Free The Shore by Todd Strasser Page A

and that’s never pretty. Unless it’s pretty boring.”
    Avery laughed. “Okay, if it will save you from boredom, what do you want to know?”
    â€œWhat brought you here for the summer?”
    â€œThe chance to spend some time alone with Curt.”
    Polly felt a little confused. “Alone? In a house full of people?”
    â€œPeople, yes. Parents, and other members of his band, no,” Avery explained.
    â€œHow long have you been together?”
    â€œThree years, ever since my mom died.”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry.”
    Avery put her hand on Polly’s arm. “No need to be sorry. It’s okay. She was sick for a long time, and it’s been a while now and I’m okay with it.”
    â€œI don’t think I’d ever be okay with it,” Polly said.
    Avery shook her head. “You don’t know what you can live through until you do.”
    Neither of them said anything else for a few minutes. They finished with the clams, then walked to a vegetable vendor. Polly picked the lettuce and tomatoes while Avery selected several fat, white mushrooms.
    â€œProbably not the kind of ’shrooms Lucas likes, but he’ll have to make do,” Avery joked.
    â€œDo you really think he smokes that bong?” Polly asked.
    â€œWhy would he have it?” Avery asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Polly said. “Somehow, it just doesn’t seem to fit. It’s like the dreadlocks. I’m just not sure they go with the person, you know?”
    Avery moved toward the avocados. “I know what you’resaying. It’s like we only see part of him or something, like he’s some sort of shadow.”
    â€œExactly!” Polly said, glad to have someone help her put her feelings into words. “Well, I guess we’ve got all summer to figure him out.”
    â€œIf he lets us,” Avery said while paying for the vegetables.
    They left the market, Polly carrying the bag of clams and Avery carrying the vegetables. There was still about a half hour before they were supposed to meet everyone back at the house. The day had been really hot. Polly wiped the sweat off her brow and looked at her watch. “We should be getting back pretty soon.”
    â€œWe have to pick up the drinks first,” Avery said, nodding toward a convenience store. The window was covered with signs advertising Corona, Bud Lite, Heineken, and all sorts of other drinks. “What do you want to get?” Avery asked.
    â€œI like Coke,” Polly said.
    â€œWe have to get some alcohol, don’t you think?” Avery asked as she pulled her hair up into a bun on top of her head. “Our housemates are going to get bent out of shape if we don’t. What do you think, beer or wine coolers for a clambake?”
    â€œUh, uh, the wine coolers, I guess.”
    Avery gave her a funny look. “Have you had beer?”
    â€œNo,” Polly admitted, and felt her face grow warm.
    â€œYou’re not missing out on much,” Avery said, wrinkling her nose. “We’ll go with wine coolers.”
    Polly glanced at the store and the large sign that said, ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL WILL BE SOLD TO ANYONE UNDER 21 . She scowled. “How? We can’t buy alcohol. We’re both underage.”
    Avery smiled. “Leave it to me. You get the soda; I’ll get the other stuff. When we’re in that store, act like you don’t know me.”
    Polly felt her stomach start to flip-flop. There’s no way we’re going to get away with this, she thought. All her life she’d been terrified of doing anything wrong, anything that might result in getting caught. Right now she wanted to run away as fast as she could.
    But Avery went in and, after a minute, Polly followed and headed straight for the refrigerated cases of soda. She managed to get the bag of vegetables into her left arm and clutched two two-liter bottles of Coke to her chest with her right