It happens all the time. Did it sting you?”
“Sting? No, I don’t think so. But it’s wet and jellied and yuck.” He rolled in the sand like he’d been punched in the belly.
“Come on, mate—don’t be a baby,” Josie teased. “They can’t help that they’re slimy. You should see them underwater; they’re beauties.” She bent down and studied the goop. “This is a medusa jelly. They have a particularly sensitive digestive system. Poor guy probably ate something he shouldn’t have. Probably litter or pollution.”
I reached down and helped Dario up, and we continued toward the big event.
“Let’s not mention this to anyone,” he said after he’d composed himself enough to realize he’d overreacted.
“My lips are sealed,” I said.
TJ was the first person I saw. He smiled and spread his arms wide.
“Welcome to the bonfire.”
Fifteen Stella
Bonfire
June 19 (Continued)
“I knew you’d make it,” TJ said, mostly to me. Then he asked Dario and Josie, “Hey, guys, you want a marshmallow? There’s a big bag of them over there. And sticks. Help yourself.”
“I never say no to a marshmallow.” Dario headed for the bag. “Browned on the outside and gooey on the inside. That’s how I like ’em.”
Josie followed him, saying, “You drink those smoothies to stay healthy, but then you eat toasted blobs?”
“They cancel each other out,” Dario replied.
Suddenly out of nowhere, Apple was next to them. “I like ’em burned on the inside and burned on the outside.” They were too far away for me to hear the rest.
“She has a point about smoothies and marshmallows,” TJ said. He led me a few feet away from the fire and sat on a blanket. I followed him and did the same.
I was at a bonfire, sitting on a blanket on the beach, next to TJ. This was exactly what I hoped this summer would be like.
“How’s your guard training going?” I asked.
“I don’t want to brag, but I think I’m at the top of the pack.”
“Oh yeah? What about Tucker and Timmy?” I asked.
“Tim’s doing okay. Tuck needs to pick up his pace on the runs.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“Technically, he won’t be offered a job here next year, but we have an in with the mayor, so it shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, we’re expecting to complete the program early.”
“How did you get to be friends with the mayor?” I asked
“He was watching us train one day and sort of introduced himself. He’s a nice guy,” he said. “They say it’s all about who you know.”
“That would be good for your five-year plan.”
“You remember that?” he asked, surprised.
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I dunno.” He shrugged. “I mean, I know everything going on in your life. You post on Instachat like ten times a day. But I don’t do that.”
Well, he didn’t know everything, because, obviously, I only post the good stuff. “Come on,” I said. “I saw that pic of you in the ugly Christmas sweater and your new dog and that bruise on your knee when you fell off the curb. So I know stuff. Plus, I have a good memory, and I just remember that you’re always planning.”
He looked at me; I could see the firelight flicker in his eyes. “You cold?”
I didn’t realize that I was hugging my knees into my chest. “A little.”
“Maybe we should move closer to the fire?” he asked.
“That’s okay. I’m fine here.” I wanted to be a little in the distance, where we could talk without yelling over the music, and as long as I had Apple in my sight, I didn’t have to worry about her appearing on our blanket without warning. That would be awkward. I hoped Josie would mingle or at least talk to Timmy. Dario, on the other hand, was being very social among the marshmallow scene. He tossed one to Tucker, who tried to catch it in his mouth. Then Tucker threw one to Dario, only that one was melting, and it went everywhere but his mouth.
I shivered. TJ slid his red hoodie over his head and handed it to me. “Put this on.”
I did. I acted casual about it, but inside I was like, Wow! because I’d always wanted to wear one of those. It was already warm from his body heat, and it smelled like a combo of sunscreen, deodorant, and fabric softener. I used to spend time like this with Pete, but when all of that fell apart, I seriously thought I’d never like a guy again.
He asked me, “Do you have big plans for the