As Kristin came into view again, almost an hour later, this time with two completely random girls at each of her side, I leaned towards Drew, my eyes on the girls.

"Do you know them?"

"Who? The girls?" he asked me, and I nodded. "No, I don't know them, but they're hot."

I faced him, and for some reason my eyes scrunch together. "Yeah," I relaxed the muscles in my face. "I guess."

Kristin and the two girls are now standing with us, and for a moment, my eyes lock with the girl on the left. My gaze is still focused on her as she and her friend introduce themselves to the guys and me.

I find out her name is Beth, and her friend's name is Ellen. Apparently they're from North Dakota, and are staying with Beth's grandma.

I also learn that that one house across from the beach, the one that everyone wonders who stays in there anymore because it's vacant 99% of the year, belongs to Beth's grandma. As kids, Chris and I used to throw the little gravel pebbles from the road at the windows for entertainment.

It's weird, because I've met her grandma before. A couple years ago, I used to do her paper route when she lived here year round.

Beth and Ellen both say goodbye to us before simply walking about 600 feet to their vacation home. I watch Beth as she leaves.

"Beth," I say to the group. "She looks familiar for some reason."

"She looks like a young, hot version of her grandma," Kristin says to me. Everyone faces her with a weirded-out expression. "What?" she shrugs. "I'm straight."

•

•

•

Dad,

Today was weird. And not like "Woah, dude, is this the matrix?" weird. Like, "This roller coaster's about to drop," weird.

I couldn't explain it, but it felt weird, and that annoyed the shit out of me.

This girl, Beth, is new in town, and I swear, Dad, I know her. I can't put my finger on it, but I know I've met her. I just can't figure out where from.

- Jack

P.s. I miss you, Dad.

•

•

•

That night, I ended up at Drew and Kristin's house, with Marty wading mindlessly in the deep end of their pool. Kristin, Drew, and I were sat around a slowly dying fire.

Kristin and I were under a thin blanket on a backless, wooden bench - despite it being summer - while Drew sat in a lounge chair. Marty came soon after and sat in one of the other chairs next to Drew.

"Guys," Kristin whined from next to me. "I want to play a game."

"Truth or Dare?"

"Please, Drew," she rolled her eyes. "We're not in sixth grade."

"I would suggest we play Spin the Bottle," Marty laughed and turned to Kristin. "If you weren't the only girl here. And we're not in sixth grade."

We all laughed.

"Yeah, let's play Charades, or something," I shrugged.

"Charades?" Drew snorted. "What are you, 80?"

"Well, there's not much to play, dipshit," I laughed as I sipped my Sprite.

"Truth or Dare is our best bet," Kristin smirked.

"Fine, Kris," Drew slumped. "Truth or Dare?"

"Truth," she said almost immediately.

"Out of us three, minus me, who would you kiss?"

"Well, you're my brother, so no, and Jack's Jack," she faced me. "Sorry. So I don't know, I guess, Marty?"

I smirked, not because I was spared, but because I know Kristin's feelings for Marty, and hearing this made me happy.

"Drew," she said. "Truth or Dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to jump into the hot tub naked."

"Pssh," he waved it off, beginning to pull down his shorts. "I do this every night when everyone's asleep."

"Ew," Kristin cringed as she turned away. "I can't see this."

Drew hopped in the hot tub, bare as an empty cabinet. I laughed as he ssss'd in the water from the heat. When he came back, fully clothed, Marty chuckled.

"I thought you did that every night?"

"I was exaggerating," Drew explained.

I laughed as Marty faced me. "Okay, Jack. Truth or Dare?"

"Truth," I answered with a shrug.

"Pussy," Marty stated.

"Fine, Dare," I rolled my eyes as I took a brisk sip of my Sprite. "Asshole."

Marty laughed as he looked away, thinking. When he got it, I could see his eyes light up, even if the only light was the orange tint from the flames of the fire.

"I dare you to go get the two girls we met today, and help sneak them out," he challenged smugly, as if his dare was the greatest thing ever.

"No way," I dismissed it immediately. "They'll never do it. They seem too innocent."

"So? You still have to try," he said. "It's part of the dare."

"Don't be a chicken, Gordon."

"Yeah, Jack! Do it for the experience!"

As I sat there in that bench, the blanket wrapped around me completely now - Kristin gave up on trying to share - I almost agreed, but luckily found another reason to disagree.

"We barely know them," I shook my head. "It'll be weird."

"Experience."

I thought a bit more.

"Fine," I said irritatedly, "Let's do this."

•

•

•

The walk from Drew and Kristin's house to Beth's was only about two minutes. Surprisingly, they lived pretty close.

"Guys," I shoved my hands in the pockets of my black mesh shorts. "Are we sure about this?"

"Calm down, Jack," Kristin rolled her eyes.

As we were standing outside of someone's window, I was really hoping it wasn't Beth's grandma's.

"Did anyone get their numbers?" I whispered to the rest of the group, trying my hardest not to be loud.

"Nope," they all said in unison.

I looked around the perimeter to find some sources. My eyes then landed on the gravel road towards the front of the house. Quickly, and - hopefully - quietly, I ran to it and grabbed a handful of pebbles.

Here goes nothing.

I tossed one of the pebbles at the window, and heard it bounce off. I tossed a couple more before I heard Kristin whisper to the guys, "Look! He's throwing pebbles. How romantic."

"You know what?" I dropped the pebbles on the grass. "Fuck you guys, I'm going-"

"Jack?" I heard someone whisper-shout. My eyes followed the voice up to see Beth, her head hanging out of the now-open window. "Guys?"

"Hey, Beth," I smiled, trying to hold back my irritation. I really didn't want to do this. It's not that I find Beth and Ellen annoying, not from the ten minutes I hung out with them, it's just that I don't want to be bothering two innocent girls.

Then again, that's never stopped me before.

"Um," she smiled, slightly confused. "Hi."

"Beth? What's- oh, hi," Ellen waved at all of us as her head now hung out of the window as well.

"Hey, guys," I laughed. "So, we were wondering...would you two ladies be up for a little fun? You know, like a housewarming gift from your new best friends. Minus Chris, who is probably at home, fast asleep."

"That depends," I could only sort of see Beth smirk, but I didn't have to see it to hear the mischief in her voice. "What kind of fun are we talking?"

"For you," I said smoothly, working my charm in. "Anything."

I heard Drew snort behind me. "Classic Jack."

I smirked as I waited for Beth's answer.

Her unsure smile was hidden by the darkness of the night. "Well..."

"Oh, c'mon," Ellen hit Beth. "Let's do it! It'll be fun."

"I mean, Gramma Sherrie might be awake, and, well, what if we get caught?" Beth asked her, but I decided to answer for Ellen.

"You won't," I told her, giving her my best reassuring smile.

She looked away. "Alright. But be quiet! We don't want her to wake up, okay?"

•

•

•

"So, what exactly do you guys do for fun?" Beth asked me as we began our own side conversation while Marty, Kristin, Drew, and Ellen talked about North Dakota. "Besides the partying, and hooking up with each other."

"Well," I looked at the dark water to our right, the reflection of the moon sitting so prominently on the water. "There's always the beach."

"Is Virginia Beach big? Like, do you guys all know each other?"

"Eh, our high school's kinda small, so we all kinda know each other. But there are other schools out there. We have a rival school."

"See, we don't have rivals," Beth shrugged. "Just other schools. I swear, I actually hate my school."

I laughed and faced her. "What's Bismarck like?"

"Boring," she huffed. "Quiet. Traditional. What's Virginia Beach like?"

"Loud," I looked back at the water. "Crazy."

"God," she sighed slightly, as if in a dream state. "I love it here already."

I laughed. Beth seemed okay. From what I knew, she was incredibly smart, incredibly caring, and incredibly pretty, but I won't admit that out loud.