Salvaged: A Love Story

  The car grew silent.

  “Well, thanks a lot, Debbie Downer,” Curt complained.

  “I know, I’m sorry.” I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath. “Okay, Anne, next question.”

  “All right, let’s lighten it up a bit. What’s your most embarrassing moment?”

  Tammy went first. “My freshman year I was on the pom squad at my old school. We had a huge pep rally, and after our performance one of the girls on my team came over and asked me why I wasn’t wearing my bloomers.”

  “Cool, I bet there was extra excitement during that pep rally,” Matt said.

  Tess offered to go next. “Well, mine is sorta like Tammy’s.”

  “Yours isn’t a thing like Tammy’s,” Chase corrected.

  “You hush, Chase! It sorta is. I was walking down the hall last year, and Jason Cleaver slipped on something … ”

  Chase was already laughing. He’d obviously witnessed the embarrassing moment live.

  She continued. “Anyway, he reached out to grab something to keep himself from falling, and somehow he got the waist of the back of my jeans. Instead of keeping himself up, he ripped the back of my jeans completely off of me. The two halves totally ripped apart, and I was left standing there with no pants on. It was horrible.”

  The entire car filled with laughter. Personally, I laughed so hard I thought I was going to wet my pants.

  “Chase just stood there laughing at me. He didn’t even try to help.”

  “I was in shock!” Chase attempted to defend himself. “I didn’t know what to do.”

  “You could have given me a jacket or something. I ran off to the bathroom and waited until someone brought me some clothes. It was the most horrible and frightening experience of my life.”

  “I guess now we know why our parents tell us to make sure to always wear clean underwear,” Tammy said dryly.

  After several minutes of hysterics, everyone calmed down enough for the next person to share their story.

  “I’ll give Riley’s!” Curt announced.

  Riley rolled his eyes. “I’m sure you will.”

  “When we were in middle school, sixth grade, Riley used to pretend that he was sick all the time so he wouldn’t have to go to school. One day he really was sick, but his parents didn’t believe him, so they made him go to school anyway.” Curt’s voice grew louder and more excited as he told the story.

  “Close your ears, Charlie,” Riley suggested. “You’ll never look at me the same after you hear this.”

  “Sorry, Riley, I can’t wait to hear it.” I urged Curt to continue.

  “Well, right in the middle of third hour, Riley got diarrhea all over himself.”

  “I remember that!” Anne said.

  I failed miserably at being sympathetic. “Oh, Riley, that’s so pathetic.”

  Riley tried to stay focused on driving as he laughed at the memory. “I did; I crapped all over myself. It was completely disgusting.”

  “No, what made it worse was Sheila Bright,” Matt added to the story. “She was sitting next to him, and she got so grossed out that she puked all over the floor!”

  Curt continued, but he was laughing so hard that he could barely speak. “Half the class started dry heaving and stuff. It was nasty. Everyone practically trampled each other trying to get out of the room.”

  Riley finished giving the account of events. “Everyone including the teacher—”

  “Mr. Bell,” Anne interjected.

  “Yeah, Mr. Bell. They all left Sheila and me standing there in the room all by ourselves. I was standing there with crap running down my legs, and Sheila had puke all down the front of her clothes and in her shoes. We both started crying. It was horrible.”

  “What did you do?” I asked.

  “I don’t remember. I think I was so traumatized that I went into shock. I honestly don’t remember anything else.”

  I gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Poor Riley.”

  “I came home and begged my dad to let me change schools. Of course he said no and made me march back the very next day. When I got there, someone had taped diapers all over the front of my locker.”

  “We never did figure out who did that.”

  “You shut up, Curt,” Riley shouted. “I know for a fact it was you.”

  Curt laughed. “That’s what friends are for, Riley. We’re there to keep you grounded.”

  chapter 26

  After losing and regaining the nerve several times, I decided to wear the bikini that Marme bought me. I reasoned that it might as well get some use. Plus, everyone was going to see my scars soon enough anyway; there would be no hiding them in my cheer uniform.

  The girls and I took turns changing clothes in the car. As three girls held up blankets, the other fumbled around and put her bathing suit on.

  After we piled out of the car, I noticed Riley give a double take in my direction. His shoulders straightened and his chest puffed out as his mouth hung open in a large smile. Feeling myself begin to blush, I threw shorts on over my bikini bottoms and then put on my old sneakers.

  Riley joined me on the rear bumper of the car. “Dang, you look remarkable.”

  I playfully pushed him away. “Whatever.”

  “Seriously, your body’s amazing.”

  “Riley,” I scolded.

  He leaned toward me and spoke softly into my ear. “Surely you didn’t think you’d be able to wear that and it wouldn’t get my attention.” His breath was warm on my face, and I could smell his cologne. My mind blurred.

  “It’s just a bathing suit; everyone wears them. Besides, your mom picked it out.”

  He sat back and looked at me with a devious grin. “My mom?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sweet! Remind me to thank her later.” He chuckled, got up, and walked away, but before he made it too far, I jumped onto his back and wrapped my legs around his waist. “Keep your eyes to yourself, Riley Bennett,” I teased into his ear.

  “You’re smoke, Charlie. I’m not gonna be able to keep my eyes off of you.”

  I jumped off his back. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”

  “Flattery?” He turned to face me. “You think I’m trying to flatter you? I have a hard enough time controlling myself around you when you’re completely clothed.”

  He grabbed me by the waist, pulled me to him, and for the first time in my life, a boy’s hands were touching my bare back. His warm touch and fiery gaze caused my heart to race, and I instinctively pressed my body completely against his as a gentle moan escaped his lips.

  He placed his cheek against the side of my head. “You’re killing me here, Charlie.”

  That made two of us.

  His fingers skimmed the surface of my skin. “I can’t take my hands off of you.” His confession was pained. “You feel amazing.”

  I could feel his heart beating through his chest. “Riley … ”

  “Say something to make me walk away.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  The skin of his cheek gently skimmed mine as he spoke. “We can’t do this. I can’t. You’re gonna have to make me walk away.”

  “No. I want you to kiss me again.”

  He pulled away from me and shoved his hands into his pockets. “No, Charlie.”

  I stepped toward him, but he backed away. “You don’t want to kiss me again?”

  “Shhh.” He looked around to make sure nobody was paying attention and then walked around to the side of the car farthest away from our friends. I followed. “Of course I want to, but we can’t do this.” He was practically crying. “I promised myself and my dad that I wouldn’t do this. You have to help me keep that promise.”

  ?
??Oh, all right!” I kicked the car tire, threw my back against the side of the car, and crossed my arms across my stomach.

  “Don’t start a temper tantrum here, Charlie.”

  “Fine!”

  Removing his hands from his pockets, he clasped them behind his head and started pacing. “Remind me, when does your dad get here?”

  “Two weeks,” I grumbled.

  He kicked the dirt before throwing his hands on his waist and turning to face me. “This is freakin’ agony.”

  “Who’s throwing the temper tantrum now?” I asked. “I just wanted you to kiss me for my birthday. That’s all.”

  “Your birthday?”

  I shook my head. “It’s stupid, I know. So shoot me.”

  “No. I mean, when’s your birthday?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” he shouted. “You didn’t tell me your birthday was tomorrow.” His pacing quickened. “I’m such a jerk. How did I not know your birthday was tomorrow?”

  “So.”

  “I didn’t get you anything. You love presents, and I don’t even have anything to give you on your birthday.” He slapped himself in the head. “I’m such a heel.”

  “I told you what I want.”

  His swift movement stopped, and he turned to look at me at me again. “What? You want me to kiss you?”

  “Yes.”

  “For your birthday present?” His voice was like ice.

  “Yes.”

  “That’s not fair. I’ll give you anything but that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because to give you what you want requires me to break a promise. It’s not fair.”

  My heart sank. “Oh.”

  He walked over to me and grabbed my hands. “You have no idea how hard this is for me. Please, please help me make it two more weeks.”

  I felt my face scrunch. My disappointment was growing, but I bit my thumbnail so that I wouldn’t say anything I might regret later.

  “Please. In two weeks I’ll kiss you like crazy, I promise. You’ll probly have to peel me off of you. But for right now, no matter what I say or do, you have to keep me from kissing you—or doing anything for that matter.”

  I started coming to my senses. “You’re right.”

  “I am? No. Right, I am, I’m right.” He rolled his eyes.

  “At least I got kissed once before I turned seventeen. It’s a good thing you’re so darned noble.”

  He wrapped his arms around my neck and hugged me close to him. “It’s too bad you’re so darned irresistible.” He slowly kissed me on the tip of the nose and then pressed his forehead to mine. “In two weeks I won’t mind that you’re so alluring. At least, I won’t mind as much.”

  “I’ll do better next time. I won’t give in.”

  “Hopefully there won’t be a next time. It’s all too much.” He kissed me on the forehead again. “Now let’s go have some fun and forget about all of this. All right?”

  “All right.”

  “Make sure you wear lots of sunscreen. You haven’t been out in the sun for a while.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  With camp settled and kayaks rented, we finally made our way onto the water. We took the “Round-the-Mountain-Trip,” which lasted about seven hours, and divided up into four kayaks so we could switch riders and all have the opportunity to share kayaks with each other. The scenery was beautiful, and other than the boys tipping the kayaks over on several occasions, the journey was very peaceful. We all stayed close together, and our conversations flowed right along with the water. With each passing moment I was crazier about my new friends. They were true and genuine people who weren’t trying to put on a show for anyone. Everyone was free to be themselves, and I felt more comfortable with this group than I had with any other.

  At one point when Tess and I were sharing a kayak, Curt tipped us over, and somehow I got caught under the water with the kayak on top of me. I flailed around until a pair of arms grabbed hold of me and pulled me out from under the boat. Coughing and sputtering, I looked up through the mat of hair that stuck to my face and realized that my rescuer was Riley—of course.

  “Are you my very own personal lifeguard?” I dunked my head into the water so that the hair would unstick itself from my face.

  “I’m on duty twenty-four/seven.” He picked me up and tossed me back onto the upright kayak. “Now stay put. I don’t wanna chase you down the river.”

  “Tell your boys to quit tipping my kayak and that shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “Will do.” He waded over to the kayak he was sharing with Anne and hopped in.

  “Is that a snake?” she asked him as she pointed at a tree.

  “Probly. They’re everywhere.” His voice was calm.

  “What!” She shrieked. “We’ve been on this water for five hours, and nobody told me there are snakes in the trees!”

  I frantically looked around at the trees surrounding me.

  “They’re in the water too.” Curt laughed.

  “What?” I screamed as I grasped onto the sides of the boat.

  “Relax. They stay away from humans,” Chase said before shooting Curt an evil glare.

  “What? It’s true,” Curt said back to Chase.

  “It may be true,” Chase was talking slowly and quietly, “but you don’t always have to share everything you know.”

  “Oh yes, he does,” Tammy added from the seat she occupied in the kayak with Curt. “If my life’s in danger, I need to know it.”

  Chase looked over at Tammy. “Your life is not in danger. There are hundreds of people on this river today. The snakes are hiding away. Plus, it’s too hot for them to be out and about.”

  “Yeah, they wait until dark to come out,” Matt added as he gave an evil laugh.

  “Matt!” Chase scolded. “Enough, you guys are gonna have these girls scared to death.”

  “I’m already there,” I admitted.

  “Me too,” Anne and Tammy added.

  “You girls are fine, I promise.” Chase glanced at each of us. “Let’s enjoy the rest of the river, all right?”

  We all agreed and tried to push the thought of snakes in trees out of our minds. I glanced over at Riley and caught him smirking at me. When he realized I caught him, he shrugged his shoulders and then put his oar in the water and paddled.

  After seven long hours, our float trip finally ended. It was a long seven hours, and I was exhausted. My muscles hadn’t ever had such a workout and were already starting to ache. I never dreamed that floating down a river could be so much work. I envisioned that we would sit back and relax as the boat drifted down the waterway, but that wasn’t quite how it happened. The kayak drug on the river bottom several times, so we would get out and push the boat until the water was deep enough to float again. All in all, it was a good workout. I looked forward to doing it again the next day but wasn’t looking forward to the hike that we planned for later this evening. I was tired enough as it was and could only think of resting.

  chapter 27

  (Riley)

  “So, Riley, I hear Tiffany’s pretty upset with you,” Matt informed me.

  “Me, why?”

  “You haven’t called her or anything in a while. I guess she was under the impression that you two were an item.”

  “Well, she’s delusional then because I never said we were.”

  “Didn’t you guys date pretty hot and heavy there for a while?” Curt asked.

  “Hot and heavy petting maybe.” Matt laughed.

  I ignored him. “We went out a handful of times before prom and then twice after. It wasn’t any big deal. I wasn’t that into her; it was just kinda convenient.” I didn’t like the word c
onvenient as it left my mouth. It sounded cheap.

  “Yeah, Curt, now he’s got Attie in the room with him every night. Talk about convenient.”

  “That’s a lot different,” I tried to correct him.

  Matt grinned at Curt. “Sure it is.”

  Chase didn’t say anything as he sat looking down at his shoes.

  “Come on, Riley.” Curt laughed. “You’ve got a sixteen-year-old girl living in your house, sleeping next to you every night, and you’re trying to convince us that you don’t have a little fun? We know you better than that, my friend.”

  “I would think it would be nearly impossible to control—with her walking around in a towel or nightie,” Matt said.

  “I’d have done it in every room by now,” Curt added. “Not that you’d tell us if you did.”

  “Shut up, Curt,” I snapped. “Look, I’m not gonna tell you again that it isn’t like that; now drop it.”

  “Yet, you mean, right,” Matt chided. “It isn’t like that yet.”

  “Just give him time, Matt. Give him time. He’ll get ‘er done,” Curt continued.

  I stood to walk off and told Chase that I was gonna check on Attie.

  “Ooh, Riley, save me, I can’t sleep,” Matt teased in a girl’s voice.

  “I’m sorry I even told you,” I shouted.

  “Dude, we were just fooling around; lighten up,” Curt pouted.

  “I don’t see that topic as funny,” Chase said without looking up.

  Matt became angry. “It was a joke, Chase.”

  “And I’m saying it wasn’t funny,” Chase said as he got up. I gave him a grateful smile, and he shrugged before walking toward his tent.

  Still wearing her swimsuit, Attie was lying in our tent on top of her sleeping bag.

  “Whaddya doing, Riley?” she whispered without opening her eyes.

  “Looking at you,” I said as I lay down next to her.