We finished up just as Mrs. Amy came by and said h.e.l.lo.

Caleb drove us to a dark parking lot in the woods. I took my sweater off in the car and we piled out. As you came over the dunes you could see the red and orange bonfire lighting the sand and trees behind it. There were probably fifty people out there on the beach.

Beck jumped out of the car quickly, towing Ralph behind her. Caleb and I walked slowly hand in hand. I took my shoes off and put them in the pile along with a lot of other girls who hadn't worn appropriate sand shoes.

Quite a few people called out to Caleb and he waved or said h.e.l.lo, b.u.mped fists. A guy came and offered us drinks.

"I don't drink," I said as he forced the sloshing warm beverage into my hand.

"It's just soda, cutie," he said and winked before stumbling away.

I didn't know if he was joking or not but Caleb took the drink from me and threw it in a pa.s.sing trash can.

"I'll get us something we can drink in a minute," he whispered as we walked over to the fire.

I wondered for just a second what his telling tone meant but forgot all about once I saw the crowd. They all turned to look at us when a guy yelled loudly to Caleb.

I felt my cheeks burn and was glad the red glow of the fire would hide it. And I swear there were a couple girls glaring at me, openly giving me dirty looks. I looked at them curiously as Caleb hugged a guy and b.u.mped backs with their fists.

"Hey, man. Glad you could make it."

"Yeah. Thanks for the invite. Tristan, this is Maggie."

"Hi," I said softly.

"Hey, there." He smiled widely. "Caleb, dude, you been holding out. It's nice to meet you, Maggie. Any friend of Caleb is a friend of mine." I smiled and he looked back to Caleb. "Where you been, man? I haven't seen you in a while."

Caleb nodded his head towards me.

"Maggie doesn't live here so I've been traveling back and forth."

"I didn't think you were dating anyone. I told Ashley to come because you might be here."

I silently groaned.

"Man, come on. I've told you before; I am not interested in Ashley, at all. Never was."

"Caleb!" The Ashley in question crooned sweetly from behind us. She even came up to him and grabbed his arm. "I'm so glad you're finally here. I've been waiting. It's so boring without you," she whined.

She glanced at me and smiled unkindly. Caleb pulled from her grasp making her pout more p.r.o.nounced.

"We're gonna go get something to drink," Caleb announced and pulled me by my hand.

Ashley called out behind us.

"I'll take a martini, dirty."

He cast a rolling eyed look over his shoulder at her.

"Give in a rest."

"Come see me once you take preschool home to meet curfew."

He turned back to glare at her.

"Enough, Ashley. You really have to wonder why I never wanted to date you?"

She looked genuinely hurt and I wanted to feel sorry for her. Her look of hurt turned to snideness as she flipped us off before turning and almost tripping over a log. I laughed into Caleb's shoulder.

"Oh, no. Did she really just flip us off?"

"Yeah." He didn't laugh though. "I'm so sorry. I wish we hadn't come here, now. This isn't my scene, even though I come to them a lot because there's nothing else to do, but I thought Beck might have fun."

"It's ok. I'm not worried about Ashley. I'm not worried about anything." I hugged him around his middle, pressing my face to his chest. "I'm gonna be with these people in a few weeks anyway, right? I better get used to it."

"I guess. It's really making me look bad with my choice of friends."

"I've only met two of them. Let's get a drink and then you can introduce me to anyone you want."

"Really?" he asked curiously and looked down at me. "I thought you'd hate this."

"I kinda do," I admitted laughing. "But I want to like it."

"I know I've probably said this twenty times already but...you are amazing."

He cupped my face and kissed me with gentle pressure. I stuck my hands into his open jacket, grasping around his back for warmth and closeness. My lips tingled and it spread to my cheeks, then my neck. I pulled back before we got too carried away and licked my lips. I felt him sigh, his breath blowing across my face.

"Drink?"

"Yeah," I answered in a squeak and looked up to see his smug smirk.

"Caleb!" I turned to see a very nice looking and very tall black guy strolling towards us with a wide easy grin. "My brother from another mother! Man, where you been?"

They hugged and verbally jabbed back and forth; laughing, then Caleb took my hand.

"Maggie, this is Vic. Vic, this is Maggie. The girl I was telling you about."

My gaze shot to him in surprise. I didn't know he'd told anyone about us, especially someone from school.

"Maggie, Maggie, Maggie," Vic crooned and hugged me. "I can't tell you how happy I am to meet you, girl. You know, my boy hasn't stopped talking about you."

Twenty Two "Vic, come on. We only talked like three times," Caleb said and I could feel his embarra.s.sment and also his glee about this guy liking me.

This was his best friend, the friend he mentioned that day. He had an over p.r.o.nounced southern accent that was very cute. His hair was short and he had an earring in one ear. His sungla.s.ses were hanging from his polo shirt collar and he wasn't wearing shoes.

"Yeah and it was all about this girl, right here," he shook his head, pointing at my above my head and laughed. "I've been Caleb's friend for ten years and I've never seen him with a girl, not once. Not even prom, he just skipped it. The guy's a monk."

I laughed as Caleb rolled his eyes and rubbed his chin.

"I know. He kinda told me all about it."

"Well, come on, Maggie. Let's get you a very non-alcoholic beverage."

He put an arm around my shoulder and pulled me with him, Caleb trailing behind us. We came to a big flat rock where it seemed all the food and drinks were set up. He handed me an unopened can of soda.

"Want something to eat? We got shrimp, oysters, ribs, chips-"

"Nah, I'm ok. We just ate but thanks."

Vic looked me over in a very objective manner with his chin between his thumb and forefinger.

"Caleb. I have to say you did good, brother. She's sweet, she's polite, she's southern, cute. I approve. You two can continue to date."

"Thanks, man," Caleb said with fake sincerity.

"So where did ya'll eat?"

"Mugly's."

"Oh!" he shouted and laughed. "Caleb pulling out the big guns!"

We all laughed and went to sit around the fire. There wasn't much room because that's where most of the people were. I kept looking for Beck but hadn't seen her or Ralph since we got there. I imagined her pulling him behind a tree and doing who knows what, that thought made me want to gag and giggle at the same time.

So we sat down and Caleb put me in between them on the log. He kept looking around protectively which made me wonder what he was looking for.

"So, where's Molly?" Caleb asked.

"She's here somewhere. Probably with Ashley which means she probably won't come over here."

"we've already run into Ashley actually," Caleb explained and his voice got harder. "She's in rare form tonight."

"You know how she is, man. She ain't gonna change, unless maybe you asked her to. Then, I bet she'd wear purple hats with green shorts and call herself, Sally."

"Dude," Caleb laughed. "You need help."

"Yeah. So, Maggie. What's the plan for school? Caleb talk you into Tennessee yet?" Vic asked me while he loaded up a marshmallow on a palmetto stick to roast.

"He has," I said. "I'm really looking forward to it."

"He must have some serious skills to get you to come to our school after only a week," he mused and stuffed the mallow in his mouth. His next words were m.u.f.fled making it even funnier. "Must be the hair. Girls go nuts over that hair."

"It is good hair," I agreed and Caleb covered his face beside me making Vic laugh.

"Great. Now you've joined his side," Caleb groaned. "He'll talk you into anything."

"Have you met his parents yet? I haven't even met his parents," Vic grumbled. "Even though the guy has been to my swimming pool in my back yard a million times, I've never set foot in this guy's house. His parents are like super secretive or something."

"I have actually met them...and been to his house."

"Oh, sure!" He yelled and threw his hands up. "Of course she gets to. I hear the guy is loaded. Is it true? He's always so modest but I know his parents have to be loaded."

"Don't answer that, Maggie," Caleb said and leaned towards me to whisper loudly and conspiratorially. "He's trying to get you to feel sorry for him. His parents live in a three story complex with an inside pool and a real butler."

I gasp in mock surprise.

"You tried to trick me!" I p.a.w.ned good naturedly.

"No! Don't listen to him!" Vic yelled playfully and waved his hands back at Caleb.

I laughed as they went back and forth.

"Alright, guys," Vic said. "I better go see my girl or I'll be in the doghouse. I'll catch up with you later. Text me, brother."

"It was nice to meet you," I said and Vic turned and smiled gorgeously at me.

"It was good to meet you. Please don't go anywhere. You've done that kid good."

I laughed as Caleb continued to groan and moan beside me.

"He's really nice."

"Yeah. He's a good guy." He stood and held his hand out to me. "Come on."

I took his hand as he helped me up.

"Where we going?"

"Well. It is a party," he said and smiled.

He took me to the spot on the sand designated as the dance floor. The music was so loud there was no point in trying to speak. Luckily, we didn't need to use our mouths.

Caleb, I can't dance.

Sure you can. Everyone can dance. Plus I'm an excellent teacher. They don't call my kind Charmed for nothing.

He took my hands and laid them on his shoulders. His hands gripped my hips just as the music changed to something slower. I was swept over with relief and he laughed and shook his head.

You got lucky on that one, but you're still dancing with me. That's all I care about.

I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck and he pulled me closer. Our bodies touching all the way down as he used his hands to sway my hips. His slightly stubbly cheek rubbed against mine as he moved us with our heads together and I was consumed with calm and warmth.