Free Perilous Waters by Diana Paz

step in? What is it?”
    “Hold still,” Angie said.
    “Is it a needle?” Crap. Her mom always went on about how careful she had to be with needles at work. “Can magic cure blood-borne pathogens?”
    “You’re silly. It’s just a splinter—”
    “Are you sure? It feels like a needle.”
    Angie’s voice dropped to a hush. “No one’s watching. I’ll use magic to heal your eyes so you can see for yourself.” The mark on Angie’s arm shifted from pale gold to shimmering white. “Restore.”
    A wave of soothing power washed through her eyes. She blinked, her vision clear. “Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome.” Angie smiled, tucking back her hair.
    Julia smiled, too—it was impossible not to smile back at Angie—and checked her foot. “Oh.” She felt her cheeks grow hot at the sight of a very small splinter. Angie’s nose wrinkled in another smile that said, Told ya.
    “Hot dogs are ready,” David called.
    “Hey, Brian,” another voice called from the distance. “Can you give us a hand with the cooler?”
    Julia’s head snapped up. Brian?Not her ex-boyfriend-and-also-Ethan’s-Brother-Brian. The world was full of Brians, after all. It could be anyone—
    “Such an awesome idea to come to Cabrillo,” another voice said, one she recognized as a friend of Brian’s from student government. She scanned the group ambling down the bluff that led to shore.
    Oh no! It was definitely Brian, as in, her ex-boyfriend-and-also-Ethan’s-Brother-Brian! He made his way down the incline, an ice chest in his hands and an easy smile on his lips. She ducked down, wishing there were something she could hide behind on the barren shoreline.
    Her eyes squeezed shut. How had she not known that they were brothers? How had she not seen it? Now the similarities leapt out at her. They shared the same strong jaw and full lips. They both had their mother’s tanned skin and wavy hair, even though Ethan’s was jet black where Brian’s was summery blond.
    The realization that she was comparing them hit her like a swift kick to the gut. Her cheeks flooded with heat. “Angie?” she called, and her voice sounded weak and pathetic.
    Angie glanced up, her head tilting to the side.
    Julia tried not to sound like the end of the world was coming. She gulped. “W-what’s Brian doing here?”
    A group of student government kids followed him down the hill, holding towels and beach umbrellas.
    “Oh… it looks like they’re having a bonfire party.”
    Julia shot her a narrowed look. “I can see that, geez. Don’t you know when a question isn’t meant to be answered?”
    “You mean, a rhetorical—”
    “What I mean is, I need to get out of here!”
    Angie’s crystal-blue eyes widened. “You’re going to run away from him?”
    “Yes! Definitely, yes .” Wasn’t that the only sane thing to do? How else did one deal with something as monumentally awkward as seeing an ex-boyfriend?
    Brian set down the ice chest and froze. His dark gaze locked on hers.
    Julia felt like a gorgon had spotted her. Holy crap! The jig is up! Apparently, ducking down in the sand hadn’t made her invisible—who knew? She cringed. Wasn’t there a spell for humiliation suppression?
    He took a step back, and then another. After a silent moment, he mussed his hair and gave her his back before heading to the last available fire pit.
    Oh man, the sun’s blazing rays didn’t have anything on the heat of embarrassment rushing through her. She wasn’t ready to deal with this. She didn’t think she ever would be.
    And now David, Angie’s sweet-as-sugar boyfriend was walking up to Brian? “Why?” she whispered to Angie, her heart racing. “Why is your boyfriend speaking to Brian? Why is this occurring?”
    “Are these more rhetorical questions?”
    “Angie, make it stop!”
    “I warned you about this.” Angie said. “You’re my friend. Brian is friends with David. Which one of us should stop being friends with the other, for your sake?”
    Wasn’t