"How do I look?" Manny asked striking a pose for Emma. They were locked in Sean's bedroom getting ready for the bonfire. Manny had picked out an extremely short jean skirt and a tight pink tank top that showed off way too much of her abdomen.
Emma looked her friend up and down a skeptical look paling her face. The ocean air at night had a tendency to be cold and Manny was sure going to freeze to death in that outfit.
"Um, Manny, don't you think you should ware something a little warmer?" Emma suggested carefully picking words that wouldn't upset her best friend.
Manny frowned turning back to the full-length mirror on the back of Sean's bedroom door. She'd thought the outfit she'd picked out was perfect but now that Emma had stated the obvious Manny was second-guessing herself.
"Here," Emma said offering her friend a smile and a pair of form fitting jeans. "Just throw on a pair of jeans if you get cold I'm sure some nice beach babe will offer you his sweatshirt."
Manny returned Emma's smile and laughed as she turned to the blonde and hugged her. It really was nice seeing the small glimpses of the old Emma, the friend Manny had been missing for the last few months. She could only guess that it was Sean's presence that had her friend functioning like normal that had her smiling and laughing and generally enjoying herself.
"What would I do without you Em?" Manny questioned as she changed out of the skirt and into the jeans Emma had handed her.
The girls finished getting ready and headed out to the living room where Sean, Jay, and Alex were lounging around. It had taken the boys and Alex a total of fifteen minutes to get ready unlike Emma and Manny who had used the better part of an hour to primp and dress for perfection.
Alex mentally thanked God that she wasn't like Emma and Manny. That she didn't need to spend an hour in front of the mirror trying to impress a bunch of pimply faced teens who's only thoughts were how to get her out of the clothes she'd so carefully picked out and put on. Simple, that was her and just because she was single didn't mean she had to change.
Alex watched Jay out of the corner of her eye as he slouched down into the other end of the couch, his hands in the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt, his sunglasses hiding his eyes. There'd been an almost awkwardness between them since she'd woken up from her nap.
"Everyone ready?" Sean asked interrupting Alex's thoughts.
Alex rolled her eyes at the squeal of excitement that escaped Manny's lips. The girl was practically bubbling over. She shrugged towards Sean, standing up as the group readied themselves and headed out of the trailer.
00
The beach was awash in an orangey glow from the twelve barrels that were set up, fire thrusting form the top of them. Strangers were gathered around each barrel exchanging conversations with each other. Emma felt slightly out of place as she clung to Sean's hand a nervous panic coursed through her as they made their way towards Tyler's group. She watched as Sean nodded and waved at several people Emma had never seen before. It was a strange feeling knowing these people had shared the last few months with him. It was the first time she didn't know all of his friends. She didn't know what the last few months had been like for him. A million questions were running through her mind the most prominent being, had any of these girls dated him. Had Sean shared his deepest, darkest secrets with them? Did they know about his past in Toronto? Did he share with them stories of their first date, of their first break up, of the shooting? Were these people the reason he hadn't come back home?
"You okay?" Sean asked pulling her closer and wrapping his arm around her waist. The ocean chill being chased away by the fire shooting through her body despite the fact that they were still several feet form the nearest barrel.
Emma nodded, offering up a small smile as she snuggled into Sean's arm. Suddenly all her insecurities had disappeared and the only thing that mattered was that she was there, with Sean and things were good.
"Hey man." Sean said as they stopped in front of Tyler. "You remember Emma and Manny from earlier and this is Jay and Alex."
Emma heard Jay snort but it was soft enough she doubted anyone else heard it. Jay and Alex were lagging behind, tension suffocating everything and everyone around them. She wondered what had happened after they disappeared on the beach but she didn't dare ask.
Manny was flirting beside her causing Emma's small smile to grow slightly. It was nice to know something never changed. Manny's happy-go-lucky attitude was always a constant even when Craig had broken her heart. It was Manny who could always look past the pain and see the sun shining on the other side.
Sean gently tugged Emma away from the group as they headed off down the beach. They walked along the shoreline, just the two of them. Emma had slipped her flip-flops off and was letting the water wash over her bare feet. The water was still warm from earlier and it felt good as it caused her feet to sink in the sand.
00
Manny snuggled down into the sweatshirt Tyler had offered her as she sipped on the lemonade some guy had poured her. It tasted slightly bitter and like nothing she'd ever had before but she continued to drink it, ignoring the way her head had started to tingle and her speech had started to slur.
Some girl was telling her about tourist season and how it was her favorite time of year because of all the hot strangers that washed up on the shore. The girl had mentioned her name but for the life of her Manny couldn't remember it. She scanned the crowd for Emma or Sean or even Jay and Alex for that matter but she'd been abandoned like the fifth wheel she was.
"There you are." Tyler said coming up beside her and rescuing her from the annoying brunette that was still droning on.
"Here I am." Manny hiccupped causing Tyler to laugh.
"You might want to slow down on that." Tyler suggested pointing to the plastic cup in Manny's hand.
Manny took another sip ignoring Tyler's suggesting. Somewhere in the background someone had cranked up a sound system. Manny squealed the cup in her hand sloshing and causing the liquid to spill out a little. Manny grabbed Tyler's hand and pulled him towards the music.
Tyler followed, his own buzz causing him to not notice as Manny drunkenly stumbled spilling even more of the hard lemonade. When she stopped close to the car that was cranking the music. Tyler slid his hands around her waist and pulled her closer as they swayed to the beat. Now he realized why Sean was constantly going on and on about Toronto. The chicks there were beyond gorgeous.
00
"Hey." Jay said walking up to Alex as she huddled around an abandoned fire.
"And here I thought you were ignoring me." Alex stated sarcastically as she inched away from Jay.
"Just giving you your space." He replied pulling off his sweatshirt and offering it to her. "How's the bruising?"
Alex rolled her eyes but took the sweatshirt from Jay's hands. The temperature had dropped drastically and every time Alex shivered a sharp pain shot through her. She pulled it on over her head breathing in the familiar sent of Jay.
"Its fine." She lied sitting down in the sand but staying in the circle of heat radiating from the barrel in front of her.
Jay sat down beside her so close his elbow was touching hers. He took a sip from the bottle in his hand ignoring the disapproving look Alex was shooting him. He'd let his guard down earlier on the same beach and it hadn't gotten him very far. Lexie had gone straight back to Sean's and crashed.
"What?" She asked her voice laced with irritation.
Without giving it a second thought Jay leaned over and kissed her the way he had so many times in the past, to shut her up, to turn her on, to make her forget the argument going on down the hall in her living room. It caused the fire to grow hotter or maybe it was just the pent up sexual energy they'd both been suppressing. He was surprised she didn't push him away he was even more surprised when she pulled him closer her tongue snaking its way between his dry lips. Maybe things would end up working out after all.
A voice clearing caused them to pull apart. Jay shot Sean and Emma an irritated look, "Jesus Cameron way to spoil the moment."
Sean smirked, "Next time put up a do not disturb sign."
"Funny." Alex replied letting Jay pull her up off the sand. Her brain was still fuzzy from the kiss. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed it. The way his lips tasted even with the beers he'd downed. The way his blue eyes lit up with passion as he gently nipped at her bottom lip. The way his arm was steadying her as the moved a little closer to the bonfire and the couple that had interrupted them.
"Sorry guys." Emma offered with an embarrassed smile. "But have you seen Manny?"
Alex and Jay exchanged a glance then shook their heads no. Jay opened his mouth to make a smart-ass comment about being a babysitter but was silenced by the high-pitched screech of Manny's voice.
"Emmmerrrz!" She squealed drawing the fours attention to where she was stumbling towards them.
"Manny are you drunk?" Emma hissed as she reached out an arm to catch her best friend from falling face first into the sand.
"Me?" Manny asked in shock. "Of course not. All I had to drink was some lemonade."
Emma ignored Jay's snicker as she took the plastic cup from Manny's hand and sniffed the liquid inside, "Manny there's liquor in this."
"Really?" Manny asked in confusion taking the cup back from Emma and drinking the rest of the liquid down.
"I think you've had enough." Emma offered wrapping her arm around her friend's waist in an attempt to steady her. "We should get you home."
"Are you kidding?" Manny replied pulling away from her friend. "The party's just started. I'm not going anywhere."
Manny tossed the plastic cup into the barrel and laughed as the flames jumped higher and everyone else jumped back. She swayed to the music still blasting inside her head as everyone glared at her.
"Ugh, you guys suck." She slurred. "Par-tay poopers."
Manny poked Emma and pushed her slightly. No one snickered as Manny's drunkenness finally sunk in. The girl was beyond wasted.
"Manny." Emma said but when her friend made no acknowledgement of her name she tried again a little louder, "Manny!"
"Emma." Manny said dragging out the letters and rolling her eyes. She sighed and hiccupped before adding, "You're not the only one who knows how to have a good time."
Emma froze not entirely sure where her friend was going but fearing for the worst. She silently yelled at Manny to shut up and hoped their BFF telepathy would get through to Manny.
No such luck.
Manny continued, "You're not the only one who can go to a party and hook up with losers. You're not the only one who…" Manny paused as nausea worked its way into her stomach. She swallowed back the taste of vomit, "You wouldn't listen to me when I tried to stop you from hooking up with Jay so don't lecture me on…" She was cut off again as she lurched for the sand shrub in the distance and threw up all the lemonade she'd had.
Emma's jaw hung open in shock. She could feel the anger boiling up around the bonfire. Without even looking she could see the anger flash through Sean's eyes. She could picture Alex's fists clenched at her side. She could see the fury and fear etched along Jay's jaw line. Emma turned away from the sight of her best friend heaving to lock eyes with Jay. His blue eyes danced with the flames of the fire, every muscle in his body clenched and waiting for the fall out of Manny's confession.
"You son of a bitch." Emma heard Sean growl beside her as her eyes slid from Jay to Alex who had slowly started backing away from the group. If she hadn't known any better Emma would have sworn there was a tear glistening in the spotlight of the moon as it made its way down Alex's cheek. Finally Emma looked at Sean poised for a fight as he starred down his best friend.
"Sean it wasn't his fault." Emma said trying to ease the tension and stop the scene she knew was about to happen. She placed a hand on Sean's arm only to have him jerk away from her.
Without any warning Sean lurched forward tackling Jay to the sand and punching him hard in the face. Emma tried pulling Sean off of Jay but she wasn't strong enough. Luckily the fight had drawn Tyler's attention and before she knew it he was beside her heaving Sean off of Jay.
"What is your problem?" Jay spat out pushing himself off the sand. He stumbled back almost bumping into Alex. He spit out the pool of blood that had made its way into his mouth.
"You're my problem." Sean replied his eyes locked on Jay. Sean pushed Tyler back and without even glancing at Emma he headed off down the beach towards his house.
Emma stood frozen in her spot. She willed herself to move, to follow Sean. She needed to try and explain, try and fix the mess she'd caused but the message wasn't getting to her brain. Her eyes were locked on Jay and Alex standing in front of here waiting for the rest of the backlash.
"Alex." Jay said barely above a whisper as he turned to look into her chocolate eyes.
Alex shook her head taking another step back. She mentally kicked herself for believing him, for giving him a second chance. She fought the urge to reach up and touch the little line of blood trailing down his chin. She desperately fought the urge to let lose the tears she'd been holding back for months now.
Jay took a step towards Alex stealing himself against the look of pure vulnerability that was etched across her face. He'd never seen her like that, not when it came to her mom's revolving door of boyfriends, not when Tracey Warren had shoved her into the mud puddle in grade six and called her white trash, not even when her dad had died. Jay reached out to her but she quickly back peddled. Turning away from him and heading off down the beach. Jay let out the breath he'd been holding as he shivered at the edge of the fire.
00
Alex quickly made her way down the beach. She had no idea where she was going just that she needed to get away from the suffocating presences of Jay that was still lingering around her. She could still feel his lips on hers, still hear his voice as it guiltily called out her name, still smell the scent of his soap mixed with sweat and a faint underlying of motor oil. She quickened her pace as she wrapped her arms around her tighter, ignoring the pain that shot through her ribs. The further she got the stronger the smell was. She couldn't pull her thoughts together enough to realize it had little to do with Jay than the fact that she was wearing his sweatshirt. The further from the fire she got the further she snuggled into the soft cotton surrounding her and the smell that was invading her every function was coming from her only form of heat.