Amalia

The matching candle holders emit a pleasant spicy cinnamon and apple aroma throughout our empty living room. Alone and wrought with boredom, I inhale deeply and sigh. This is just another typical summer Saturday. Everyone who is anyone is preparing for a highly anticipated date. But me? I'm sniffing candles.

I have yet to go on another date since Steven Langley, the first date I accepted, knowing ahead of time I wouldn't have a romantic, fairy-tail encounter ending in a head-spinning, tummy-twirling, amazing first "real" kiss-all because he wasn't Talan.

"You've got to read between the lines with a guy like Steve," Jaxon had warned me, disgruntled when he found out I was going out with a guy who was a year older than him, a first-string varsity player on his football team, no less.

I read between the lines, every single one. 

Does he think I wouldn't be willing to pay for my meal? Does he think every girl wants such delicate treatment that she can't open the door herself? Does he think he will get somewhere with me by taking me to a drive-in movie theater to sit alone with him for two hours? Does he believe I'd fall over myself to make out with him?

I didn't realize my awful behavior until I saw the confused and beaten-down look on Steve's face after walking me to the door in silence and giving me an awkward goodnight wave.

Once I sat down and picked apart what went wrong with the evening, I concluded that Talan's surprise phone call caused my failed first date. Having to end the conversation with him irritated me, and I took it all out on Steve. Everything about him during the date had turned me off. I didn't like how he combed his hair, the smell of his cologne, the way he chewed his food, the way he smiled at me, and I hated how Steve went overboard being sweet.

Just the sound of Talan's voice crumbled my resolve not to wait on him. Because I was a silly little girl with a silly little crush, forever waiting for his attention. I sickened myself. This is why I decided if I had to lock myself in my bedroom all summer whenever Talan came around, I'd move on.

Disgusted about my behavior towards Steve, I called him two days later to apologize. I asked him for another chance and told him I didn't mind begging if that's what it took to get him to forgive my despicable and rude attitude.

I felt relieved when he laughed and said, "Yes, I'll go out with you again."  Then, he apologized for changing our plans from the walk-in theater to the drive-in theater at the last minute. That evening, he had told me his friend had spoiled the ending for him, but Steve realized later that the switch must have looked awful to me. He told me we could have done something else if he had been thinking. 

Our second date still lacked natural chemistry but was nice and ended with a polite kiss on the cheek.

When Talan came home, he showed up with Kinsley. While he visited with Jaxon and Erik, Kinsley, of all people, pulled me aside and asked if I wanted to go for a drive with him. He couldn't think of a way to speak to me alone without raising Jaxon's suspicion, so he convinced her to do it for him.

I couldn't believe it, but I was thrilled nonetheless. Even though my face froze in shock, my soul danced with joy. I promised myself, but oh, how I wanted to go. My thoughts spun in disarray, yet somehow I summoned tremendous strength and told Kinsley to tell Talan no. I wasn't playing hard to get; I only wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't waiting for the invitation, and I was scared to let my guard down again.

Kinsley's expression of disbelief had fallen to displeasure when she realized I was serious. "Shit. I don't want to tell him that, Ama. Just go, I know you want to." 

When I told her that was last year, it took an enormous effort to keep my convincing façade. 

Talan has been acting cranky towards me ever since I turned him down. He had no right to treat me or any other girl poorly, giving me the cold shoulder and making me feel guilty for not going out with him. Who does he think he is?

Despite him always at our house, we don't talk much. I've stayed away from him as planned, spending all my time with Kinsley, Erik, and Kade. When Erik and Kinsley are busy, Kade and I hang out. We talk about everything except Talan and whoever Kade's crush is.

Talan's red olde-style Camaro zooms by the house. I know the sound well because a crack in his muffler makes his car sound souped up. That's the specific reason he's taking his time replacing it. 

A second later, Kinsley bursts through the door, panicking. She runs to the window and cracks open the curtains. "Please, let him keep driving." 

"What's going on? I ask. 

"Talan. He just passed by, and Jace parked across the street."

Kinsley caught the eye of a seventeen-year-old boy named Jace Red Otter, a long-time crush, and she hasn't even turned fifteen yet. But she looks about seventeen with her five-foot-six shapely figure, complimented by lustrous, waist-length hair. Kinsley's gorgeous. Her parents decided Jace was too old for her, so they won't let her date him, but she sneaks around with him every chance she finds. Her parents think she's with me whenever she's with him, and it's just a matter of time before we get caught.

"Good. Talan kept going. Jace is taking me to a bonfire at the breaks tonight."

The party spot known as "the breaks" is on the reservation line, and you must drive through the reservation to reach it. On the river, there's a large inlet as big as a small lake. Partygoers nicknamed it the breaks for its rough shore terrain.

Because of Tribal Sovereignty, the reservation falls under tribal jurisdiction, so it's the tribal police department's concern, not New Sable's police or the county's law enforcement. And since the reservation line is far from the reservations' communities, their limited law enforcement doesn't go there either. It's where older kids from the reservation and New Sable gather to drink and party, especially during summer. 

"Kinsley! You can't go out there!"

She dismisses me with a wave of her hand. "I won't drink—neither will Jace. We're just going to hang out with everyone. Oh. I told my mom, me, and you are having a movie night over here."

Rayna doesn't call to check on Kinsley and Kade when they're at our house. There was never a need.

I raise my voice, scowling, and remind her I want no part of that. "You'll get us both in trouble!" She's unaffected by my outburst, and her smirk makes me want to expose her myself.

"I won't, Ama. I've got to go. I'll call you when I get home." She runs out the door, spins around, and jumps back inside. "Shit, he's coming back! Please, let him pass. Please, let him pass."

I peek through the curtains as Talan drives into the driveway, watching him climb out and stomp toward the door. Kinsley yanks the door open before he can knock. He furrows his brows at her as he enters and shoves the door closed. "I knew it! Kinsley, what's Jace doing parked across the street?"

She rolls her eyes, turns away from him, squaring her shoulders for battle, and turns back. "I'm just going to a movie. It's not a big deal. Mom and Dad don't need to know about it."

"What do you mean they don't need to know?"

"Ah, don't get all 'big brother' on me, Talan. It's nobody's business but my own."

He snaps at her, insulted. "It's my business if I say it's my business! And if I have to say it to Jace, I will!" The fierceness on his face is frightening.

Scared, Kinsley's eyes fly open. Though Jace is older, she knows nobody intimidates Talan.

Her self-ruling conduct vanishes, and she begs. "Please, Talan. It's just a movie. We like each other, and he's so kind to me. I don't understand why everyone wants to keep us apart."

When she adds that anyone who has gone through that would understand, Talan's sternness wavers, and he replies with empathy in his tone. "Are you sure it's only for a movie?"

I purse my lips to keep from spilling the beans, but I don't want her to go. Talan glances at me and recognizes the hint I give him by fidgeting and looking away. He issues a firm demand and glares at her. "Tell me the truth, Kins."

Kinsley folds her arms across her chest, twisting her face into a scowl. "All right! I'll tell you. We're going to the bonfire at the breaks."

He's shaking his head before she can finish her sentence. "Nope, no way. I can't let you do that. You're too young to be out there. It's not good."

She cinches her eyes, her bottom lip curving as if about to cry.

"Kinsley, Talan's right. It's not good," I say to help her see the reasoning.

She twists her head toward me and gives me a look that feels like a smack. I should have stayed out of it.

"Talan, we're not drinking. You know, I know better than that. I can't tell him I can't hang out tonight because I'm too young to go out there with him."

I don't hold back my grimace. Jace should already know this.

"Besides, you owe me, Talan." She looks at me with watery, pleading eyes, and her voice drops to hide the tears in it. "You both do."

Talan and I flick a quick glance at each other. 

While he stares at her, I can tell he's weighing his options, and when he drops his eyes, I know Kinsley won again. "Okay, Kinsley, but promise me you won't drink or do anything stupid."

Her expression lifts, and her smile lights up in victory. "I won't, Talan. I promise." 

"There's no cellphone reception out there, and Jace better not drink! I mean it, Kinsley." His tense body language suggests he's angry about letting her go. "Don't make me regret this ... I'm going to talk to Jace."

She places a hand on his chest, maneuvering herself between him and the door, looking alarmed and desperate. "Please, don't, Talan. Nothing bad will happen. I promise, Talan. Can I go now?"

He steps back and nods.

We watch out the window as Kinsley hops into Jace's truck, and they drive off. Talan shakes his head and groans while still gawking out the window. "Fuck. I hope this doesn't come back to haunt me," he says before turning to me. "What are your plans for tonight?"

"Nothing, why?"

"Want to come with me to a bonfire?"