RRIIING!!!
"Ugh, shut that damn thing up!"
Yeah, I admit it. I've got a bit of a temper. A little bratty, a little whiny. You know… typical girl stuff.
I slam the alarm off and check the time. 9:30 a.m.
I bury myself under the covers again. Just five more minutes...
Obviously, like every morning, I fall back asleep.
And obviously, like every morning, my brother Dareen's annoying voice ruins my inner peace.
"Yuri! Get your butt up, you're gonna be late!"
Oh right—important detail: school's over, but today is the day we get our high school exam results. Eliz and I are going together. She's coming at 10:30, and Dareen's driving us. We'll meet up with Noémie at school.
"Mmmmh..."
"Yuridia, I'm serious. It's 10:15. Eliz will be here in fifteen minutes!"
"What?! Are you kidding me?!
Crap, I fell asleep again!"
Mission Impossible: 15 minutes to shower, dress, do my hair and makeup. I'm screwed.
I rush to the bathroom. When I come out… it's 11:00. Perfect.
"YURIDIA, YOU READY?! WE'RE LEAVING!"
Translation: Eliz is already here. Dareen's about to ditch me. Charming.
"I'm coming! Two minutes!"
"You go over two minutes, you're staying here."
Ugh, zero patience, this guy. I throw on my sneakers. Shorts, white tank top, open shirt — it's 30°C, no way I'm wearing a hoodie.
By some miracle, Dareen hasn't left yet. I hop into the front seat.
Silence. Then a soft voice from the back:
"Hey babe! Ready?"
"More than ready. University, here we come!"
"Freedom, parties, boys... you know the rest," Eliz adds with a wink.
She does that just to annoy Dareen. And it works.
"Calm down, wild ones. I'm here to keep an eye on you, not party."
"Pffff..." we say in unison.
On the way to school, we spot Lucas. Dareen slows down.
I roll down the window.
"Beeebooo! Get in!"
He hates that nickname. That's exactly why I use it.
"Cut it out with the dumb nicknames! So… you ready to kick off vacation?"
He kisses my cheek and climbs into the back seat.
"Hey y'all!"
"I'm not 'y'all,' okay?" Eliz snaps.
She cracks me up.
"Love you too, sweetheart," Lucas replies with that smug little smirk.
They bicker all the time, but sometimes… I don't know. When he calls her that, it stings a bit. Weird, right?
We arrive at school and find Noémie, waiting eagerly.
"You check yet?" Eliz asks.
"Nope. I was waiting for the best ones!"
"Awww," I whisper.
We head toward the results board. Eliz freaks out.
"I don't wanna look!"
She covers her eyes. I scan the list for her name.
"Eliz... sorry."
Her eyes shoot wide open.
"WHAT?! Tell me you're joking!"
She's about to lose it. Maybe I went too far...
"Relax. You passed. With honors, you drama queen."
She doesn't even double-check. Just believes me instantly. She knows I'm a walking troll, and still...
"You're serious?! Do that again and I'm burying you in the backyard."
And then—boom. Screaming, hugs, laughter, pure joy!
Noémie passed too. With High Honors, of course.
I scan the crowd for Asher. He's frozen in front of the board, statue mode.
I sneak up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist.
"Well, cutie?"
He turns around, eyes sparkling.
"I passed… with honors! Holy crap!"
He lifts me up, spins me around, kisses my forehead.
"So proud of you," I whisper.
"And you?"
"Haven't looked yet..."
"You serious? Come on!"
He grabs my hand. We step forward. I look at the board. My name.
Yuridia Wynn Matthews. I passed. No honors.
I just stand there. A bit stunned.
"That's amazing, kitty!" Asher says.
Yeah, he calls me kitty. Has since we were kids.
"Amazing? I wanted honors, I worked my butt off..."
Yeah, I'm disappointed. I was hoping for at least a "Good Enough." But hey, a pass is a pass.
Asher squeezes my hand and pulls me in.
He's always known when I need a hug.
---
We all head back to my place. Nothing special in the afternoon. Asher goes home to change (he lives right across the street).
The girls and I get ready for the beach party: light outfits, soft makeup, hair tied up.
Dareen drops us off.
"No funny business, kids."
"Relax. Have fun with your fangirls!" I shoot back.
He gives me a glare.
"I'm just going to Gale's, okay?"
His best friend. Super cute, by the way. But he still thinks I'm twelve.
"Sure, sure. Tell him I said hi."
Then he drives off.
"Let's gooooo!"
The music. The fire. The beach. Our friends. The vibe is insane. We're dancing, singing, yelling.
But after a while… no sign of Lucas.
"Noémie? Eliz? You seen Lucas?"
"He was here five minutes ago..."
I go looking. I circle the beach. Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes. He's not answering. Tired, I plop down on the sand.
And then… he comes out of the water.
A guy. THE guy.
Dream body, wet hair, piercing blue eyes, toothpaste-commercial smile. I freeze. Like, full-on brain shutdown.
I stare. Probably drooling.
And then, boom: three girls come out of the water. Completely naked. Am I hallucinating?
"Baaabyyy! Come back!"
"Baaaabe, c'mon!"
One of them kisses him. I'm gonna puke.
"Wait for me in the water, my beauties. I'll be right back."
They giggle like idiots and head back into the water. He walks up to me.
"Go ahead, sit down. I won't say a word," I mutter, totally done.
"No worries, the beach belongs to everyone, right?"
He sits next to me. I don't say a thing.
"I'm Noah. Noah Jarrel Houston. And you?"
He holds out his hand. I just look at it. Then at him. And finally:
"Look, I don't care about your name or your number. Go back and play with your groupies, thanks."
"Tough girl… I like that."
"Cool. I don't like guys like you. So, bye."
His smile drops. Jaw clenches. Eyes narrow.
He gets up. Walks away. Not toward his "girlfriends."
Good.
I try calling Asher again. Nothing.
And then… something cold. Wet. Smelly.
I turn around.
A guy. Vodka bottle in hand. Drunk smile plastered on his face.
This night might actually kill me.