McKenna relaxed on her blanket, letting the small waves splash at her feet. The sun felt hot on her shoulders. Earlier she had lathered up with sunscreen so that her skin wouldn't burn and tied her hair in a knot on the top of her head. She felt horribly naked in her new bikini.

She was content to stay right where she was and watch her friends swimming in the deep end of the lake. She was glad they were having fun and wished she had the courage to join them.

"McKenna!"

She turned her head to the sound of Dane's voice. He was standing at the edge of the woods, and he motioned to her. She glanced at her friends then got to her feet, and walked toward him.

“Look, Dane,” she started to say.

"What in heaven's name are you wearing?" he asked.

McKenna glanced down at herself, and her face flamed. She had forgotten all about the bathing suit. "It's a bikini," she said defensively. "You don't know what a bikini is?"

"Not sure if I want to. Do you know what that thing is doing to me?"

"Look, if you don't stop this, you're going to get me into all kinds of trouble. Don't you understand? My parents are very overprotective of me. They won't even let me date or drive. I can't be seen with you."

"I'll be careful," he insisted. "I won't let them see me."

"Please," McKenna pleaded. "Please just go away and leave me alone."

"I can't, McKenna." He pressed his lips together.

"You have to," she insisted, shaking her head, feeling defeated. "You just have to."

She left him standing there, his shoulders slumped, and she returned to the beach.

Kelly was stretched out on her belly on the blanket when McKenna got back. “Where’d you go?” she asked.

"Nowhere." She sat down and pulled up her legs, hugging her knees to her chest.  Reaching up, she undid the knot on top of her head and let her hair down. It cascaded around her shoulders, hiding her face. For some reason, she felt like crying. She thought maybe it was because Dane wouldn’t leave her alone. Or perhaps it was because, deep down, she didn’t want him to. Each time he showed up, it was harder for her to walk away. She didn’t know him, yet she was feeling things she never felt before. It made her miserable.

“Are you okay, Kenny?” Kelly asked. “You seem kind of down.”

McKenna rubbed her eyes. They were burning. “I’m fine,” she said. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“About?” Kelly asked.

“About Dane. He keeps coming around, and he’s going to get me in trouble with my parents. I’ve tried to tell him to leave me alone, but he says he can’t. I don’t even know what that means.”

“You were just with him?”

McKenna nodded. “Yes, over in the clearing.”

Kelly sat up suddenly, her eyes searching the woods.

McKenna noticed her looking. “He’s gone,” she said.

“Where does he go? Does he live close by?”

“I don’t know,” McKenna said miserably. “I’m so busy telling him to leave me alone that I haven’t found out anything about him. All I can think about is how upset my parents will be if they find out some guy is stalking me.”

Kelly screwed up her face in a half-smile, half frown. “When are you going to see him again?”

McKenna grew thoughtful. “I don’t know. He just shows up. And he leaves the same way.”

“Well, that’s not creepy.” Kelly laughed.

McKenna ignored her remark. "Every time he shows up, I almost don't want him to leave. I don’t know what to do.”

“Maybe you’ll see him again. But he better not mess with you cuz if he does, then he has to mess with me. Got it?”

McKenna gave a short laugh. “Got it, Kel.”

***

The weekend was almost over, and the ones that hadn’t left already were packing up their cars, folding up tents, and taking one last swim. McKenna’s parents decided to stay until the morning. McKenna was glad. The hardest part about coming to the lake was going home.

Kelly resolved to stay with McKenna, just in case. Raven and Layla had already left for home. She would catch a ride home with McKenna and her parents.

They sat together on the picnic table and watched the others pack. The evening turned chilly. McKenna and Kelly wrapped themselves in heavy blankets. A campfire burned close by, but it wasn’t warm enough for them to feel the heat.

“It’s getting cooler,” Kelly said while peeling the polish from her nails.

“Yeah,” McKenna answered absently.

“Back to school soon."

“Yeah,” McKenna was absorbed in picking a piece of lint from her blanket.

“I think I’ll quit school.”

“Yeah.” McKenna had finally grasped the piece of lint, and she now rolled it into a tiny ball between her fingers.

Kelly slapped her knees with her hands. “I knew it!” she cried, her finger pointing in McKenna’s face.

“Huh?” McKenna turned her face toward Kelly, but her eyes were distant as she looked at her.

“Kenny.” Kelly snapped her fingers in McKenna’s face. “Yoo-hoo, earth to McKenna Dunn.”

McKenna’s eyes widened, and she blinked several times.

“Where have you been, Kenny? I’ve been talking to you for the last five minutes. So far, the only thing you’ve said is ‘Yeah.’”

“I’m sorry. I’m just not here, I guess.”

“You’re really not. Is it Dane?”

“Dane? Why would you say that?”

“Because that’s the only reason you’re so far away. Dane’s been on your mind a lot. You’re having a hard time letting go, aren’t you?”

“It’s crazy. I don’t even know this guy. I’ve barely spoken to him other than telling him to get lost.” She flicked the small ball of lint toward the fire. “I don’t have any idea who he is, where he comes from, or where he goes when he disappears.”

“You know," Kelly turned toward her. "You never say he leaves."

“What?”

“You always say he disappears. What does he do, vanish into thin air?” She snapped her fingers and made a poof sound.

“He might as well. That’s how it feels.”

Kelly laughed. “I’d like to see that.”

The tears shimmered in McKenna’s eyes as she finally broke into a smile.

“Okay,” Kelly shifted her position to face McKenna. “Here’s what I’m thinking. Maybe it would help if you actually did talk to him. You could find out where he lives, what he does when he’s not bothering strange girls on the beach.” At this comment, Kelly grinned widely.

“Why should I do that?”

“Because he just might turn out to be an asshole.” Kelly threw back her head and laughed. “Hey,” she spread her hands, “You never know. It just might be the answer to all of your problems.”

“Kel, you’re a nut.”

“Says the other nut.” Kelly laughed again. "I think you should take a walk."

"What, now?"

"Now."

"But what about my mother? She'll have a cow if I go missing."

"You won't go missing," Kelly said. "I'll keep Mom and Pop's busy. You'll be taking a short walk."

McKenna shook her head in amazement. "I'm glad you're my friend," she chuckled.

Kelly wiggled her eyebrows. "Yes, you are."

"Okay, I'll go for a walk." She slid off the picnic table, careful not to pick up any splinters. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"I always do," Kelly grinned. "Oh, and don't forget to take a sweater. It's getting chilly."

"Yes, Mother," McKenna threw over her shoulder as she walked to her tent for her hoodie.

***

Kelly watched her friend disappear into the woods. She knew she didn't have all of the answers, but she did know that this was something McKenna needed to do. No, had to do. This obsession would ruin her if she didn't take it to fruition. Kelly already knew this deep in her heart because she could see. Now she needed McKenna to see who Dane really was.

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