7

Mari spun on her heels and took off running down the beach. The sand between her toes no longer felt inviting. The water was cold, and the soles of her feet scraped against the rocky shore. Too late, she realized she was no longer holding her sandals. She must have dropped them somewhere along the way.

She didn’t dare turn back. All she wanted now was to go home.

Stars filled the night sky. As a kid, she’d made countless wishes upon those stars. Most never came true, but the instinct was still there. She focused on a particularly bright star and thought to herself, I wish I could go back in time. Before this awful day even started!

She kept running, not slowing until she reached the edge of the bonfire party. She was out of breath, heart pounding wildly.

Jenae was standing near the fire pit, a roasting stick in her outstretched hand. The marshmallow on its tip was golden brown.

“Jen—” Mari sputtered as she tried to speak. She couldn’t catch her breath.

Jenae’s eyes widened when she saw Mari. “What’s wrong? Did you find Ev—”

Mari grabbed her friend by the arm and pulled her from the fire. “Shhh! I don’t want everyone to know.”

When they were a few yards from the crowd, Mari let go of Jenae’s arm.

Jenae looked at the tip of her roasting stick. It was empty. “Aww, you made me lose my marshmallow.”

In that moment, Mari was furious. Jenae cared more about a stupid marshmallow than about her best friend. It was her fault Mari was even here. If Jenae hadn’t texted her about Evan, saying he was lonely, she never would have come.

“I thought you said he was alone,” Mari said sharply. “But he’s not. He’s with Chelsea!”

“Chelsea Littman?” Jenae wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I didn’t even know she was here. But they’re not together, are they? Maybe they’re just friends.”

“He kissed her!”

“Aw, don’t cry,” Jenae said.

Mari’s eyes were watery, and her chest was heaving from the run. But she wasn’t crying. At least, she hadn’t been. She looked at the kids circling the fire pit. They seemed mellow, carefree. Enjoying a warm night with friends and good music. She caught a few of them staring in her direction. She knew she must look terrible.

“I’m not . . . crying!” A few more heads turned in her direction. Then the music stopped. Aaron had set his guitar down and was walking toward them. All eyes on her, Mari felt humiliated.

Jenae stepped closer to Mari. She reached out to put her free arm around her friend’s shoulder.

Mari pushed her away. “It’s all your fault. You told me to ask him out today, and I fell on my butt. Then you got me to rush down here. And once again, I end up looking like a total idiot!”

“I just wanted you to have a good time.” Now Jenae looked like she was on the verge of tears. “It’s not my fault you don’t have a boyfriend!”

Aaron stepped between the two girls and asked, “What’s going on?” When neither answered, he turned to Jenae and said, “Let’s get back to the party.”

Jenae looked like she wanted to say something. But then she took Aaron’s hand and turned her back to Mari, strolling back to the fire pit.