A year after losing her older sister in a tragic accident, Charlie's Mom marries the father of the most popular boys in school. Still grieving, Charlie struggles to accept her new family and gets involved with her stepbrothers worst enemy, the capta...
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Sebastian pulled the car to the side of a dead-end dirt track and cut the engine. The beat of music and distant chatter hit my ears, and a familiar chill went through me. I wasn't sure I wanted to be here.
"'Are you guys seriously taking me to another party?' I asked, trailing behind them like a lost puppy.
The three of them turned back, their identical high cheekbones and hooded eyes confronting mine. In sync, they looked so alike you could tell they were related.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Tommy said, raising his eyebrows at me almost teasingly.
"Do you really think I should be here?"
"For once, I agree with her," Sebastian said, smirking as he met my eyes. "You definitely can't be trusted, but that's why we're here."
I rolled my eyes and looked away, my teeth clenching at Sebastian's smug grin.
"I don't want a babysitter." I started to turn, my feet crunching on the dirt, "You guys go ahead, I'll walk home."
I turned away, heading for the car. I expected them to finally let me go, but a hand grabbed my arm, pulling me back towards them.
"Stop running away from things." Harry said, his grip tight as he stared down at me.
"I'm not," I protested, pulling against his grip.
He let out a short, humorless laugh, his grip on my arm tightening. "You're a terrible liar, Charl."
"Charl, Harry's right," Tommy said. "If you don't get out now, when will you? Your leg's fine, but all you do is stay at home all day. You need to get out and be social."
looked at the three of them cautiously.
"Do our parents even know we're here? You know they're trying to get me to leave town, right? Is this your grand plan to finally get rid of me?"
Sebastian shook his head and rolled his eyes. "We just want to go to a party. What makes you think this has anything to do with you?"
"Because you're literally trying to drag me with you?" I asked, my gaze flickering from Sebastian to Harry. Harry's hand quickly fell away from my arm.
"Honestly, Charl, we're just tired of that miserable face around the house," Harry explained. "At least you look more like yourself now that you're not wearing sweatpants."
I looked at him blankly, unsure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult.
"Let's go. We're missing the fun." Tommy said, taking my arm and I let them drag me in the direction of the music.
"You three better promise nothing that happens here leaves this beach. Got it?"
I saw the three of them look at each other uneasily.
