My door flashes open, startling me. Roger appears in the doorframe, wearing a luau, sunglasses, an inner tube, and with a beer in his hand already.
“Aloha! Who’s ready for Alpha Island?!”
I frown and grumble, “Good morning.”
“You doing okay, sleepyhead?”
I shake my head. “No.”
With a look of concern, he puts his beer down and sits at the foot of my bed. “It’s Luke, isn’t it?”
I nod. “How’d you know?”
“You two are crazy together. This whole method acting thing has gone to your heads. You two have played like you’re in love. And now you really are in love.”
I nod. “I’m in love with him. He’s not in love with me.”
“Have you told him this?”
“What’s going to happen if I do? He’s not the ‘fall in love’ kind. I’m going to the Peace Corps, he’s getting drafted. We’re a tragically fated romance.”
“You’ll never know unless you ask.”
“And then he’ll tell me that he’s not in love with me and break my heart.”
Roger smiles and runs the back of his hand on my cheek. “Your heart is breaking anyway. You might as well put it out there.”
“And then what happens?”
“And then you go from there.”
“I’m worried, though. What about the Peace Corps? That’s always been my dream.”
“Can dreams change?”
I pause and think for a moment. “Maybe they do.”
“Well, what else would you do with your life next year?”
The question nearly bowls me over. “I have no idea.”
“That’s something you should get thinking about. Now come on, the Island basketball tournament is started, and the Slip ‘N Slide will be out soon. This is the best party of the year.”
“Is it?”
“Oh yeah,” Roger says. “It gets the Alphas put on probation every single year it’s so good. It’s Ian’s last day as president, and it will be hilarious watching him try to stop everyone from drinking.”
I chuckle. “Stop college students from drinking during the last big blowout party of the year. Yes, that’s an exercise in futility.”
“So get your damn swimsuit on and let’s boogie!”
“Sounds good. Give me a few and I’ll be ready.”
Roger leaves, and I put my suit on, a pink one-piece, along with denim short shorts.
I put on flip flops and sunglasses, and before I leave notice my laptop screensaver still on.
I pull up the draft email I wrote to Mariah, and hit <Send>.
Just as I do that, a text from Luke comes in.
Luke: You ready for the big show today?
Skylar: Nervous, but ready. You think Jennifer and Ryan will really break up? Could this actually work?
Luke: I’ve been seeing cracks in the armor this week. We’ve got this. My baseball game today ends around two and then I’ll head over.
I smile as I leave.
If Luke and I are going through with this, we might as well have some fun with it.
There’s a definitive buzz in the air when I arrive to the party, and I’m immediately handed a beer from some random freshman.
Ian walks up with his hands on his hips. “You guys. Seriously? You’re just going to drink cans of beer out in the open, too? I need some people to set examples. No open liquor.”
Roger shrugs. “Come on, man, it’s The Island Party. What are we going to do, not drink?”
“Yeah, this is why we get put on probation every year.” Ian shakes his head, then hands us two red cups. “Oh well, what do I care anyway? I’m not even going to be here next year. But at least put your drinks in some damn Solo cups.”
I’m not sure what sort of a deal Ian has negotiated with campus safety, but at any rate, they must be looking the other way during this party. There’s about a hundred or so people milling around outside the house. They’re playing basketball, watching basketball from the patio, grilling up hot dogs, playing volleyball, and just generally chatting and having a good time while the college buzz roles through them.
I grin at the sight.
We mill around the party, and I run into a group of freshman girls who I’m friends with, Alex, April, Maya, and Charlotte.
Maya wiggles her eyebrows at me, and we chat for a bit about the Peace Corps, and play a few rounds of volleyball.
I head inside the party, where people are sitting and chatting on couches. Later tonight, the main floor will be a huge dance floor, if the party doesn’t get busted up before then.
For now, there’s a low buzz of music playing.
I find Janice, who is sitting on one of the couches, and we chat for a little while. We’re interrupted when there’s a big round of applause that causes us to turn around.
“Your husband’s here,” Janice says.
The baseball team has entered the house, which is the cause of the admiration. Luke is all smiles, and he sees me and blows me a kiss. His face is sun-kissed from being out in the sun today.
“How’d the game go?” I ask as he wraps me up with a hug and a kiss.
“I pitched. We won. God, I’m going to miss this,” he whispers against my skin. “But it has to be done, doesn’t it?”
We look over at Ryan, who is staring at us. He’s trying to tap Jennifer on the shoulder to get her attention, so he can greet her, but she’s engrossed in a conversation and ignoring him.
My heart breaks one more time for Ryan, and I pray that this works.
Who would want to date someone for a day, let alone get married to someone who doesn’t even greet them with a kiss after a game?
His self-respect needs an overhaul.
“Needs to be done. You ready?”
He nods. “I need a beer. And then yes.”
I watch as Ryan gives up on getting Jennifer’s attention, folding his arms. The song “Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” comes on over the speaker. Perfect.
Come on, Ryan, get the message.
My heart hammers incredibly hard when I see Luke come back into the room and wave me over. I walk over and we’re isolated so we’re in the corner, good so no one can hear us.
He cracks both beers and hands me one. “Cheers, Cielo. Wouldn’t have done this crazy ride with anyone else but you.”
“Me either.” I lean in and steal one more kiss from him. “And now it’s go time.”
I glance over my shoulder and see Ryan and Jennifer in the opposite corner by the door.
Luke nods. Here we go.
“So that’s how it’s going to be?!” I shout, and I can feel the heads whipping around to look at us already. “You are absolutely selfish, you know that?”
“Oh don’t act like you haven’t brought this on,” Luke yells back. “You were in it for the money, I knew you were! You were riding the fame train! I should have seen it coming! I was blind but now I see!”
“How dare you accuse me of riding the fame train! I loved you.” My eyes widen. What am I even saying?
“You loved me? Yeah, well, I…loved you too,” he grits out, then takes another swig of his drink.