I climbed into Roland’s truck and squeezed in between him and Peter. “So where are we headed?”

“We narrowed it down to two options and we’re going to let you pick,” Roland said as we drove along the waterfront. “Party at Dell Madden’s house or party up at the lighthouse with Dylan’s band.”

“So a party or a… party.” I put my finger to my lips. “How will I ever decide?”

“Well, you said you wanted to have some fun.”

“Okay, then let’s do the lighthouse party.” I knew Dylan better than Dell Madden. And an outdoor party would be less crowded.

The lighthouse’s overgrown parking lot was already half full of vehicles when we pulled in. Dell Madden had picked the wrong night for his party because it looked like everyone was coming to Dylan’s shindig instead.

Parked in front of the lighthouse was a white van belonging to one of Dylan’s band mates. Two large speakers had been rigged up and music was already blaring when we arrived. Someone had brought a bunch of solar lights and battery operated lanterns and strung them up around the lighthouse yard and on the beach at the lower end of the bluff, a group of boys were starting a bonfire. Everywhere I looked there were coolers of ice.

Roland reached behind his seat and pulled out a six pack. I raised an eyebrow at him and he smiled and tossed his keys to Peter. “Pete’s designated driver tonight.”

Peter pocketed the keys. “It’s my turn,” he explained glumly.

“Well, if Roland would teach me to drive, I’d get my license and I could be the designated driver next time.” It wasn’t like I drank often anyway.

“Great idea!” Peter hooted as he and Roland high fived each other. I just shook my head and followed them over to the small group of people standing by the van.

Dylan gave me a goofy smile that made his hazel eyes twinkle. “Sara, this is the second time I’ve seen you in two weeks. I’m starting to think you have a crush on me.”

I gave the ginger haired boy an exaggerated sigh. “You know me, full of yearning and all that.”

Everyone laughed and Dylan introduced me to the rest of his band and two of the band members’ girlfriends. Everyone seemed to know Roland and Peter pretty well. The drummer, who had long wavy blond hair and surfer good looks, gave me a quiet smile as he shook my hand then offered me a beer. I shook my head and said maybe later.

“Didn’t I see you at the Attic last time we played there?” Samson asked, popping open a beer for himself.

“Yes.” I smiled even as my gut clenched at the mention of that night. Watching Samson do his solo was one of the last normal things I’d done before my world went to hell. Determined to put that night behind me, I said, “You guys were great. A lot better than the rap thing Dylan used to do.”

“Hey, don’t be a hater!” Dylan cried with mock outrage.

Samson laughed and I saw that he had a great smile. “Not into rap?”

“Sara likes the old stuff, classic rock,” Roland told him. “I bet she can name every one of Carly Simon’s albums.”

“Who’s Carly Simon?” asked the tall raven haired girl named Beth. All the boys snickered and I struggled to keep a straight face as I told Beth who Carly Simon was.

Roland put his beers except one in Dylan’s cooler. “Come on. Let’s go see who all is here.”

A lot of the kids who knew Roland and Peter were strangers to me. Dylan’s band mates had all gone to another school and most of the kids were from there. I did see some familiar faces from St. Patrick’s and most of them looked surprised to see me at a party. It’s not like I was a hermit. I did go out and have fun, just not as often as everyone else.

Based on the number of girls who came up to us, Roland’s popularity extended beyond our high school. A couple of girls flirted blatantly with him and a few others – who had already dated him – attempted to act casual, hoping he’d notice them again. Sometimes their attempts to catch his eye seemed a bit ridiculous to me and I wanted to tell them all to stop behaving like idiots. If I ever got this stupid over a guy I hoped someone would slap some sense into me.

I did feel bad for one of the girls who gave Roland a forced smile when he said hello to her. Cassidy Downs was the last girl Roland dated just before school started and she still had a ‘what did I do wrong’ look that made me want to sock my best friend. The tall brunette tossed her hair and tried to look unaffected when Roland flirted playfully with other girls but I could see the hurt in her eyes. Cassidy and I were not friends but I hated to see someone hurting, which is why I finally pulled Roland aside.

“Stop being a douche,” I scolded him when we were out of earshot of everyone.

He looked genuinely surprised. “I’m being a douche?”

I shook my head and groaned. “Roland, I know you think girls are okay if you only date them once or twice but not all girls are the same. Can’t you see that Cassidy still has a thing for you?”

“She does?” He looked over my shoulder at the group of girls we had just left. “But we only saw each other twice and that was weeks ago.”

“I guess you made a bigger impression on her than you thought.”

“What am I supposed to do? I can’t help how she feels.”

I had to stop myself from shaking him. Boys could be so dense sometimes. “I know that and I’m not saying you have to stay away from other girls. Just try not hook up right in front of her face.”