Four Summers - By Nyrae Dawn Page 0,5

dates any of the girls. He plays sports and has his sporty guy friends, but when he’s not with them, he’s always with me at The Village.

The fast song changes to a slow one and Alec pulls me to him. I'm just as sweaty as he is, but I know he won’t say anything. I know he won’t care.

“See? Having fun isn’t so bad.”

“You really think this is fun?” I ask in his ear. I think maybe there’s something wrong with me. Something I don’t get or somehow lost in the past year. I always say Sadie thinks she’s too good, but can that be me, too? Do I think I’m too good for The Village, only in a different way than Mom or Sadie Ann?

“Sure.” Alec shrugs. “It’s always been fun. What’s not to like?”

I don’t know. I wish I did.

We dance a couple more songs and then hang out with some friends from school. Dad calls me away to help once in a while or to grab something or fix something or whatever other “Charlie” job brings itself to his attention.

After my errand to go get more ice, I come back outside. They’ve lit the tiki torches and the little twinkling lights that hang all around are lit as the sun starts to go down. It’s getting dark, my favorite time of the day. I love it at night. Love the darkness with those little specks of light decorating the sky. I like to pretend I can visit the stars. That I’ll ride one far away from here one day. It’s a kid’s dream. I know that, but I like it so I plan to keep on dreaming it.

Alec is surrounded by a group of people from school. Girls are all around him and a couple of the guys from his football team. I know I’ll hear it later if I leave, but I have to get away. Dad might need me or Alec will come looking for me, but I want to chance the stars by myself. Heading back into the house, I go out the back door, which leads to the woods. I don’t go deep, but stay hidden enough that I can walk around the Bash and toward the far area of the lake without anyone seeing me.

Once I clear the party, I head back toward the beach, staying close to the trees as I make my way down. I can’t go all the way to my favorite spot tonight. There isn’t time and I can’t stay long, but I just need a few minutes to…be. It has a good view here anyway.

I find a place to sit down by the water. The sky is painted midnight now and I watch the little lights I love start to dot the sky. They’re like candles, and every time a new one is lit, I smile.

“I’m pretty sure girls who sneak away to go exploring in the woods can be nothing but trouble.”

I jerk my head to the right to find the face that matches the voice from beside me. But I know. Without looking, I know it’s the summer boy.

“You’re not going to try to kill me or something, are you? You look like you want to kill me. Not that I would be scared. I just wouldn’t want to have to fight a girl.” He looks amused and I’m not sure how to feel about it.

Don’t be an idiot, don’t be an idiot, don’t be an idiot. “What? Because I’m a girl I’m nothing to be afraid of? That’s a little sexist, don’t ya think?” I’m not super proud to admit this, but I kind of like it. Not that I don’t want to be a strong girl, because I do. But I like that he notices I am one. It lessens the chance he's going to ask me to put together a stage or lift something heavy.

“I bet you even followed me in case I needed help,” I say. “Who knows, a girl alone at night? Something scary might happen to her.”

I can’t see him real well, but I think he’s smiling.

“Nope. Didn’t want to protect you. You look pretty badass. Just wanted to see what you were sneaking away from—or to.” He sits down next to me. I feel a little jolt of excitement zip through me when his arm brushes mine before he pulls away.

“I’m not running from anyone.”

“Then why did you sneak around through the woods? You went back in the