Page 33 of We Thought We Were Invincible
Colby's partywas pretty epic by our school's standards. Everyone we knew was there. I didn't know if they got that it was a birthday party, but whatever.
It was what happened beforehand that stuck with me. Colby and I went to pick up Jamie and Jay. They were going to help us start the fire on the beach, just like old times.
Jay came out quickly as if wanting to escape something on the inside.
“Jamie will be a few minutes, guys,” he said, climbing into the back. “He's dealing with… stuff.” I had my visor down and he caught my eye in the mirror.
“Shit,” Colby cursed as voices drifted out to us.
“When will you stop being an embarrassment to this family?” Mr.Daniels screamed. A crash followed it.
“Screw you.” Jamie's voice was unmistakable. “Like I even want to be a part of this family.” He stumbled out the front door, followed by his father, who threw something large at him. It shattered on the sidewalk and Jamie jumped out of the way, toward the car.
He got in, slamming the door as he did. “Let's get the hell out of here.” Cheeks red - from exertion, or embarrassment, I didn't know - but I looked back at him; at the bruise winding up his nose. He met my gaze in challenge, daring me to say something so he'd have someone to snap at. I wasn't going to be that person. Turning in my seat, I looked toward the road.
For once, I wasn't going to be his verbal punching bag. No, I could do something else for him. I could make him forget, just for a moment. Maybe that was enough.
13
Callie
“Psssst, Jamie.” I whispered, kneeling down beside him. He was asleep in our living room on one couch with Colby on the other. I'd left the party early, but they'd stayed for a while.
“Wake up.” At my nudge, he groaned in his sleep and rolled over, burying his face in the pillow.
He was shirtless, and the blanket had fallen to the ground at some time in the night, revealing his smooth skin, marred by faint bruises and a scar that stretched over the lean muscles in his back. A surfing mishap. I'd been there the day he'd crashed into the rocks, hopping right back up as if nothing had happened and everything was okay - something he'd perfected throughout his life.
“Wake up.” I glanced over at Colby, not wanting to wake him. He'd have questions as to why I was rousing his best friend in the wee hours of the morning. The sun was rising, and we had to get going.
One of Jamie's legs fell off the side of the couch as he shifted onto his back, one arm thrown over his face and the other resting on his bare chest. I watched him for a moment, suddenly not sure I should wake him after all.
Screw that. “Jamie C- Daniels.” It almost slipped out of my mouth - that name. Reaching out, I grabbed his shoulder, his skin warm under my palm, and shook him.
He started abruptly, his eyes slamming open, and his hand shooting out to grab my arm. It took him a second to fully wake and realize where he was. His fingers pried themselves from my bicep and I rubbed the place they'd been.
“If that leaves a bruise, Jamie, I swear to God…” The threat hung in the air between us and a lazy smile formed on his lips.
I was still kneeling, my face close to his, and I realized how intimate it was. Leaning back to get some distance, I waited for him to say something.
“Well, if you weren't waking me up so early, your bony little arm would be just fine.”
“My arm is not bony,” I said.
His smile widened. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he looked around. “Why are you waking me up? Realize you can't live without me for one second longer?”
I put my hand over his mouth to shut him up as Colby stirred and placed a finger in front of my lips. “Do you want to do our project or not?”
“Now?” He leaned back against his pillow like he didn't want to leave it.
“Yes, now. Get your ass out of bed, and for God's sake put on a shirt.”
“Can't stand all this manliness?” He scooted to the edge of the couch to get closer to me. “Does being near a sexy man upset your sensibilities?”
“I'll let you know when I meet one.” Patting him on the cheek, I stood.
“Oh, Callie, you do wound me so.”
A laugh escaped at the way he looked with his hands over his heart and his lip stuck out in a pout. Reaching down to grab his hands, I pulled him up. “Come on.”
