The next time July and I spoke, it was over Spencer's Lakehouse party she had not invited me to. The issue was that he had invited me and asked me to bring Lynn. I should have known July was on the up and up, and there was always more to the story. I just wish she would have told me. I had no right to accost her over it.

It was a night or two before the infamous party. It wasn't that it would be a big one. It was more that it involved both Prairie and Pure Pines' finest, and a range of high school and college-age kids intermingling. It wasn't during the school year, and it wasn't under the protection of the city pool.

I hadn't expected many Pure Pines people, but I should have gathered as much with it being held at Spencer's Lake House. I guess I just thought of it as more of a guard party. Maybe this was July's thing, and she didn't want anyone else there.

All week leading up to it, I had heard Lynn and Reagan talk about going, yet nothing from July, and no official invite from them either. At that point, I wasn't sure what was assumed about the two of us from their end or ours.

July had worked eight to twelve-hour shifts the days after I surprised her at the pool, and I had slowly started working a few hours at the Country Club to see if my knee could take it. So far, so good. I still hadn't called July, but I knew we were good. It had only been three days or so.

Still, this party thing was driving me nuts. I heard an engine and radio blaring up Lynn's driveway. I looked out my window to see the top open on Lynn's jeep, my two best friends' hair, and July's blowing through the open air. They were all three singing Luniz and Michael Marshall's "I Got 5 On It" so loud I could barely hear the music.

I was glad to see they were having a good time, but I was pissed July hadn't invited me. Why I was behaving like a spoiled child, I couldn't decipher, nor could I seem to put a lid on it.

Surely, she didn't think I wasn't calling, or this was the same situation as before. I thought we covered that in the car that day.

I gave them time to settle in, then headed over to knock at Lynn's. Lynn's dad answered the door. He looked like he was just taking a nap. "Adrain! Thank God. Get in here and set these girls straight. I haven't had a moments peace since they arrived!" He patted me on the back and welcomed me inside, then yawned on his way down toward the opposite end of the house.

I walked into the living room to see the girls hanging out and arguing over which CD to play next. They had a few shopping bags around them: one from Hastings, our music haven in the town half an hour away, where the mall was. A few other clothing bags surrounded them, and I averted my eyes from the alarmingly recognizable pink Victoria's Secret bag that sat equidistant between Reagan and July.

"Where have you been?!" Reagan saw me first.

I saw July and Lynn look up at me, joining Reagan's inquiry. It was at that point, staring down at the three of them together, looking up at me, that  I realized we hadn't quite talked about or worked this scenario out yet. Imagine that. I went from not wanting to say anything to our friends and not knowing if she would, to marching right over here like her boyfriend, as if it was my right to speak to July when I wanted.

"I was around. I just saw you all pull up."

"Good! I'm glad you're here to settle the score." Lynn went right for it. "Could you please tell July we're all going to the Lake House Party and she's just being a prude! Spencer said he invited you already, so why would we all not go?"

That's what I was wondering.

"Lynn, I just don't think it's a good idea. Look what happened at the last party with someone practically roofying the masses! You know Kane's going to pop up with all the Prairie elite and that's no good for Reagan."

"How about you both just leave Kane to me." Reagan was obviously offended at having her affairs factored into the equation.

"You just don't want us to go because you think it's a special party for all your lifeguard buddies." That level of immaturity sounded strange, coming out of Lynn's mouth.

"That's not fair, and you know it. I told you I wouldn't go, and we could do something else with our rare night off together. I just think it's not great to drive all the way out to secluded Lake Cherokee with people who are way out of our league. Knowing Spencer, there's going to be a bunch of people from all ends we didn't count on being there, and I—

"No. I know Spencer, and I'm not worried about it." Lynn actually seemed mad at July.

"July, I'm not picking sides, but we have the invites without you." Reagan sounded more like the voice of reason this time.

I stared at July, wondering why she was so against this party. Was it me? Did she not want me there with her guard friends? I was looking at an entirely different July.

I didn't really care about the party. Spencer made it grimy and uncomfortable with his unclear comments about Lynn and July. Thinking back on when I bumped into him at the pool, I didn't want July and Lynn to go without me. That's where my main concern was coming from.

July's eyes met mine. She looked upset.

"Come outside with me?" I asked her as I nodded to the door for us to escape. No one said anything as July got up to follow me out until...

"Should we remind you, it was you that was so hellbent on going somewhere and bitching that we hadn't been out in a while... it was the one day you pulled your head out of the depression of being in a funk over him, and remembered you had friends!"

"Lynn!" Reagan shouted.

"Oh, I guess I went too far stating the obvious? Well, she's going too far on this party." Lynn was a level of anger I hadn't seen in a while, and I had never seen it directed at July. She and Reagan went head-to-head like that sometimes, but Lynn was usually more protective of July.

I didn't care that her dig included me, and basically called us out. I saw July's eyes well up and I put my hand on her lower back to lead her out before she said anything she would regret. It was too late. I had to remember she was still the July I was in debate with. July took a step or two toward the front door with me, then she paused and looked back over her shoulder. 

"Careful Lynn, or I'll think you're just upset you lost your designated driver." July stepped past me to leave, and slammed the door behind her.

I caught it and closed it quietly so we wouldn't wake Mr. Stokes again, although I'm not sure anyone could have slept through that shouting match. July stormed out into the front yard and seemed perplexed, as if she didn't know where to go. I walked her to the side of the yard that Lynn's house shared with mine, leading her toward my pool deck for privacy.

"What do you need?" July was trying to hold back tears as she asked.

"What do I need? July, just tell me what's going on. How can I help?"

"I would love to go to the party... for us all to go. But I would rather not go than have Lynn around Spencer."

"I don't understand. What's Lynn got to do with Spencer?"

"He's not good, Adrian. I'm afraid I can't tell you why, but I just don't want Lynn around him. I've tried every way I know to divert her attention from him. Only now, I think she's hurt because she has it in her head that I don't think she should be with him for alternate reasons. Which would never be the case."

"Wait... be with him?! Lynn is into Spencer?! How and when?"

"Don't ask me. I guess you and I aren't the only ones with a secret." She looked away from me.

And there it was. The first time, we had acknowledged it between us.

It made me sad she called us a secret, but it also made my heart skip wildly that she referred to us as having something together. Hearing it from her mouth felt good, as if she no longer denied it.

I immediately remembered the awkward conversation where Lynn talked about Spencer under the guise of him working at the pool with July this summer. And then Spencer's, "She's a real special girl..." comment.

Maybe that wasn't meant in a creepy womanizer way. Maybe he was putting it out there and letting me, her best friend, know he was into her.

"But why wouldn't she come right out and tell us?" I immediately felt stupid for saying that.

July just looked at me. She'd all but already said it. I knew her look was referring to the fact that we never told them about us, so why would Lynn share.

"Okay, then why wouldn't you tell me?"

"How often do you and I have personal conversations?!" July's eyes were on fire. She was right. This was our first one other than the recent pool visit. I deserved that. I stepped closer to her, pulling her into me.

"We have personal conversations now."

I hugged her tightly, and my face brushed her soft cheek as I brought hers to my shoulder. Although she was upset, and had every right to be since I guess our moment in my car was left unresolved... I only felt the emotional distance from her. Her body collapsed into my arms as I cradled her, and I could feel her heart pounding against mine. It was funny to hold her so close and familiar when I knew she was still upset. I don't think our bodies cared.

I originally moved my face to look at her with the intent of getting a read on what she was thinking. To see if she wanted to talk it out more. I was trying. However, the close proximity of our embrace... fuck, every time I touched her, hearts pounding, that smell of roses, hot candy, and something sophisticated trapping me where I stood. It wasn't just me. My face slid past hers and all I did was run my hand up her forearm replacing the hug. A trail of goose bumps rose below my fingertips across her skin.

"July." I whispered her name into her ear as I took a half step to press our bodies closer. I didn't even get to look into her eyes before my lips were tracing above hers. If I had looked at her, it would have been over for me. Her brown eyes searching mine were just as arousing as anything I longed to see or touch on her body. She let out an uneven breath into me. Now I had the goose bumps. 

I was still worried about Lynn and our reservations over Spencer, but it was only the second time I had felt whole since my knee. The first was when I took her hand in front of everyone at the pool and then here, holding her outside my house... I didn't want to force a kiss and exchange our first real conversation with the physical that always won us over, but I had to kiss her. Maybe I was making up for lost time. Maybe I just couldn't get enough.

My hand was on her neck, then her cheek, pressing her lips to mine before I could complete my thoughts. She automatically opened for me, and our tongues met as they had the days ago at the pool, only deeper, and somewhat needier than before. I think it surprised us both.

"I have to go back in."

It was the first time she ever pulled away from me. "I have to let Lynn know it's not her. It's about him." July's cheeks were flushed. Was it from me or worry over Lynn? I took a step back to create distance between us, and honor what was going through her head.

"What does Reagan say?" I wondered if she had any insight.

"From what I can tell she hasn't said much to Lynn past what she hasn't said to you or me about him. I don't know why it would be a secret, but again, that's rich for me to say. I just don't want Lynn getting hurt by someone she trusts for reasons beyond my understanding, and I know there is more to Spencer than meets the eye."

I could sense July was truly concerned about Lynn, which made me want her even more.

"Look, what if we all go to the party and watch out for Lynn, unless... I mean if you don't want me to go..."

"What?" She looked shocked.

"ADRIAN!" My stepmother's voice rang from the garage door. "I need you home, I can't find your dad!" I looked at July with a funny smile.

"That's an odd thing to say. Did she lose him?" I joked as best I could under the circumstances. July gave me a half smile back and looked over into our drive.

"Isn't that your dad's car?"

"Yeah, weird. I've gotta' go."  I looked down at her one more time, taking in the smell of her hair, the way the soft skin of face felt on the tip of my nose... warm, it felt warm. I think I learned in that instance just how extremely difficult she was to walk away from. I stepped away from her, leaving her standing in the side of the yard, and I immediately regretted it. 

I was slightly baffled, and certainly distracted by what could possibly be going on with my dad. But sill, with so much left unsaid between us... Well, I could only hope I had finally made enough effort to show her I was in. I had a sinking feeling as I took the initial steps toward our driveway, and I hated leaving things undetermined. I hated leaving her.

"Adrian..." July's voice was certain and determined when I heard it call out to me. 

I pivoted on the spot to look back on her demand.

"I want you to come-- I want you there. With me." She blurted out what was weighing on her mind and I could not have been more relieved or grateful.

"Will you go to the party with me? I'm asking you to." 

She looked so serious and concerned with her eyes locked on mine, awaiting my reaction. I had only given her a little and she was giving me her all back. In a moment that all her attention was pulled to our mutual best friend, she gave back to me so I wouldn't feel neglected. How did she know I needed that from her? 

I starred back at her, much longer than I should have, and then I couldn't help it. I had no control when it came to her. I felt the corners of my mouth rise into an embarrassingly large smile I could not contain. She had me hooked, and any doubt I had felt was left to my own ignorance and jealousy. She dissipated it in seconds. It was all I could do not to run back to her and take her right there in the grass she stood.