I lower my sunglasses, and take a short-cut Britt showed me, down to the beach. 

 

I avoid Ari, and run down to the backside of the café. 

“A water please.” I smile, and hand the cashier a few bills. I grab my water, and remember I needed to meet Britt at the beach. 

Me: Britt, almost ran into Ari, I’ll be at the beach soon!

Britt: Alright, don’t start anything. Lol. 

I see Britt’s familiar face down at the shore. She’s sitting with Jake. I sigh, and walk down to them. I was hoping it’d be just us. “Hey,” I smile. They both turn around, and wave. I sit down, and sip my water. “What’s up?” 

“Nothing, now tell us what happened!” She laughs. I turn towards them and sit cross-legged. 

“Alright,” I start. “I was with Chace down at the harbor. We were dancing on the dock, until we hear a voice. I didn’t even know who it was. Chace let go of me, and then ran to who I figured to be Ari. He told her off, and then she came over to me. She grabbed my neck and told me that I was a fat, worthless piece of trash.” I pause to let them take it all in. 

“What did you do?” Jake looks curious.

“I couldn’t do anything, I could barely breath.” I show them the bruise on my neck. 

“And she cut your face, right?” Britt points to the band-aid. I nod, while taking another sip of my water. “Hey, Ember...” Britt looks at me with an awkward expression on her face. “Is that your mom over there?” She points by my house. I see my mom wearing a small bikini, and holding hands with the guy that slept over last night... Wonderful. 

“Ew...” I grunt. “She’s old, he’s old... They shouldn’t be wearing that. That’s just embarrassing.” I get up, and wipe the back of my shorts off. “I’m going home, I don’t want to see that, bye guys.” 

“Bye.” Jake waves.

“See you later.” Britt laughs. I arrive home, with Chace sitting on my steps. I look at him curiously. He keeps his head in his hands, until he hears me sit down next  to him. “Hey,” He looks up. “Sorry... It’s weird that I’m here. I just needed to talk to you.”

“It’s fine.” I smile. “Talk to me about what?” 

“Us.”