Loving Edyth Swan
Chapter Four

20/11/93

Jonathan Attwood hated drunk, teenagers fawning over each other with loud music blaring in the background.

Parties were the bane of his existence and he always thought he wouldn't be caught dead attending one.

However, today, he was biting his tongue as he regretfully accepted the invitation to Simona Blackbourn's 18th birthday party.

It was supposed to be the party of the year.

It was during their year twelve, right as exams were knocking on their doors, and everybody knew that it was their last chance to have fun.

Jonathan didn't agree but he let his two friends drag him along anyway.

Their year was stressful enough and he had somehow managed to pass up until this point. Every students' future was riding on the end of year exams, to depict which university they would get into and what courses were open for them to study.

Unfortunately, none of Jonathan's friends believed studying was very important. They were both on the high school's basketball team, alongside Jonathan, and believed they'd get a scholarship into their dream university.

Jonathan was sure they'd both take scholarships in America, only because there was more opportunity for college ball over there than there was here in Melbourne, Australia.

River Reyes was the basketball captain and Jonathan's best friend. River had a knack for shooting three-pointers that always won the boys' their game.

They were on top of the ladder, enjoying every moment of their success. This funnily enough made them the coolest guys in school and complete chick magnets.

Jonathan had always been a little awkward with the ladies unlike River. His best mate was the complete opposite of him.

He may have had the looks and the skills of a basketball legend, but he was as dumb as a brick. Jonathan always remembered that in a fondly way.

He was still his best friend after all despite lacking a brain at times. River had long, brown hair that he tied up whenever he played basketball and piercing blue eyes.

Kishan Porter, the smartest one of the three, was Jonathan's other mate. He was destined to get the highest ATAR score while still managing to play basketball averagely.

He was cute in his own way. He had black hair, dark skin and brown eyes. He was the one who always came up with the game plays and River always executed it perfectly.

Jonathan was a fairly good basketball player, but he knew all the credit was really earned by River in the skill department while the brain department was always Kishan's set of skills.

The three boys were really a mix of oddly combined traits that made up a wonderful friendship.

Jonathan kept a small place in his heart just for these two boys and if they wanted to go to a dumb party before exams then who was he to deny them.

He always declined but he knew this time there would be no room for it. The moment he'd tried to say no to Simona, Kishan had kicked him.

That boy had had a crush on the Asian girl since they'd started high school and he never managed to ask her out. He was too busy trying to impress River by asking out multiple girls at once.

He was going to find himself very alone when they graduated, and Jonathan was almost sure of it.

River used to tell them two not to bother getting into relationships in year twelve because not only was there no time for one, there was also no point. He had a strict belief that they'd all get scholarships and move to America and in turn meet hot American babes.

Jonathan was sure he didn't want that, but he always agreed anyway.

He didn't want to upset his friends, so he pretended they'd be going off to college together next year, but the truth was, Jonathan felt the army was becoming more and more appealing to him as the days went by.

The pay rate was definitely going to be a lot better than any basketball scholarship would offer and he was sure of that. He wanted to build a life for himself out of high school and this was his best bet.

"Do you reckon Simona will finally notice me tonight?" Kishan asked Jonathan in a hushed whisper as to not notify River.

They were walking their way up to her humble home, excited for the prospect of alcohol and letting loose before exams rolled around.

Jonathan shrugged with a chuckle.

"You've been too busy following River around that she's probably lumped you with the likes of him," he answered casually with a roll of his eyes.

Kishan's dark eyebrows bunched together, "I was just trying to fit in with you two," he stated with a grumble.

Jonathan laughed once more, "You do realise I have never been with anyone before?" He commented, shaking his head.

Kishan's eyebrows shot up in astonishment.

"Are you serious?" He finally breathed out, feeling like a complete idiot.

Jonathan laughed, "Yeah, but don't tell River. I enjoy flying under his radar," he answered, raising an eyebrow at his friend.

Kishan nodded vigorously, "So you're trying to tell me you're a virgin?" He asked, a little too loudly and Jonathan had to shush him.

With a sigh, Jonathan shoved him a little as a way to calm him down.

"Yes, now calm down, I've just been waiting for the right person," he whispered back with a throaty laugh.

Kishan looked as if he couldn't get his head around it.

"Why couldn't I just do that and save myself for Simona?" Kishan asked for a moment after thought, looking at his tall friend.

Jonathan shrugged, "You wanted approval for so long I think even if I tried to say something, you wouldn't have listened to me. You know I'm right though, Kish."

Kishan grumbled and went off in the direction of the beverages.

Jonathan shook his head as he watched his tan-skinned friend lose it a little. It wasn't his fault he hadn't said anything, he'd just wanted to stay under River's radar.

He had always wondered if he ever really was going to meet someone worth losing it for. He'd had a close call once at fifteen when he'd gotten wasted but after that night, Jonathan had never attended a party again.

He never wanted to lose control. As he grew up, he realised that finding love was a little more worth it to him than to just screw people like rabbits.

"Let's go scout the hot chicks. I heard Westhill was coming tonight as well," River said from behind Jonathan, clapping him on the back.

"Time to get our grooves on," he added, winking at the blonde boy before strutting off.

His long, brown hair waved behind him, making Jonathan chuckle.

He couldn't imagine a life without his two ridiculous best mates. They were practically inseparable all through high school and he loved those two boys wholeheartedly – despite their silly behaviour at times.

Jonathan decided that perhaps it was finally time to go out with a bang as well as he approached the drink table.

Kishan looked up as he noticed him approach, sending him a grin.

"They've got beer," he said, nodding his head.

Jonathan rolled his eyes, "You're still underage until next week," he commented with a grin of his own.

Kishan pouted, "But you're not eighteen until December!"

With a glint in his eye, Jonathan picked up two beers, handing one to his Indian friend.

"What the adults don't know won't kill them," he commented as they clinked their drinks together.

Kishan cheered before taking a sip.

"Now go wow Simona before exams hit us in the butts," Jonathan said, gesturing over to where Simona was sitting on a couch, surrounded by a crowd.

Kishan looked over, fear evident in his dark eyes, before he shook his head.

"You know I can't complete with Ali Murad," he said, frowning.

Jonathan furrowed his eyebrows, "What does that pompous dick have that you don't?"

"A big one," River said, interjecting their conversation with a loud laugh.

He had seemingly known all along that Kishan's heart belonged to the smart Asian girl that sat two seats in front of them during Psychology class.

The only reason River took the class was so he could muck around with Jonathan and Kishan for the forty-five minute interval.

They really were inseparable, and Jonathan hardly minded a moment of it.

Kishan scowled at River, looking longingly over at Simona as Ali attempted to flirt like crazy.

"Screw you," Jonathan uttered, shoving River a tad.

"Let the poor boy try. You never know if he'll fail before he even gets to try," he added with a shrug.

Kishan deserved a chance to at least win Simona's heart.

It was the least the two of them could do for their friend.

Jonathan pushed Kishan in her general direction, without letting the poor boy protest for a second.

"Go get her tiger," River and Jonathan hollered in sync which caused a deep blush to form on Kishan's cheeks.

"He's going to bomb out," River voiced, a little quieter, so Jonathan could hear.

He shrugged, "Probably. He'll regret it for life if he never does anything about it though."

"His problem," River revealed before strutting off to go find the Westhill girls.

Jonathan had heard that their school was twenty minutes from Creswell High – the school the boys attended – and were full of hot babes.

They were supposedly super smart as well.

Jonathan heard that they were the complete jackpot and the reason they were invited was because Simona was friends with a couple of the girls from there.

River Reyes was going to have a complete field trip today and Jonathan couldn't blame him.

The night was warm, the sky was clear and full of stars. There was not a cloud in sight. Jonathan walked out to the back patio, noticing that Simona had a small pool but a lot better than most of them had back in their own homes.

People were sitting either on the edge, the lounge chairs or in the pool itself. Jonathan hadn't been to one of Simona's famous parties since year nine, the night he refuses to remember exists at all.

He had embarrassed himself quite a lot that night. It had however made River only love him more. He had gotten so wasted he had flirted with the year twelve girls, attempting to get one of their numbers.

Jonathan hadn't succeeded, as he knew he wouldn't have.

It was strange to think now Jonathan and his friends were at the top of the food chain; year twelves. They ran the school, instead of others pushing them around. It was a pleasant change, but the year was coming to a quick close.

He was half thankful for it too.

It had been the most stressful year of their lives so far.

As his green eyes scanned the backyard, they paused on two girls sitting beside the pool in bikinis.

One had shoulder-length blonde hair that was half tied up on the side with a clip. She was wearing big, blue sunglasses even though there wasn't any sun at this hour.

Her bikini was short and blue, leaving hardly anything for the imagination. Her legs were pale and slender. She definitely looked gorgeous and Jonathan knew if River could see her, he would be all over her in a heartbeat.

The girl beside her was wearing a black bikini, that was far more humble. Her long, curly, brown hair was left down and flowing in the November hot wind. She had tan skin and brown eyes.

She looked a far few inches shorter than the girl she was beside, but she looked utterly breathtaking.

Jonathan felt his breath hitch in his throat as she turned around to look at him.

Their eyes met, and Jonathan felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and goosebumps begin to form on his exposed arms.

Their gaze held for a moment too long before her friend interrupted them by striking up a conversation once more.

'Wow, I have to go talk to her,' Jonathan thought, feeling nerves begin to erupt in his stomach.

She was way too pretty to be anywhere near him, but he remembered the words River had said to him once: "If you think a girl is hot, go for it. Be damned the consequences."

And he really did.

River may have been the more impulsive one, but Jonathan knew he had to do something. The more he stood there, staring at her openly, he became less courageous.

He simply couldn't do it.

He turned around, attempting to go back inside and admit that he was a coward. He had no trouble talking to girls, as friends, but even that seemed too hard in this moment. The girl was way too stunning to be anywhere near him.

"Excuse me?"

Jonathan turned around, quirking a blonde eyebrow at the person. It took a moment before his green eyes settled upon the brunette he'd been checking out only moments before.

"Uh, hey," Jonathan said, feeling a little awkward.

"I noticed you staring," the girl acknowledged, quietly as she looked up at him. Her brown eyes were soft and had a curious glint in them.

She had definitely noticed, and it looked as if she hadn't minded at all.

Jonathan felt the heat radiate onto his pale cheeks as he nodded, "Sorry," he blurted out, feeling more nervous than ever before.

The way she was staring at him made his palms feel sweaty.

It was almost like there was a light emitting from behind her, blinding all else around them.

All he could see was this beautiful girl and he couldn't breathe.

"It's quite all right," she said, a small smile forming on her lips.

She blinked owlishly up at him, as if she was wondering something. Jonathan had a feeling he knew exactly what.

Jonathan stuck out his hand with a nervous smile, "Jonathan Attwood."

The girl took his hand in hers as she shook his hand.

As the smile widened on her lips, Jonathan felt as if heaven was giving him their own angel.

He also vaguely noted that if he ever said that out loud the boys would roast him alive for the rest of his life.

"Edyth Swan - It's lovely to meet you."