“So how was your first day of work?” Ryder asks as he maneuvers down the highway.

          “It was good.” I tell him. “I got invited to a party.”

Ryder looks at me, “Yeah?” I nod, “Yup.”

          “You gonna go?”

          “I told him I would come.”

          “Where is it?”

          “It’s at the beach.” I tell him. “How was the hospital visit?”

          “It was okay as usual.”

          “I want you to take me there someday.” I tell him.

          “Just because I’m taking you to work; doesn’t mean I like you.”

          “You know you love me Ryder.” I say teasingly.

Ryder rolls his eyes, “Yeah sure.”

Soon after that, we arrive back in Vernon at the O’Connor house. Ryder parks the car, and turns the engine off, getting out. He unlocks the front door and we both go in. I go up the stairs, and up to my room, closing the door behind me. I plop down on my bed, lying at the foot of it. I kick my flip flops off and turn the TV on. Suddenly my door opens and Will walks in, jumping beside me on my bed.

          “Hey Bryant.”

          “Hey O’Connor.” I say in greeting to him.

          “Whatcha watching?” He wonders.

          “America’s Got Talent.”

          “Why?”

          “Why what?”

          “Why are you watching this show?”

          “Because it’s funny; and some of the people actually have talent.” I tell him.

          “Right, sure they do.” Will agrees, “First day of work. How was it?”

          “It was okay actually. I’m going to a party later.”

          “Party?”

          “Some guy named Matt invited me.”

          “You have fun at that.”

          “Don’t you wanna come?” I ask him.

          “Nah; I’m good. Parties aren’t really my scene.”

          “But I don’t wanna go alone.” I tell him.

          “Hailey. She loves parties; she’ll go with you.”

          “Are you trying to be funny?” I ask him.

          “How am I doing?” He says with a smile.

          “Horribly.”

Will’s phone rings shortly thereafter and he leaves my room proclaiming he’s gotta go. So I lie in my bed watching as people put it all on the line in America’s Got Talent. A few hours later; around 4:00 I grow tired of the show. I pick up the remote; and flip through the channels; looking for something else to watch. I land on Child’s Play. I watched this movie so many times as a child. I know with it being Rated R I probably shouldn’t have, and my dad-before he died-then later Phil and my mother warned me not to watch it. But I think it’s a really good movie. Not evens scary. It’s already an hour into the movie, but I still find myself watching it.

Dinner rolls around some time after that and I get out of my bed and walk downstairs towards the kitchen. If what Will said is true; then we’ll be eating pizza tonight again. Not that I don’t like pizza; but I wouldn’t wanna eat it every night. I’ve only been here two days and we’ve ate pizza on both occasions. I go into the kitchen, and sit down in a random seat. Everyone is in attendance, except for Ryder. Then again, for him not to show up to dinner isn’t really a shock.

          “Where’s Ryder?” I ask as I grab two slices of pizza and put them on my plate.

          “He’s outside.” Asher tells me.

          “How come?”

Asher shrugs, “He likes to eat out there.”

          “You can go out there if you want.” Sarah tells me.

I stand up and grab my plate, going to the plate glass door; and sliding it open.

I walk outside and close the door behind me. I’m not really all that hungry, but I figure if I don’t eat, I’ll eventually get hungry. I look around the backyard for Ryder; but I don’t see him. “Looking for me?” His voice calls from somewhere.

I raise my eyebrows, scanning the yard again as I say, “Where are you?”

          “Look up.” He tells me.

I follow his directions, and look up. Obviously all I see is the night sky with a few stars. “Are you in the sky?” I ask jokingly.

          “You’re such a nerd Mickey.” Ryder tells me, but I can practically hear the laugh in his voice.

I avert my head and see Ryder sitting on top of the roof, his elbows resting on his legs. “What are you doing up there?”

          “Why don’t you come up here and find out?” He suggests.

I roll my eyes and put my hands on my hips, “And how do you propose I do that?”

          “Well you could go up to my room and climb out of the window and you’ll be up here, but you’re kinda ditzy and you may fall.” He says, smiling down at me.

I roll my eyes again, “Shut up Ryder.”

          “Or you can climb up that ladder.”

I look over to the left and see a ladder leaning against the house. “I think I’ll go with the ladder.” I tell him.

          “Good choice.”

I walk over to the ladder, and prop it open. I put my left foot on it, and climb up the side of it. As I get to the top, I cross over it, and Ryder comes over, and holds his hand out to me. I grab it, and he pulls me over. We walk back over to where he was sitting and we sit down. “Why are you up here?”

          “I like to sit here. It’s where I think.”

          “And what are you thinking about right now?”

          “I’m thinking that maybe you aren’t as bad as you were seven years ago.” He says, looking out into the sky.

I look over at him and say, “You aren’t so bad yourself…for an O’Connor.”

Ryder chuckles, “Whatever Bryant.”

Ryder and I sit on the roof for about two hours before he says, “Aren’t you still going to that party?”

I nod, “Yeah; and it’s 9:13,” I say, looking at my phone. “I guess I’ll go get ready.”       

          “You can just go in through the window; it’s easier.” Ryder tells me.

I turn around carefully, and lower myself in through Ryder’s window, and look back out at him. “Aren’t you coming in?”

Ryder shrugs, “Eventually.”

          “Okay then. Well I’ll be leaving soon.”

Ryder nods, “Alright.”

I’m about to leave out of Ryder’s room, but a picture catches my eye. I walk over to desk across the room, and check to make sure Ryder isn’t looking through the window. I sit down in the wheel chair, and pick up the picture. It’s a girl with long brown hair. I don’t recognize her, so I figure it must be Scarlett. She was really pretty. It’s really sad, what happened to her. I hear him coming back in, and I jump up from the seat, running out of his room.

I guess I should probably ask if I can even go to the party first. Also, I need a ride there. Maybe Will could take me. I go downstairs and into the living room where Uncle Ricky and Sarah are sitting on the couch watching some kinda TV show.

          “Hey guys.” I say.

They both turn around and greet me. “Is it okay if I go to a party tonight?” I ask.

          “A party? Where at?” Sarah wonders.

          “It’s down at the beach in L.A. Seal Beach.” I tell her.

They talk about it for a second before Uncle Rickey says, “Okay, you can go.”

          “But,” Sarah adds, “You have to take one of the boys with you.”

          “Okay,” I say, trying to work out whom to ask. “Thanks so much!” I say, going back up the stairs.

I go in my room, and sit on the bed. I grab my cell phone and see that it’s already 9:24. Asher’s with his girlfriend, Sierra, William doesn’t like parties and Todd’s still at work. That leaves Jacob and Ryder. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Jacob since I got home. Maybe he’s not here. So, apparently I’m asking Ryder. I get up from my bed, and walk across the hallway to Ryder’s room. I knock on the door slightly, and Ryder calls out, “Yeah.”

          “Ryder, can I ask you something?” I call through the black wood.

          “Sure.” He says.

          “Well, can you open the door?”

          “It’s open.”

I twist the knob, and the door opens. Ryder’s lying on his bed, with his phone. He must be texting someone. I sit down beside him on the bed. He looks up at me, raising his eyebrows. “Can I help you?”

          “You know you’re my favorite O’Connor right?” I ask. It’s not true by the way, Will is my favorite. He’s like my best friend.

Ryder scoffs, “What do you want?”

          “Why do I have to want something? Can’t I just come and talk to my pal?”

Ryder raises his eyebrows, “They said you had to bring one of us, didn’t they?”

          “How’d you know?”

          “I’ve been living with them for nineteen years; I know them. They’re the same way with Hailey.”

          “So whaddaya say?”

          “No.”

          “What do you mean, ‘no’?” I ask him.

          “No as in…no. I’m not going.”

          “But why not?” I ask him.

          “Because everyone there is gonna be like two years younger than me, and lest be forgotten, I don’t like people.”

          “But you like me.” I say.

          “You’re not people. You’re a person.”

I roll my eyes at his stupid wits, “Please Ryder?” I ask, bulging my eyes as I look into his brown ones.

Ryder looks at me for a second before he groans, “Ugh, fine. I’ll go.”

          “Thank you, thank you, and thank you. I love you.” I tell him, as I jump up leaving his room.

Twenty minutes later; we’re in Ryder’s Toyota and on the way to the party. “So do you have any friends?” I ask him.

          “I don’t need friends.”

          “Everybody needs friends.” I tell him.

          “Not me.”

          “You’re really stubborn, ya know that?”

          “So I’ve been told.” Ryder replies, as we arrive at the beach.

          “Does this look okay?” I ask him, as we get out of the car.

          “Are you asking me if your extremely short shorts and your tight white t-shirt look okay?” He asks, looking at me.

I hit his shoulder, “Shut up, they aren’t that short.” I say, looking down at them.

          “Sure.” He says, walking down the sandy terrain. I jog a few feet, and fall into step with him. “So who invited you?”

          “Some guy named Matt.” I tell him. Just as I say that, Matt himself, comes running over towards us as we reach the party. Well, you can’t even really call it a party. It’s more of a bonfire.

          “Hi Matt.” I say, looking up at him.

          “Hey….” He replies, leaving his sentence wavering.

Oh that’s right; I never told him my name. “McKenna.” I say.

          “McKenna. Well hey McKenna. Who’s this?” He asks, gesturing to Ryder, who’s standing almost directly behind me.

          “This is my friend Ryder.” I tell him, “I’m staying with his family for the summer.”

Matt and Ryder shake hands and after a few seconds Matt says, “So you want something to drink?”

          “Um sure.” I say.

          “Okay, I’ll be right back. You want something too?” He asks Ryder.

          “Nah, I’m good.”

Matt goes off, to the cooler, and brings me back a beer. I’ve never had beer, but I figure it can’t be too bad. I put my finger at the tab, ready to pop it open when Ryder takes it from me. “What are you doing?” I ask him, as he pops it and pours it out onto the sand.

          “You aren’t drinking beer.”

          “Why not?”

          “You’re seventeen.” 

          “So?” I reply, “You can’t say you never drank when you were seventeen.”

Ryder scoffs, “Well of course I did, but you’re not going to.”

          “That isn’t fair Ryder.” I say, crossing my arms.

          “If you wanted fairness, you should have brought Will.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. If I can’t drink, what can I do?”

          “I don’t care what you do, just don’t harm yourself.”

I huff, and turn my back walking away from Ryder. I walk over to Matt who’s sitting on a beach chair surrounding the bonfire. “Why are you sitting all alone?” I ask him, sitting in the chair next to him.

          “I’m not anymore.”

          “This is true.”

          “So that guy. He likes you or something?” Matt wonders, taking a drink from his beer.

I laugh, “Ryder? No. I’m pretty sure he hates me.”

          “So why’d he come?”

          “His parents said I had to bring one of the boys; and he was only available one.”

          “Did you already finish your beer?” He asks, sounding impressed.

Well I don’t be all like: Nah, Ryder wouldn’t let me drink it. I would sound like the biggest baby ever.So instead I clear my throat, and say, “Yeah.”

          “You want another?”

I discreetly turn my head to where Ryder’s standing, making sure he isn’t looking. He isn’t. He’s talking to some blonde girl who’s wearing a bikini. “Sure.” I say. It’s not up to Ryder what I do. I mean, I’ll be a legal adult in like ten months. Well not legal to drink; but still.

Matt reaches into the cooler, and pulls out another, handing it to me. I pop the tab back, and bring the can up to my lips. There’s a sense of excitement somewhere deep in me. I guess it’s because I’ve never really been one to break the rules; I always do exactly what people tell me. Well unless it’s something I shouldn’t do. For the most part; that is. I take a sip of the beer, and it burns going down my throat. It doesn’t taste too bad I guess; but I wouldn’t really just drink it just ‘cause. I wrap my hands securely around the can, and Matt chuckles.

          “What’s funny?”

          “Your face when you were drinking that.” He states, “You don’t like it?”

          “Oh I like it.” Lie. “Just taste a little weird.” I tell him.

          “So how old are you? Sixteen? Seventeen?” Matt asks.

          “Seventeen. How old are you?”

          “I’m seventeen too.” He tells me.

          “Where’s your friend, Shawn?”

          “Probably hooking up with some chick in the surfboard shed.” He says, nonchalantly.

          “Well that’s…disturbing.” I admit, taking another sip of the beer. I need to get rid of it before Ryder gets over here. He’ll flip his lid if he sees me drinking.

Matt and I talk for a while longer, about nothing really. School, Dallas, L.A. All that good stuff. I learned that he has two little sisters who are twins-Leah and Lauren, and a little brother-Max. His parents are divorced, and he lives with his mom. I tell him that I have an older brother who’s in college, and that I live in Dallas. He says that he knows Will, because they had a few classes together junior year, but that he doesn’t know the rest.

          “Hey do you know what time it is?” Matt asks.

I pull my phone from my pocket, “Its 12:42.” I tell him, shock clear in my voice. We must have been talking for a really long time.

          “Your boyfriend’s coming over.” Matt says, nodding towards Ryder, who’s walking away from a brunette girl. For a guy who doesn’t like people, he sure talks to them a lot.

          “He’s not my boyfriend.” I tell him.

          “So you don’t have a boyfriend?” He wonders.

I shake my head, “Nope.”

          “Well then maybe we should hang out some time.”

          “Sure.” I say, as Ryder approaches.

          “Let’s go.” He says.

          “Right now?”

          “Right now.” He confirms.

I stand up from the chair, stretching, “Okay then. See you later Matt.” I say.

          “See ya McKenna.”

With that, Ryder and I leave, walking up the sandy pines. “Why are we leaving so abruptly?” I ask him.

          “It’s almost 1 in the morning.” He tells me. When I don’t reply, he looks over at me and says, “That’s curfew.”

          “What happens if you miss curfew?” I ask him.

          “We get locked out.”

          “Wait, but you’re nineteen. Aren’t you in college?”

Ryder nods as we get in his car, “Yeah; I go to UCLA.”

          “So you have a dorm room?”

          “When school is in; yes I do.”

Ryder starts his car, and backs out of the parking lot quickly, “Put your seatbelt on.”

I put it on as Ryder speeds down the street; its 12:50, and Vernon’s about three more miles. “So what do you do if you miss curfew?” I wonder.

          “Did you drink?” He asks me, totally ignoring my question.

          “No.” I lie.

          “Yeah you did.”

          “Then why’d you ask if you already knew the answer?” I mutter under my breath. “And how’d you even know?”

          “The smell is pretty heavy on your breath.” He says, going through a stop sign.

          “Are you mad?” I ask him after a few seconds.

Ryder shakes his head, “I’m not mad. At least you didn’t get drunk.”

          “See, I’m smarter than you think I am.”

          “Yeah, of course.” He says under his breath.

He parks in the driveway at exactly 12:58. We get out, and Ryder pushes the key in the lock, turning it. He twists the knob, but it doesn’t turn. “What’s wrong with it?” I ask him.

          “It must be jammed.” He says, pushing the key in again. He turns it, and the key breaks.

          “Tell me that did not just happen.” I say.

          “That did not just happen.” Ryder says.

I groan, “What are we gonna do?” I ask, as the numbers on phone change to 1:00 a.m.

Ryder thinks for a second before saying, “Come on.” He grabs my hand, pulling me to the gate that leads to the backyard.

Ryder pushes on it, but it doesn’t budge. “The gate it locked?” I ask him.

          “Looks that way.” He says, “I hope you can jump a fence.”

          “What?”

          “Jump the fence, that’s the only way we can get in the backyard.”

          “Or or or,” I say, thinking, “You can jump the fence, and then open it for me.”

          “We could go that route too.” He says, smiling lightly.

Ryder lifts himself over the high privacy gate, and I hear the thud of him landing on the ground. He pushes the gate open, after I hear the sound of it being unlatched. I go in, pulling it behind me, and Ryder and I walk over where the ladder is. “Go.” I tell him.

          “Ladies first Mickey.” He reminds me.

I roll my eyes, but climb onto the ladder, and start climbing it. Let me just tell you; it’s not a good idea to wear flip flops while climbing a ladder. My foot slips as I climb onto the last step, and my heartbeat accelerates. I try to grasp the ladder, but it slips from my grip. “Clumsy much?” Ryder asks, as he catches me, before I hit the ground.

          “Hey, I don’t regularly sneak into my own home.” I point out.

          “Point taken.” He says, as I start climbing up again.

I reach the roof, and Ryder climbs up the ladder fast, as if this is normal for him. His window is still open from earlier, and I carefully climb through it, trying to refrain from being too loud. Ryder comes in after me, closing the window. “Well that was fun.” He says, sarcastically, wiping the dirt from his shirt.

          “Thanks Ryder.” I tell him.

          “What for?”

          “Waking me up, taking me to work, picking me up, all that stuff.” I tell him.

          “Oh.” He says, then, “You’re welcome.”

          “See you in the morning?” I say, phrasing it like a question.

          “Yeah. Do you have to work?”

I shake my head, “No. I go back Tuesday.”

          “Wait, shouldn’t the pier have been closed today? It’s Sunday.”

          “Ya know what? That’s true. I dunno. I guess they open sometimes on Sundays.” I say, thinking about it. Then I shrug, “I don’t know. Anyway, goodnight…well morning, whatever. See you.” I say, as I walk towards his door.

Ryder chuckles, “Alright Mickey.”