at Sarah, "Maybe it is. I feel like for seventeen years I've been living in this bubble. Protected by who my father was on this island, but he's not here now and I feel like I'm finally living my own life instead of living vicariously through you. You don't think I didn't want to go to those parties with you and do all the dumb shit you would tell me about? I did but I didn't want to disappoint him, and since he ended up disappointing me I feel like screw it I'm gonna experience this stuff now," Adilynne attempted to explain how she'd been feeling since her father's death, "But Sarah I'm still me. I know right from wrong and right now kissing JJ doesn't feel wrong so you don't need to worry."
Sighing Sarah nodded, "Ok," she relented, "I mean I'm still going to worry. You're my best friend, Adilynne, and you've gone through some shit the last few weeks. Just know I'm always here for you," Sarah told her.
Smiling Adilynne reached across the table placing her hand on top of Sarah's, "I know," she told her squeezing her hand.
Glancing at the clock Adilynne rose from the table, "I told them I'd make sandwiches for lunch to take along. Let's get this cleaned up and you can help me," she said picking up her empty breakfast plate.
The girls had just wrapped the last sandwich placing it into one of her father's old coolers when she heard the front door open. Wiping her hands on a dish towel she called out to her mother, "Mom? Do you need help?"
"Not your mom, Addie," JJ's voice called back as he and John B came into the kitchen laden down with several bags of groceries. Furrowing her brow Adilynne questioned where they came from.
"We were just pulling up when we saw your mom outside with the groceries," John B answered as the boys put their bags on the kitchen table.
"Adilynne, honey, your friends are just the sweetest. They pulled up behind me and JJ and John here were already taking the bags out before I could even ask," Jenna said walking into the kitchen with Kie and Pope behind her each carrying more bags. Looking around at all the bags Adilynne looked at her mom in confusion, "Did you buy the whole store?" she questioned.
Hands on her hips Jenna looked around, "Yeah, I may have gone overboard. I'm just worried about you being by yourself," she admitted.
Smiling Sarah winked at Adilynne, "Well I guess that means we can have a party while you're away, Mrs. C. You know to help Adilynne get rid of some of this food," she stated, mischievously.
Eyes narrowing Jenna raised her eyebrow at Sarah, "Miss Cameron has jokes," Jenna responded, sarcastically, "Now you get to put this all away as your punishment," Jenna smiled, "I expect you back by 5 for dinner. You're all invited if you'd like," she told them before walking out of the kitchen.
Glancing around at all the bags Sarah rolled her eyes, "Shit," she muttered before starting to pull things out and place them on the kitchen island. "Good going Sarah. Now we have to do chores," Adilynne muttered, sticking her tongue out.
"We'll help," Kie stated as they all started unpacking the grocery bags. As they worked Adilynne introduced everyone, "Sarah this is Pope, JJ, John B, and you know Kiara," she said motioning to everyone.
"Hi, I know John B too. He works for Ward," Sarah mentioned smiling around the kitchen, "Sorry I got us stuck with manual labor," she apologized. "Putting away groceries is probably the easiest thing we've done in awhile," John B chuckled, "Besides the faster we get it done the faster we get to the fun," he said smiling.
Once everything was put away Adilynne motioned to the cooler she'd prepared with sandwiches, "I made lunch," she told them all picking it up off the kitchen counter. "Here I'll take it," JJ volunteered, grabbing the cooler from her hands. "Thanks. Everyone ready?" she asked.
"Yep let's go get into trouble," Kie commented, smiling as the group headed for the door. Grabbing her and Sarah's bag by the front door Adilynne handed Sarah her bag as the group headed out the front door, "Mom, I'm leaving," she yelled.
"Be careful, love you," she heard her mom call back. "Love you too," she responded before pulling the door shut and hurrying to the van parked in the driveway.
Hurrying to the van Adilynne hopped into the back squeezing herself into the back bench seat with Kie and JJ, noting Sarah up in the passenger seat talking animatedly with John B.
"I think your girl has a crush on my boy," JJ muttered in her ear. Humming Adilynne leaned closer, "Maybe your boy has a crush on my girl," she whispered, as JJ turned his face towards her.
Kissing her he winked, "Didn't get a chance to do that earlier." "Gross," Kie grumbled, heaving herself out of the bench seat to move to sit behind the passenger seat, "Can you not when I'm sitting right there," she whined.
Pulling into the top parking area John B parked the van amongst a few other cars scattered around the top of the cliff, "Looks like others had the same idea," he commented.
"According to the weather reports today's one of the last few days we have left before it turns," Pope theorized as he slid the back door of the van open. "I love these Indian summer days," Kie stated, climbing from the van followed by the others.
Opening the back doors of the van John B pulled out a few camping chairs for them to set up by the open side door of the van. Pulling the two coolers from the inside of the van JJ left the one with Adilynne's lunch sitting inside while pulling the other out setting it on the ground.
Flipping it open he revealed it filled with beer, "Anyone need a little liquid encouragement?" he asked, popping open a can. "I think I need to see how far I'm jumping first," Adilynne responded as the others minus Pope grabbed a beer.
"Well come on. We'll go check things out," JJ said, grabbing Adilynne's hand as they walked closer to the cliff's edge, JJ saying hello to a few other people along the way. Stopping by the edge Adilynne looked down at what she estimated to be about a 30 to 40 foot drop, "Well that doesn't look terrifying," she commented, sliding JJ's beer from his hand and taking a healthy swallow.
Laughing JJ wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "You want to feel alive," he reminded her, "There's nothing like throwing yourself from a cliff to make you feel that way," he told her, smiling widely.
Humming Adilynne took another swallow of the bitter liquid before turning to the boy beside her, "I feel like you're going to be a bad influence," she told him, handing the beer back to him.
Sliding his arm down to her waist JJ tugged her closer, "Bad influences usually have the most fun," he told her as their chests collided. Smiling Adilynne wrapped her arms around his neck, "That's what I'm counting on," she whispered as he lowered his mouth to hers.
Pulling away from her JJ looked around at the crowd of teens hanging out around the top of the cliff, "You make me forget where we are," he mumbled. Feeling bold Adilynne placed a kiss on his jaw, "Isn't that a good thing?" she asked, coyly.
Humming JJ grabbed her hand pulling her back towards the van, "Not when the things I want to do to you could get us arrested if we do them in a crowd," he told her over his shoulder. Laughing Adilynne felt her face flush as she felt her heart race at his suggestive comment.
"So do you need one of these first?" Sarah questioned holding out a beer as the two stopped in front of their friends. Taking the beer Adilynne pried the tab open, "As gross as this shit is one might be helpful," she replied, clinking her can with Sarah's as they laughed.
"Fastest way is to just chug it," JJ told her as he chugged the rest of his and reached for another. Looking doubtful Adilynne wrinkled her nose before chugging her beer, "Oh it's so gross," she stated coughing, "I'm not a beer person," she decided, throwing her can in the garbage bag Kiara held out. "Are you feeling brave enough to jump now?" Kiara asked. "God no, but let's do it anyway," she answered, shimmying out of her capris.
Laughing Kiara pulled her clothes off to reveal a tankini bathing suit while Sarah revealed a one piece, "Alright we're ready," Sarah stated, looking at the three boys.
"Hell yeah," JJ laughed, after finishing his second beer he pulled his shirt over his head throwing it into the van, "Let's do this," he exclaimed once more grabbing Adilynne's hand and dragging her back towards the cliffs.
"Alright Kie and Pope you're up first. Show the newbie how to do it," JJ said looking at the two. "We doing this together or separate?" Kie asked, looking at Pope.
"Together," he answered, holding out his hand. Grabbing his hand Kie counted down. When she hit three the two took off running and jumped clear off the cliff screaming all the way down.
"You're up newbie," John B laughed, catching sight of Adilynne's face. "Yeah that didn't look terrifying at all," she muttered. Feeling JJ squeeze her hand she looked over at the grinning boy, "Together, baby. You ready?" he asked. At her nod JJ counted down and they took off at three.
At first it was like she could fly. Suspended in the air for those few seconds until gravity took over. And then they were free falling and instead of screaming from terror she was screaming with laughter. It was like being on a rollercoaster and going to the top and falling over the other side.
Hitting the water below still clutching JJ's hand she felt him pull her back up to the top. Breaking through the water Adilynne wiped the water out of her face laughing, "Oh my God. I need to do that again," she exclaimed. Pushing her hair out of her face JJ pulled her closer kissing her. As their legs entwined together they sunk under the surf still kissing.
Feeling the water close over their heads the two broke apart once again swimming to the top. "Come on before we get jumped on," JJ said, pulling her towards the shore. Reaching the beach they met up with Kiara and Pope who high fived them, "Well?" Kiara questioned.
"It was awesome and we need to do it again," Adilynne answered, pulling her waterlogged t-shirt over her head to wring it out. Looking her up and down in her bikini JJ smiled, "I mean this time you could do it without the shirt," he suggested, "Maybe we'll get lucky and have another bikini accident," he grinned.
"Shut up," she laughed, bumping her hip into his. Hearing screaming the four looked up to see John B and Sarah falling from the cliff to the ocean below.