Chapter ONE

September rolled around fast and I most of my freshman classes  with Georgia, a few with Kaylee, and other girls I had grown up with. High school was a huge change, and drastically different from middle school, but a fun, new experience. I was ready.

   Until, that is, my fourth day, when I passed Kane in the hallway, near my locker. I narrowed my eyes at him, confused. Kane just kept walking, even though I knew he had seen me.

   Kane went to McMaster High, thirty minutes away, for his freshman year, and I had no idea why he was now in Lockman Heights, my high school, walking down the hallway. And I also had no idea why he had pretended that I didn't exist.

   "Bruce just told dad today," my mom told me, after school that day. "They bought a house in Greenside, just closed on it last minute. I guess it was a quick sale. They transferred Kane to Lockman Heights."

   "Ugh!" I yelled, annoyed.

   "Maybe you can help him make friends?" my dad suggested, literally always the optimist.

   "He's not five, Dad! He doesn't need help making friends!"

   "But you know him, and you know a lot of people at your school."

   "I don't really feel like I know Kane anymore," I admitted, and I saw the look of pain on my dad's face. He hadn't wanted to admit that Kane and I were no longer best friends.

   I didn't see him much around school, which was surprising, as it wasn't a huge school. But almost a month into the school year, my friends were shocked that I hadn't told them that Kane went to Lockman Heights, now. We saw him outside, leaning against a big tree, standing with some other people, near the end of September.

   "He got so hot," Kaylee laughed, "why didn't you tell us he transferred?"

   "Doesn't matter," I said, biting into my sandwich.

   "Have you talked to him?" Georgia wanted to know.

   I shook my head. "We're not friends anymore."

   "But you were. And -"

   I stopped listening, as I watched him laugh at something. He was still Kane, with the same smile I had known for so many years. But he wasn't the boy I grew up with anymore. And I wasn't sure I wanted to know him, now.

   Freshman year went fast and while school was easy for me, and I got good grades, stayed out of trouble, there were some temptations. Parties that I wasn't allowed to go to, dates I wasn't allowed to go on. My dad had warned me before I started high school - no dating until I turned sixteen. And even then, he said, it would depend on who it was. My dad loved me, but he was definitely over protective. And I hated that about him. My friends were out on dates, going to parties on the weekend, but I wasn't allowed.

   Just before the end of the school year, Kane stopped by my house with an invitation to his birthday party, that weekend.

   "You barely acknowledged me at school all year," I accused him. "You haven't been to Sunday dinner in months."

   He looked around the kitchen, where we were standing. "Marley, I'm inviting you because I know your dad will let you come to a birthday party at my house."

   "What is that supposed to mean?" I asked, annoyed, but also slightly confused.

   "You weren't allowed to go to one house party, all year."

   "So, you're pitying me?"

   He laughed. "Just come. Bring your friends."

   I sighed. "Fine. Maybe."

   And, of course, he was right. That Saturday night, my dad dropped Kaylee and I off at Kane's house for the party.

   "No drinking. No smoking. No kissing," he told us, seriously.

   Kaylee let out a laugh, but I nodded. "Okay, Dad."

  It was a real house party, like I'd only seen in movies. Kane had told my dad that Bruce was going to be home, but it sure didn't seem like he was. There was drinking, smoking and kissing, for sure. A group of jocks in collared t-shirts were playing beer pong on the dining room table. The backyard had numerous teenagers smoking cigarettes and who knows what else. And within five minutes, I'd seen more than enough people making out.

   "You came," Kane announced, when he saw me in the backyard, sitting on the deck. Kaylee had left to get a drink.

   "Yeah, I... Kaylee wanted to come," I replied. He knew I was lying.

   Kane nodded, but a moment later, a girl that I didn't know was hugging him. He smiled at me before turning his attention to her.

   A couple of hours later, Kaylee was making out with Jackson Tuff, a guy in Kane's English class. I made small-talk with plenty of people, but overall I was bored, and had a headache from the loud, pounding music.

   "Kaylee," I said grabbing her arm, as she entered the kitchen, where I was sitting.

   "Heeeey," she said, obviously drunk and happy.

   "My dad is coming to get us soon. Let's go wait outside," I told her.

   She pulled her arm away from me. "We just got here."

   "Kaylee, we've been here three hours," I said, annoyed.

   "Marley, c'mon. We can stay a bit longer."

   "No. Let's go," I said again, reaching for her.

   "You're such a party pooper!" she yelled at me. "No wonder you don't go to parties!"

   I knew she was drunk. And I knew she didn't want to leave. But I was so mad, that I left her there, and told my dad she'd already gotten picked up.

   But then, as I laid in my bed an hour later, not able to sleep, I texted her, to see if she was okay. No answer. Another hour later, I still couldn't fall asleep, so I did something I so rarely did - I texted Kane. She was my best friend, and I was worried.

   Did you see my friend Kaylee leave?

   Right away, he sent a message back. Well, she was practically passed out on the sofa. I checked her phone for her parents' number and called them.

   Ok, thanks, I sent back to Kane, but I was freaking out. Kaylee was probably in so much trouble, because of me.

   I heard what she said to you. I would have ditched her, too, Kane went on.

   I didn't reply.

   On Monday, at school, both of my best friends were mad at me. Kaylee had obviously told Georgia what I did. It was the last week of school, and I was all alone. They didn't even confront me, they just ignored me, like I didn't exist. It was the worst feeling ever.

   The Sunday dinner after school was finished, I was surprised to see Kane stroll in with Bruce and Carla. He was wearing a hoodie and jean shorts, his hair messy.

   "Oh, the birthday boy!" my mom yelled, hugging him. "I can't believe you're sixteen."

   "We can't believe it either," Bruce said, then let out a laugh.

   "Kane!" Andy came running from down the hall.

  "Andy!" Kane yelled back, scooping him up and swinging him around.

   We all sat at our big patio table in the back yard, eating burgers and macaroni salad, and it almost felt like old times. As soon as we were done eating, Andy announced he wanted to get in the pool. It was my dad's rule that I had to be in the pool with him, so we both went to get our bathing suits. I'd swam in our pool for the past twelve years, every summer, but suddenly I felt weird in my own yard, in my bathing suit, with Kane's eyes on me. He pretended not to look, but I caught him more than once. I pretended I didn't see him, as he just sat on the deck, messing around on his phone, sneaking glances at Andy and I in the pool.

   Before he left, he pulled me into the kitchen where no one else was.

   "Why'd you eat alone this week?" he asked me, keeping space between us.

   "You're keeping tabs on me?" I whispered.

   He shook his head. "No. But I noticed."

   "Kaylee is so mad at me," I admitted. "Her parents were livid about how drunk she was."

   "You didn't tell her to drink," Kane said, reassuring me.

   "No, but I left her there. And you called her parents."

   "So this is my fault?" he grinned.

   "No. I shouldn't have left her."

   "She shouldn't have said that to you."

   My Mom came into the kitchen a moment later; I turned away from Kane.

   "Isn't it nice to have Kane around again, Mar?" she asked me, smiling her big smile.

  I looked at her, then to Kane. He smirked at me. I just nodded.

  "I better go," he said to my mom. "Thanks for dinner."

   "Don't be a stranger this summer," she replied, still smiling.

   "Yes, ma'am."

   And then he was gone.

  I finally text Kaylee, begging forgiveness, the next day. Instead of answering the text, she called me.

   "You left me, drunk, in a stranger's house."

   "Kane is not a stranger," I told her. "But I should not have left you there."

   "My parents grounded me for two weeks," she went on.

   "Well, you were stupid drunk. And I tried to get you to leave with me."

   "You did?"

   "Kay, you refused to leave. You called me a party pooper," I told her.

   "I what?" she yelled.

   "Kaylee, seriously? You don't remember?"

   "I'm so sorry, Mar."

   "I forgive you," I laughed. "I'm sorry you got in trouble. Kane called them, cause you were passed out -"

   "Kane?"

   "Yeah, he found their number in your phone," I explained.

   "Aww, he's so sweet. I don't know why you don't go out with him."

   "What?"

  "Kane is so hot. And you guys are -"

   "Like family. I'm not allowed to date, anyway," I interrupted.

  "Neither am I, technically. But I had like three boyfriends this year," Kaylee laughed.

   I let out a laugh, falling back onto my bed. I was so glad to have Kaylee back on my side.