☆

"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S the fourth already," Amara mused, shaking her head as her and Logan stepped out of their shared dorm to go down for breakfast. "You know, to be honest, I really thought this summer was going to drag because I'd be at school."

"It's flying by, isn't it?" Logan quipped, and then shrugged. "Mom is trying to get me to go to University of Maine."

"Maine?" Amara repeated, raising her brows. "Why Maine? You already have a head-start if you go here, why not stay?"

"Wants me to branch out. We've got some family up there, anyway. Dad says he thinks it's because people will believe I got off easy just because they teach here," she scoffed. "As if I didn't work my ass off for months trying to prove I was good enough."

Amara felt a tad bit guilty—she didn't work for anything to get the internship for the summer. For once, it had been handed to her. But maybe that was what she deserved after years of fighting for the bare minimum. "So, you gonna go?"

"Thinking about it, actually," Logan admitted. "I've lived in New York my entire life, so it'd be a little bittersweet, but it might be refreshing to get out. Get away from the lovely pollution." She snorted at that, and Logan offered a grin. "What about you? After your internship ends, you gonna stick around?"

"Don't think I could even if I wanted to," Amara replied. "One, I'm poor, remember?" She smirked and knocked Logan's shoulder when the dark skinned girl rolled her eyes. "And two, well, I'm kind of homesick."

"Of Chicago?"

"Well, not the city itself. I mean I just miss everyone. Texting and calling just isn't the same."

"Yeah," Logan agreed, her grin widening. "And you can't go to pound town on your man anytime you'd like."

Amara laughed loudly. "I feel like there should be a NSFW label on you somewhere."

Logan waved her off, snickering. "That's not even thoughts that come to my mind. But if you'd like, I could share them with you."

"Oh, no," Amara responded very quickly, pushing open the door while walking backwards. "I'll definitely have to pass on that."

"Hey," a voice said from behind, and Amara turned her head to follow it, allowing the door to slide shut as Logan stepped next to her. It was Payton—stood with a short boy with an untrimmed beard and a sweater vest, his arm wrapped around her. Amara valued fashion, but wearing long sleeves in the middle of summer was psycho energy, and so were the shoes he had on. "George invited us to his Fourth of July party this afternoon."

"Bring your own beer," George said, scrolling through his phone, and he offered nothing else. "Oh, I gotta go, babe. Boys want to see me flip off the roof and into the pool again before the party starts. I'll save you a plate."

"That sounds like a good way to get brain damage," Amara mumbled to Logan, but the other girl was staring at the sidewalk.

Payton waited until George was out of earshot before speaking again. "Isn't he just the best?"

"Well, he's definitely something," Logan stated, looking back up. "Will there be food?"

Payton rolled her eyes, a smile growing on her face. "Well obviously. It's a barbecue, genius."

"America's ass served on a paper plate."

"Didn't know Steve Rogers would be showing up to the party."

Three laughs echoed from around them, bouncing off the surrounding buildings, and Amara straightened once they had finished chuckling. "Wow, I think I just peed a little."

☆

"Feels like my ass is about to fall out of these," Amara said, tugging down the material when it started to rise up again. The only decking out she had done for the holiday was by pulling on a pair of white shorts and a loose blue t-shirt Payton had been ready to toss out because she didn't like the way it looked on her.

"You look hot, though," Logan remarked, adjusting her earrings almost nervously as they stepped to the back gate. She raised her hand to knock on it, but the lock clicked and it swung open, a kissing couple stumbled past them and fell into the grass not two feet away from the sidewalk.

Amara watched them for a moment. "Lovely."

"You wish that was you, huh?"

She rolled her eyes and gestured for her to walk. "Go before I stick my foot up your ass."

"Red Forman who?" Payton giggled, coming from around the corner. "Sorry I'm late. You guys forgot something."

Logan and Amara looked at each other before looking to Payton. "What?"

She held up a six pack of beer. "It's bring your own beer, duh."

Logan's jaw dropped. "No. Way. Are you actually going to help us contribute to doing naughty underaged things?"

Payton rolled her eyes. "Shut up and take them before you make me regret this."

Amara laughed—slightly surprised by her behavior. Payton wasn't a goodie-goodie, but she wasn't exactly a rule breaker either. The most trouble she'd ever admitted to being in was when she drew a pair of boobs on the playground at recess (which had been a truth or dare question Logan asked one of their first nights hanging out.)

"Yeah, fine," Amara shrugged, and popped the lid off her beer before drinking some, watching from the corner of her eye as Logan did the same.

"Okay, so what are we waiting for?" Payton demanded, grabbing both their hands and pulling them into the backyard, where the sound of blaring music and drunk laughter could be heard from the opposite side of the gate. "Let's go party!"

"Food first," Logan declared, and Payton sighed.

"Fine, you animal. I'll be over here with Amara trying to... Throw her into the pool!"

Amara stepped back immediately as Logan walked over towards the food table. It was almost amusing to see how different the two of them were at times. Logan seemed like the type to be a complete party animal, but instead she preferred to spend her nights indoors eating junk food and watching Netflix. Payton was practicing to be a video game designer—which was a cliche thing to assume—but Amara would've thought she'd be the one who liked staying inside, but it was the complete opposite.

"No the fuck you will not."

Payton did those give-me hands, but Amara only darted away from her, narrowly avoiding a passed out blonde boy and a few other stragglers who were too high or something to notice that she was on a very important mission to get away from her friend.

That training Amara had done with Ian almost a full year ago had definitely paid off, because she knew how to quicken her running without becoming out of breath, but soon her legs betrayed her and her pace slowed. A moment later, Payton jogged behind her, panting slightly.

"Now why can't you run like that when we go on our morning jogs?"

"Because I don't run for fun, I'm not insane," Amara answered, straightening. "Only away from British people who want to throw me into a pool."

"You're tiny. Bet I could, too."

"I'm five foot four, not a toddler."

Payton gave her a look. "Fine, I won't attempt to pick you up and chuck you into it, but would you at least go in with me? Don't want to be alone."

Amara rolled her eyes but smiled. "Should I strip here or...?" Payton smirked as they walked back to where the party was in full swing, and pulled her shirt over her head to reveal her bikini top. "Alright, I get it you came prepared."

Someone suddenly coughed behind them, and Amara turned to see Logan pounding on her chest as if she were choking. She sent them a grin, and Amara raised a brow knowingly. "Okay over there?" Payton asked, eying the plate of food in her friend's hand.

"Oh, bloody brilliant as you'd say." Payton flipped her middle finger out, scoffing. "Cute top. You look um... You look really good."

Amara could've sworn Payton's cheeks tinted a shade of dark red, but she beamed at Logan before she was really sure. "Thanks. Would love to see you topless. I mean," she face palmed and Amara had to cover her mouth to hide her laughter. Logan froze, eyes wide. "I mean, I was asking if you wanted to go swimming. Not that I wanted to see you actually topless. Look, that came out wrong- I'm not like- you know..."

This time, Logan's grin was forced. "Yeah, of course. Totally got what you meant. Didn't need to spaz out."

"And nobody cares if you are," Amara added, sparing a glance over to Logan who was now very interested in the grass.

"Right," Payton replied after a moment, brushing off her shorts awkwardly. "I'm gonna go find George. Meet you guys in the pool?"

"Sure," Amara nodded at her, though her mood felt deflated, specifically for Logan, who, granted, tried her best not to look it, but her expression was completely crestfallen and Amara had no idea how to fix it.

She sat next to Logan once Payton disappeared from sight. "What do you say to totally dominating them in a game of chicken?"

A glint of mischief flashed in her dark eyes, and she met Amara's gaze. "I say fuck yeah."

☆