Page 29 of We Thought We Were Invincible
Sighing, I shook my head. “I'm not one for parties.”
“You call this a party?” She laughed. “The only parties I really like are boogies.”
“As in, what's in my nose?”
“Um, gross. A boogie is a skydiving party.”
“You're a skydiver?” I perked up, setting my Coke on the counter and leaning forward.
“You bet your ass I am. I'm a tandem instructor at the Gulf City drop zone.”
“What's it like?” I'd seen the tail end of a skydive once before. The drop zone was out in the boonies near my mom's favorite farm stand. We'd go there some Saturdays. The three of us. One morning, when I was about nine, we stood watching what seemed like two people just flying through the air. Through the eyes of a child, they seemed larger than life. Now I know that it's a controlled descent, using equipment that makes it possible. Back then they seemed like superhumans.
Parker leaned against the counter, her eyes bright. “There's nothing like it. Best feeling in the world. When you're up there, you don't have to think about what's down here. You don't really have to think at all. Mind blank, you just fly.”
Closing my eyes, I imagined myself up there and smiled.
“If you ever want to go,” Parker continued. “I can get you quite the discount.”
“Cal.” Jay poked his head around the corner. “You ready to head out? Everyone else is leaving.”
I looked back at Parker one more time and she gave me a wink before I followed Jay through the house and out into his car.
“Where to, darlin'?” he asked, using his fake southern accent. “Your humble abode?”
I thought for a moment, needing to take my chance.
“No, let's go to the beach.” Looking sideways at him, I continued. “We need to talk.”
12
Callie
The water turned cooler as fall moved on. It wouldn't be long before I had to pull my wet-suit out for surfing. The evening air was warm, with a slight chill that only came on when the breeze blew across the darkened beach. The hairs on my arms stood on end as I walked along in the shallows, letting the water lap against my calves, draining away the day's stresses.
Tomorrow I'd be eighteen. Today, my friends had thrown me a party, if you could call it that. But, the operative word was friends - even if only Morgan and Jay could qualify. It used to only be Jay, but life changed as one season turned over to make way for another.
The great myth about Florida was that we didn't get seasons, or at least changing ones. It was true that our leaves never fell to make way for winter. We didn't get snow. But we had the rains that turned everything green. Those would end soon to give way to a dry, chilled winter where, yes, we'd have to break out our coats. Grasses would turn brown, flowers would hide away, the ocean would grow cold. Then all at once, everything would burst with color again and residents returned to the beach - when it wasn't raining.
Those were our seasons. The only ones I'd ever known. For so long, they'd controlled my life. The surf was good in the winter, flat in the summer. The cold water required different attire. The diner was busiest in winter, when the northerners were in town seeking a little warmth, and traffic was a nightmare.
This year, I could already feel myself changing, but it was more than my routine. Jay was right. It was odd for me to consider myself 'good'.
I kicked at the water, splashing it up toward Jay who was staying dry on the shore and grinning.
“You just can't stay out of the water, can you?” he asked with a chuckle.
I shrugged, gripping my shoes tighter in my hand. We weren't the only people on the beach tonight, but were far enough away so we wouldn't be overheard.
“Jay.” I looked over at him. “I need to know what I'm missing here with Jamie. I feel like I'm going crazy.”
In the dark, I could still see him as he scratched the back of his head. “I don't get why you care so much.”
Sighing, I left the water behind and walked up beside him, the sand sticking to my wet feet.
“Tell me.” I took his hand in mine as he studied my face, looking for something.
“Look.” He blew out a long breath. “I know he kissed you.”
