Ignite (3 page)

June 24, 2010

Zeke

“Are you almost ready?”

“Yeah!” she calls out the window. “I just gotta find a shirt.”

“Aren't you wearing a bikini?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, why do you need a shirt, then? You're just gonna take it off when we get there.”

Sticking her head out the window, she takes in my clothes and cuts her eyes at me.

“You're wearing a shirt.”

“So?”

“So, aren't you're just gonna take it off when we get there?”

“Fine!” I call back, dropping my keys and towel onto the grass and pulling the shirt over my head. “Can we go now?”

“Can I borrow your shirt?”

“Yes!” I shout, trying in vain to contain the laugh. “You can wear my shorts if you'll come on already!”

“You're wearing shorts over your shorts?”

“No,” I laugh.

“Oh my God,” she blushes, turning away from the window. “Fine, I'm coming. Let me find my flip flops.”

“Addie, come on!” I call out right as two shoes come flying out the window.

“I'm ready, jeez!” she sighs dramatically as she lands on the grass beside me.

When I turn to face her again, I see that she's wearing a bright green bikini top and a pair of ridiculously short cut offs that she's left unbuttoned. I've been struggling ever since I got home to not think of her as anything other than the same old Addie I'd grown up with.

This bikini isn't helping.

“Holy shit.”

“What?” she says, looking up from sliding her purple flip flops on as she grips my shoulder to steady herself.

“Huh?”

“You just said 'holy shit',” she starts. “What's wrong?”

Fuck, I said that out loud.

“Nothin',” I lie. “You just... you startled me when you jumped down.”

“You're weird,” she says, bending down to grab the towels from beside my feet. “You ready?”

“Yeah,” I say, shaking my head clear. “Come on, we're taking my mom's truck.”

“Okay,” she says, climbing into the passenger side of my mom's white Toyota Tundra before we begin heading toward the lake. “Can you stop at the gas station?”

“Sure,” I say. “Why? What do you need?”

“Candy,” she says. “And I want to get a drink.”

“Do you eat anything besides candy?”

“Yep,” she nods, playing with the radio until she finds something she likes and tosses her flip flops in the floorboard, bending one leg to rest it in the seat. “I like pizza, too.”

“Talk about a balanced diet,” I tease, glancing over to see her sticking her tongue out as she begins to braid her hair.

“So you're not gonna leave me alone, right?”

“No,” I tell her. “Why?”

“Because all the people at this thing you're making me go to are your friends from high school,” she starts, going to work on the other braid. “And none of them like me, Zeke.”

“Well, that's just because they don't know you.”

“Yeah, and they had twelve years to rectify that and none of them tried,” she counters. “Not that I really care, but my point is, I'm going to hang out with you. I don't wanna get stuck talking to someone stupid because you spot some girl you wanna hook up with.”

As I glance over to see her making a bubble out of her gum while she secures the second braid with a rubber band, she starts shaking her head to Vampire Weekend on the radio. I catch sight of her long tan legs in the seat and internally curse my thoughts.

“Nothin' to worry about there, Addie,” I sigh.

Addie

I can't believe how badly I don't want to go to this stupid party. I swear, if it wasn't for Zeke, I wouldn't even be caught dead here.

I probably just should have skipped it anyway. Ever since he came home, things feel different between us. I don't really know what it is. He's still my best friend, we still talk about everything, things are just... different somehow.

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I hadn't noticed a change in him when he got home, even that first day. Ever since he'd started playing football in high school, he'd been crazy about staying in shape. Now that he's playing college ball, I should have known he'd up the ante.

Boy, did he up the ante.

Even though his bronze, six-foot frame towers over me, bulging with toned muscles, he's still the same old Zeke. He's still the same boy who walked me home from school every day and climbed in my window every night. Still the same boy who beat up bullies for me and didn't pick on me when I cried over Mags.

He's just super hot now.

Oh my God, I didn't just think that about my best friend. I have to get my shit to-

“Addie,” his voice breaks my thoughts.

“Huh?”

“You alright?” he asks, his blue eyes searching my face with a combination of amusement and concern.

Have his eyes always been that blue?

“Yeah,” I start, shaking my head. “Sorry... What did you ask me?”

“Nothing,” he smirks. “We're at the gas station.”

“Oh,” I say, looking ahead.

“You sure you're okay?” he asks, rubbing my shoulder affectionately.

“Yeah,” I say, attempting a smile. “You want anything?”

“No thanks.”

“Okay,” I say, pushing the door open and climbing out, heading toward the entrance.

While I'm inside browsing the candy aisle I do my best to clear my head, grateful for the distraction of the music overhead. Once I've got what I want, I skip over to the drink machines and make a Suicide Slurpee, heavy on the cherry. As I turn to make my way to the register, a group of scantily clad girls, likely headed to the same party we are are, making their way in.

It's a pretty common scene this time of year, so it doesn't surprise me.

What does is looking up to find Zeke's eyes locked on me.

Zeke

Once we finally make it to the party, I'm able to concentrate a little more. Although Addie stays true to her word and doesn't leave my side, old friends I'd not seen in months keep me distracted from the inappropriate thoughts that won't let up.

It's getting close to time for us to leave when I hear the voice I'd been dreading since I'd been home echoing from a few feet away.

“I didn't know you guys were coming!” she calls out, making me internally cringe.

“Hey Mollie!” Addie waves over at her, making me let out a low groan.

“Hey,” she smiles, pulling Addie into a hug before facing me. “Oh wow! Hey Zeke!”

“Hi Mollie,” I say politely, hating when she wraps her arms around me, lingering a little too long for my liking.

“How've you been?” she asks, still standing too close. “I had no idea you were even home for summer.”

“Uh...”

“He's been good,” Addie smiles, wrapping her arm around my waist and resting her free hand against my chest, gently tickling my skin through the thin fabric. “I'm just so happy he's back, I haven't wanted to share him!”

Taking in Addie's affectionate grip on me, Mollie stares at her in surprise and seems to stumble over her words.

“Oh,” she starts, blushing. “I didn't... I um, I didn't know the two of you...”

“Yep, we just couldn't fight it anymore,” Addie smiles at her before looking up at me, her hazel eyes widening slightly. “Right Babe?”

“Uh... yeah,” I manage, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and looking up at a still stunned Mollie. “It just kinda happened, ya know?”

“Totally,” Mollie nods sheepishly, still taking us in as I start playing with one of the braids that had been teasing me all night. “I have to admit, I'm not really surprised. I mean, I think everyone's been waiting for it to happen.”

“You think so?” Addie asks, the look of disbelief somehow crushing me and making me smirk at the same time.

“Well, yeah. I mean, you two have been inseparable for years,” she starts. “Believe me, a few of us tried.”

“What?”

“No, I didn't mean it like that,” Mollie scrambles. “Not me, I just meant some people, you know?”

“Yeah, well it didn't work,” she snaps, surprising both of us.

“That's not what I meant,” she tries, still tripping over her words. “I just meant...”

“I know what you meant,
Mollie
,” Addie cuts her off. “I have a 4.0, I think I can figure it out.”

“Addie!”

“We were just about to leave,” she arches her eyebrow. “Unless you want to try and stop us?”

“No...”

“Yeah, I didn't think so,
Mollie
,” she spins around, gripping my arm and pulling me behind her. “C'mon, Zeke.”

“Addie, you're being ridiculous!”

“I'm not being ridiculous!” she spins back around. “You wanna see ridiculous?”

“Add...”

“Mollie wet the bed til she was ten!” she announces loudly, pulling chuckles from the crowd that's formed around us.

“Addie!” she gasps, her cheeks flaring. “I can't believe you...”

“You want me to keep going?”

“No,” she says immediately.

“Yeah, that's what I thought. Stay away from him, Mollie!”

Unable to answer through her embarrassment, she nods quickly and Addie yanks me by the crook of my elbow, pulling me toward where we parked.

“Freakin' Mollie... Y'know, that's why people don't like you, because you never know when to shut up. I'll shut you up... I'll tell everyone you made out with that creepy exchange student behind Dairy Queen last summer... Keep messing with me...” Addie grumbles under her breath as we approach the back of my mom's truck.

When we make it to the truck, she climbs inside and slams the door shut. As I climb inside, I glance over to find her red-faced and fuming.

“What the hell was that?” I ask, unable to hold back the chuckle.

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Oh that? That was... it was nothing.”

“It didn't seem like nothing,” I start. “It seemed like you were jealous.”

“I'm not jealous,” she says, her voice holding a defensive tone.

“Are you sure? 'Cause that's definitely how it sounded.”

“Of course I'm sure, Zeke. I just know you don't like Mollie. I was trying to help you,” she shrugs, still refusing to meet my eyes. “You're welcome, by the way.”