2 month, 5 weeks

Over the last month, nothing interesting has happened. Darren and I haven't really spoke at school, or even looked at each other.

But his mother insists that we start to hang out with each other on the weekends to get to know each other better.

That's what we're doing right now.

His mom works as a counselor for teenagers, and families. His dad divorced his mom a year ago, but they still remain friends considering he lives on the other side of the country.

His mom gave us money to go get lunch but so far Darren hasn't moved from his couch. I sat in a recliner not sure what to do since he looked so into watching Two and a Half Men.

"Can we go?" I asked quietly.

"Yeah, after this episode" he dismissed.

"You said that like two hours ago" I rolled my eyes.

"Fine" he sighed as he turned off the tv and looked at me.

"What do you want to do?" He asked.

"Let's go to the beach!" I exclaimed.

His phone dinged.

"Hold on one sec" he checked his phone and started typing.

"There's a bonfire tonight, you want to come? There's no alcohol or anything, my friends are just going to be chilling" he asked.

"Yeah, sure" I smiled.

"Could you possibly change before that? I mean you look cute and all but..." He trailed off looking me up and down.

I looked down at my outfit. I was wearing a light pink sundress with wedges.

"What's wrong with this?" I asked.

"Maisie, we're probably going to be there until midnight, dress comfortably"

I looked outside and realized I've been here for most of the afternoon.

"Fine, can you take me home to change?"

He nodded and grabbed his keys.

We walked outside and got in his car.

The drive home was mostly speeding and racing other cars.

When we pulled up in my driveway, Daniel and Sully were shooting hoops.

I got out and greeted them. I ran upstairs to my room and quickly dressed in black leggings, a dark green tank top and a jean jacket. I grabbed some sandals and ran back downstairs before Daniel tries to beat up Darren... Again.

I got outside and saw that Daniel was slowly walking towards Darren's car.

"Hey!" I tried to say casually.

"Maisie, what are you doing with this guy?" He asked.

"We're going out" I looked at him.

"You guys are..." He trailed off confused.

"No, no, no, we're going out to do something"

Daniel looked at me suspiciously, "uh huh" I smiled at him and got into Darren's car.

"Your brother can be scary" he shook his head as he started back out of the driveway.

"I guess" I shrugged.

We drove in silence with the windows rolled down. As we got closer to the beach I can start smelling the salt water and the gentle breeze.

"So, have you ever been to a bonfire?" He asked casually.

"Nope, I've never actually been out like this"

"Really? But you were at that party" he looked at me confused then back on the road.

"Yeah..." I trailed off, "That was my first party" I chuckled.

"What? By the way you were drinking it seemed so... I don't know, natural?"

"Long story behind that"

It was silent for a few minutes, until Darren spoke up, "That's very unusual, you seem like a very likeable girl"

I laughed, "I keep to myself during school, I really don't like the girls there" I propped my elbow out the window and rested my head on my hand.

"I don't know, the girls seem pretty chill" he shrugged.

"Because they just want you to get in their pants" I rolled my eyes.

He chuckled, "I mean who wouldn't?" He waved his hand over his body.

"Oh god" I giggled.

After that we just clicked and talked to each other like we've known each other our whole lives.

We stopped at a little gas station for snacks and started to drive again.

"We're almost there" he told me as I popped a pretzel in my mouth.

"Who's all there?" I asked.

He hesitated for a little bit, "Yeah, about that, this is like the bonfire everybody goes to when a new semester starts"

"What? So the school?"

"Yeah... There's not just one bonfire but there's multiple ones"

"You could've told me?! I can't show up like this!" I exclaimed as I pulled down the visor looking at myself in the little mirror provided.

I pulled my hair up in a ponytail the best I could. Baby hairs were sticking up making me look like I just got off a rollercoaster. I applied a decent amount of mascara, so I looked decent.

We pulled up onto a small parking lot filled with cars. I looked around and saw cars parked on the sand and on the shoulder of the road.

"You can get out, I'll try to find a parking space" he said extremely concentrated.

"Okay" I unwillingly said.

I got out slowly and shut the door. Darren slowly drove away as I started my way on the beach.

I took my sandals off as I got to the sand because there's really no point in wearing them.

I observed the scene before me. At least three bonfires were going cluttered with my peers socializing.

A group of giggling girls passed me wearing ripped jeans and long sleeve shirts.

A group of senior jocks passed me jokingly shoving each other.

"Nice, isn't it?" I jumped at the sound of the voice behind me.

I looked behind and saw Darren with Chance.

"Yeah..." I trailed off.

"Hey Darren" a girl with pale skin and curly black hair approached us.

I felt so envious of her. She had an edgy vibe wearing leather like leggings and a gray tank top covered with a flannel.

"Desiree, don't you have something better to do like make little kids cry?" Darren teased.

She smiled, a great one I might add, "And don't you have anything else to do besides texting your little sophomore sluts?"

They both laughed. Does this mean I'm one of his "sophomore sluts"?

I saw Chance staring at me and walk towards me.

"Darren, we're going to get something to drink" Chance motioned me to follow him.

"Don't worry, you're not one of them" he smiled.

"Thanks, that helps... Sort of" I smiled.

"Hey, if you and Darren are going to be spending time together might as well get to know you, right?" We both smiled.

"So, how did you guys meet?" He smirked.

Oh.