Page 1 of Shattered

1

THE BUCKET LIST

“I can’t believe you’re going to leave me alone all summer. I mean, what am I supposed to do while you’re gone?” I complain while rubbing sun tan oil over my legs.

Katie turns her head to face me. “What do you mean? What about Nick?” she asks, shading her vibrant blue eyes from the bright light of the sun.

My clenched teeth sends a bout of pain surging through my jaw as I hand her the oil. “Fuck, Nick. He's a douche.”

She sits up and takes the bottle. “Did he do something?”

I lean back with my eyes closed and sigh, letting the sun warm my skin. “Yeah, he cheated on me with Holly. Can you believe that?”

She snorts. “Holly? Seriously?”

Holly is the slut in our group of friends, or should I say Katie’s friends. She’s nothing more than an acquaintance to me, and an annoying one at that. She’s never invited anywhere, but shows up everywhere.

I feel the vein in my forehead begin to pulsate. “Yes, Holly.” I sit back up and reach for the mixed drink on the table between us. “No boyfriend, no best friend. Worst summer ever!”

“You could come with me.” She flashes me a wide smile.

I take a deep breath. “You know I can’t. If I could, I would be there in a second. I can’t get the time off work.”

She leans back and brushes her hands over her legs, the sand that clings to them falls away. “So? Screw that dead-end job. This will be the summer of a lifetime if you come with me. Who wouldn’t want to go spend the summer in Miami?”

“I would die to go on this trip with you, but I can’t afford it either,” I mumble, avoiding her gaze while scanning the ocean in front of me. I watch as two children pull away from their parents, giggling and splashing in the water while the couple share a secret moment together. The man places his hand on the woman’s hip and pulls her against him, whispering something in her ear that causes her to laugh and kiss him. A spike of jealously runs through me.

“You know I could?—”

“You’re not paying for it, Katie. Seriously, you know how I hate to be your charity case.”

She lets out an exasperated sigh. “You’re not my charity case. You’re my best friend, and I like doing things for you. What do you say?” She flashes me ‘the smile’ which has always gotten her everything.

“No. It’s too much.” I relax back into my seat, pulling my long, dark hair out from under my neck, the strands clinging to my damp skin.

I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do with my summer. Katie is my best friend. We’ve never spent more than a couple of days away from one another since grade school. She’s always been here for me to lean on and talk to.

I’m shy, and don’t fit in easily. I never have. I keep to myself, preferring to read a book than go out drinking where I’m forced to socialize with people.

She is the complete opposite. She’s outgoing, fun, lovable, and gorgeous. Not only is she all of those things, she’s also rich. I mean, slap your grandma rich. I’ve always wondered why she picked me as a best friend.

We met the day she sat at my coloring table in kindergarten and we’ve been like sisters ever since. If it wasn’t for her, I never would have stepped out of my bubble the small bit I have.

“What do you say to dinner and dancing tonight since I leave in the morning?” Katie asks, interrupting my thoughts.

I roll my head to the side to look at her smiling face. Her blonde hair is tied in a knot atop her head, and her blue eyes sparkle whenever the sun shines against them.

“I don’t know. I was just going to order some pizza and read a book.”

She sits up fast and throws her legs over the side of her chair, spinning around to face me. “Oh, no you don’t. I’m going to be gone for three months. You’re spending the evening with me even if it kills you.”

I groan, “but dancing? Can’t you pick something else?”

She rolls her eyes before letting out a long, dramatic sigh. “Fine, how about we have a night in. We can order some takeout, do makeovers, watch a movie, and get drunk.”

I point my index finger at her. “Now you’re talking my language.” The corners of my mouth turn up as I stand. “Let’s get packed up so we can get this party started.”

“You’re such a dork. Who in their right mind would rather hang at home than go out and have fun?”

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