My leg bounces wildly against the rickety old bench outside the smoothie shop. Staring out across the street, into the beach beyond it, I gnaw at the bottom of my lip.

Grams and I had a disagreement that day after she made me give Casey's shirt to Luke. I asked why she was always defending Luke and she claimed that she wasn't.

So I asked her how they got so close, what makes Luke somehow feel like he owes her.

She told me it wasn't really my business, or hers.

I gulp the last of my iced tea. What the fuck does that mean?

Watching two gulls fight over a stray cheese puff, I jump when someone sits in the bench beside me, straining the weathered wood so I slide towards the center.

How rude - can't they see I'm perseverating?

Tilting my head towards the sun, I recognize the ocean blue eyes instantly. That guy from the bonfire, Ryan.

God damn, he's almost as persistent as Hunter. I remind myself to turn my cell on again when I get home - undoubtedly he, and my parents, have been trying to call since I last let it die.

"So I leave in about a week," Ryan rubs his chin, coated in blonde stubble. "When will you let me take you out?"

I consider letting him, just so he'll leave me alone. "Why are you trying so hard?" I ask instead.

"A girl like you is worth trying for." He grins, proud of the line that flowed so effortlessly from his lips.

How many girls has he said the same to? I keep my face neutral.

"What would we do, if I said yes?" I venture half-heartedly. Humoring him, really.

"Well, look at this view! There's the beach..." He drones on and on about the town I grew up in until I'm not listening anymore.

Too caught up in the perfect plan I've concocted to hear his words.

Ryan made Luke jealous, I know that much. With everything going on with Luke - how he and Grams are best buddies, how he's always at the house, the center, the store - just always there, how he fucking kissed me... like I was air and he was dying to catch his breath...

He deserves to be messed with.

"I'll go." I interrupt Ryan, having no idea where his sentence has taken him.

Ryan's mouth pops open in surprise. "Really? You were so stubborn, I thought-"

"Thought what?" I stand and check my watch impatiently, even though I have most of my break left. "Aren't you glad I said yes?"

"Oh, of course." Ryan stands, too, his ocean eyes twinkling down at me as he smiles. "Ecstatic."

"Then you'll pick me up on Friday, 8 o'clock?" I toss my backpack over my shoulder.

Brynn had extra life guarding shifts this weekend, meaning Summer Bash planning was a no-go. Grams still wants me out and there's no fricken way it'll be with Luke.

"Uh, yeah. That sounds perfect." Ryan nods eagerly, handing over his phone. "Just put your address in there for me."

And with a half-smile, I do. Ryan talks for a few more minutes about being excited, but I'm not really listening. Again, my mind wanders to what Grams shares with Luke that she can't tell me.

I guess that's why, when I only have twenty or so minutes left to my break, I end up at Henson's and not the center. Why, after several long moments, I'm still standing in place, backpack over one shoulder, glaring inside at the baseball cap behind the register.

When the line dwindles and Luke closes the old register with a loud thump I can hear outside, I know it's my turn. To go in there and demand answers. But I don't, still stuck in place.

Luke glances outside, catching me through the glass, and furrows his brows tightly across his forehead. With a slight adjustment of his ball cap, he comes from behind the counter and pushes the rattly glass door open, sticking his head out to call to me.

"Can I help you with something, Dyl? Or are you just gonna keep standing there, watching me?"

looks like miss Dylan's got a date!
Do we think she'll chicken out or confront Luke?!
vote if you hope the Ryan date crashes and burns so Dyl and Luke can finally get their ishhh together!?