Easton’s dad usually gets us a ton of fireworks to light off in the park for us.
“Cara, what are you doing?” Logan’s confused voice calls from outside. I glance over at him and see his squinted eyes inspecting me. “Come out here.”
I look down at myself, feeling self-conscious, but knowing I have no other choice in the matter. If I don’t go outside now, they’ll start banging on my door until I come out.
“I’ll be right there.” I grumble, moving away from the window and towards my dresser.
I really have nothing to wear. This growth spurt that I’ve been going through has made most of my clothes too small. Trading out my sleeping shorts for a pair of jean shorts, I give a little sigh of relief when I am able to button them up. I pull a hoodie over my head, and as weird as I’m going to look since it’s about ninety degrees outside, I’d rather melt underneath this sweatshirt than have three guys stare at my budding chest all day.
I slide my feet into my flip flops and open up my door, immediately jumping a foot in the air when I hear a pop at my feet.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop, pop.
Logan cackles with a handful of firecrackers in his palm, another ready to be launched at me.
“Fuck! Logan! Do that shit again, and I’ll knee you in the nuts so hard you can never have children.”
His smile drops along with his hand. “Jeez, Cara. You’re no fun.”
I look over at Easton and he has a contemplating look on his face, and then glance at the new guy. I’d have completely forgotten he was here. He has a blank, bored look on his face.
Logan follows my line of sight. “Shit, Cara. You haven’t met Jackson yet. Jackson, Cara. Cara, Jackson.” Logan waves his hands in between us and I lift my hand up in a limp wave.
“Hi.”
He stares at me, his head cocked to the side like a curious pet. Glancing over at Logan, I give him a worried look.
Did I offend him or something? Why isn’t he saying hi back?
Logan leans in to whisper in my ear. “He doesn’t talk much. Don’t take it personally.” I nod, lowering my gaze to the ground to avoid his icy stare.
“We’ve got a shit ton of fireworks to light off tonight. Want to see?” Logan says, the weird moment gone as excitement already fills his gaze. Logan can’t stay in a bad mood for long. He’s about the happiest kid I’ve ever met.
I nod, following Logan over to Easton’s porch and the pile of fireworks spread out in a messy heap.
Already sweating, I wipe my forehead and look over the various fireworks. I have so much fun lighting stuff off every year. It’s one of my favorite holidays. We don’t typically go anywhere for holidays, since we don’t have any family that I know of. I’m not sure if I have any grandparents or any other relatives. Mom never speaks about them. I tried once, and her bad mood stuck with her for an entire week.
The only time we ever end up going somewhere is if we’re invited by one of Mom or Jed’s bar friends, which is rare, and I’m almost never invited anyway.
So, I stick at home and usually hangout with the boys. They don’t have family, either. We’re just a group of misfits with no families.
“Ooo, sparklers. My favorite.” I dig in the bag and take out the box of sparklers.
“I made sure Rich got extra for you.” Logan gives me a toothy grin, and I blush under his gaze.
“Thanks.” I mumble, averting my gaze when I smell the scent of smoke. I look over and see Jackson sparking a cigarette over near Easton.
“Ew, you smoke?” I wrinkle my nose at him. He takes a drag and blows it out in my direction. I wave my hand in front of my face to rid the stench. I cough and wheeze out, “Gross. Stop.”
Once the smoke clears, I’m hit with a direct look at his vibrant green eyes lit with a fire I’ve never seen before. He looks both empty and full of light and darkness, and the mixture scares me a little.
Something about him terrifies me. He seems like someone that will create unthinkable damage to someone.
The other part of him… well, that part terrifies me as well, but for other reasons. Reasons I don’t want to even think about.