Don't Look Behind You (Don't Look Series Book 1) by Emily Kazmierski (ereader iphone txt) 📕

I’m actually going to the beach! With friends!

Not even a quick glance at the depressing sight that is my new old house can tamp down my excitement.

We tumble out of the car into a parking lot teeming with people. Everyone looks like a pack animal, arms full of umbrellas, beach chairs and towels, coolers, and sand toys galore. Looking out at the golden beach and blue water, a knot of homesickness makes my stomach flip. I cover the misery that washes over my face by pretending to dig into the plastic bag of supplies I brought. Only look up when I’ve got my more unruly emotions under control.

“You coming?” Fiona asks.

I catch up to her and the other girls.

“The guys have a fire pit. Noah got here at the butt-crack of dawn to reserve one.”

“That was nice of him,” I mutter.

Viv bursts out laughing. “Noah is always like that. An over achiever. He has a good look, though. Those thick frames work for him. And wait until you see him in the knitted sweaters he wears through the winter.”

“You like him?” I ask as we scramble over the concrete barrier that separates the parking lot from the wide stretch of sand. Bright white life-guard booths with red numbers on the sides stand at regular intervals in both directions, and between each one is a large concrete fire pit. Each one is already surrounded by clusters of people even though it’s before noon.

“Noah? No way. We’ve all known each other way too long to date. That’s why pretty much everyone around here is so curious about you.” Viv wiggles her eyebrows in my direction.

“Me?”

“You’re a mystery.”

“Fresh blood,” adds Marisa.

“Don’t scare her,” Fiona says, tossing an arm around my shoulders. “Don’t worry. We won’t let anyone eat you.”

I laugh at the absurdity of this conversation. “I think I can handle it. Just keep Esau away from me.”

“If you say so. We’re here!” Fiona whistles.

A bunch of male heads whirl in our direction. Noah comes jogging over. “Can I help with anything?” He takes the heavy shopping bag from my hand, smiling shyly down at me. My eyes skitter over his white tank and out to the aquamarine waves.

“Here. Thanks.” Marisa shoves her monstrous cooler into the boy’s other hand.

Viv flings herself at a tall, wiry redheaded girl.

I survey everyone as we draw closer to the fire pit where we’ll be all day and into the evening. “You’ve met pretty much everyone,” Fiona says. “Noah, Dariel. The ginger is Erin.”

I chant names, hoping it’ll help me remember. Dariel, whose mischievous smile and high box fade I remember, is in drama club with us. I’m pretty sure he and Fiona have something going on. Erin is new.

“Erin’s my boo. She goes to the Catholic school,” Viv says, still draped around the wiry carrot-top. The girl tugs Viv closer, looking for all the world like Viv’s the only sun in her orbit. Viv giggles when the taller girl tickles her side.

“And you know Esau,” Fiona finishes, gesturing with one hand toward the guy who’s brooding at the edge of the group. His black hair is up in a man bun and holy cheese he doesn’t have a shirt on. Boy is C. U. T. CUT.

He’s also glaring at me.

My ears burn as I help Noah fan out the Mexican blanket I brought. I ordered it off the internet the minute I had my new address. I had one just like it once, draped over the foot of my bed. A memento of a fishing trip to Mexico with Dad when I was ten. My throat closes as my gaze rakes over the tight cotton weave, dyed orange and pink. Dashing my hand across my eyes, I turn away.

Down the beach, there’s a long wooden platform built over the sand, with stairs leading up to it. The entire length of it is jam-packed with booths and shops. I can smell the greasy cooking oil from here. Towering above the colorful buildings are the rides. A classic wooden roller coaster. An old-fashioned log ride. A zero gravity spinner. An air-gondola ride that spans the length of the boardwalk.

“Welcome to paradise. Swimming first, or rides?” Fiona throws her arms out wide.

“Swimming,” I say. I’m aching to feel the salty ocean current on my skin.

“Okay. Let’s take a quick dip, and then we’re getting fried twinkies!” Viv cheers.

I blink. “Fried what?”

“Twinkies. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried one,” Viv says, rubbing her hands together like a supervillain in a cartoon.

We run toward the water, laughing and hooting. Dodge sand castles and practically naked sunbathers. It’s fantastic. It’s a gorgeous day. It’s…

Freezing cold!

My entire body grows goose bumps on my goosebumps as I gasp, the water up to my chest.

“It’s hecka cold, right?” Noah calls from a few feet away.

“I bet the new girl doesn’t last five minutes,” Esau taunts, wading past with a splash. His thick arms pump through the water with ease.

It rankles, especially since I know he knows my name. And betting on my endurance in cold water? Ha.

I push deeper, farther, swimming with strong strokes of my arms and swift kicks of my legs. The ocean and I are one. Twisting, I float on my back, letting the current slowly push me in toward the shore.

I’m the last one out, not giving in until I’m shivering, my fingers and toes like dried prunes.

Esau looks down his nose at me as I catwalk past him to where the girls are crowded around my blanket, chowing down on watermelon slices Marisa brought in her massive cooler.

I dig into my bag for my dry clothes and pull them on.

Down the beach, there’s an especially loud outcry from a group of people playing an aggressive game of volleyball. Near the net, a man lies sprawled in the sand, his teammates cheering around him. It looks like fun.

When I reach into my pocket for the tube of lip balm I keep there, my fingers come away with a scrap of paper