Сумерки

           "Haveyoueverseenadriftwoodfire?"Mikeaskedme.Iwassittingononeofthebone-coloredbenches;theothergirlsclustered,gossipingexcitedly,oneithersideofme.Mikekneeledbythefire,lightingoneofthesmallerstickswithacigarettelighter.

           "No,"Isaidasheplacedtheblazingtwigcarefullyagainsttheteepee.

           "You’lllikethisthen-watchthecolors."Helitanothersmallbranchandlaiditalongsidethefirst.Theflamesstartedtolickquicklyupthedrywood.

           "It’sblue,"Isaidinsurprise.

           "Thesaltdoesit.Pretty,isn’tit?"Helitonemorepiece,placeditwherethefirehadn’tyetcaught,andthencametositbyme.Thankfully,Jesswasonhisotherside.Sheturnedtohimandclaimedhisattention.Iwatchedthestrangeblueandgreenflamescrackletowardthesky.

           Afterahalfhourofchatter,someoftheboyswantedtohiketothenearbytidalpools.Itwasadilemma.Ontheonehand,Ilovedthetidepools.TheyhadfascinatedmesinceIwasachild;theywereoneoftheonlythingsIeverlookedforwardtowhenIhadtocometoForks.Ontheotherhand,I’dalsofallenintothemalot.Notabigdealwhenyou’resevenandwithyourdad.ItremindedmeofEdward’srequest-thatInotfallintotheocean.

           Laurenwastheonewhomademydecisionforme.Shedidn’twanttohike,andshewasdefinitelywearingthewrongshoesforit.MostoftheothergirlsbesidesAngelaandJessicadecidedtostayonthebeachaswell.