Free Bluedawn (A Watermagic Novel, #2) by Brighton Hill

to return from their night out. But I
brushed that thought away like sand in the wind more intent on
escaping my mental turmoil over Dylan.
    Looking ahead, I noticed that the crowd of
kids thinned out and that the atmosphere around the bonfire seemed
more intimate. I could only see silhouettes of bodies and couldn’t
make out any faces. I wondered who was there and if I would be
intruding on a private party now.
    As I drew closer, I saw a few shirtless boys
with perfect physiques playing hand drums, two of them I recognized
as Dylan’s friends that I saw the first day before the mini-market.
They were extraordinarily attractive, but had a sort of dangerous
air. Wren and Lyra lied on their stomachs painting their nails. Gia
was nowhere in sight.
    With the drummers stunning looks and cool
charisma, I wasn’t too surprised they beat out Logan, Jeff, and DJ
on getting the hot girls. These boys looked tough and wild. And
their hotness matched that of the young women.
    Hesitantly I approached, against my better
judgment. If I wasn’t feeling so out of control, I would have been
more afraid that the blond guy might remember me and say something
rude again to me. But with my mixed up emotions, I figured I’d risk
a little humiliation.
    “Hi,” Lyra sang. “It’s Hailey.” She looked at
everybody. “So glad you came back.” Her voice was enchanting. And
her long jet black hair draped over her body like a silky
blanket.
    I don’t think I could ever get used to
looking at her or any of the kids before me for that matter. What
was with this beach and gorgeous teenagers? My average looks and
demeanor stood out like a sore thumb amongst these beauties.
    Wren was staring at me with her intense blue
eyes. “Please sit down and join us.”
    The boys continued to play their drums while
talking amongst each other occasionally. Their hard eyes were
glassy blues and greens like the colors of the sea and their hair
was ruffled from the wind.
    Wren tossed her long golden hair over one
shoulder trying not to mess her wet fingernails as she sat up. “Sit
by me.” Her smile was surprisingly cutesy. She was very
likeable.
    “Thanks for letting me hang out with you
guys. I was bored at our motorhome.” I sat down beside Wren facing
the fire across from the boys. Really I wasn’t in the mood to spend
time with them. All I could think about was Dylan. Seeing these
guys just made me long for him more.
    “Of course,” Wren smiled as she waved her wet
nails in the air. They shimmered by the light of the fire. “We were
disappointed when you left so abruptly earlier.
    “Where is Gia?” I asked. My curiosity was
getting the best of me.
    Wren and Lyra looked at each other. For a
moment they didn’t say anything.
    “She’s out there,” Lyra finally said as she
pointed at the ocean.
    I scrunched my eyebrows together. “What do
you mean?” My shoulders shrugged involuntarily. “Is she out on a
boat?”
    They laughed.
    “No,” Lyra said, suppressing her amusement as
best she could. “She’s swimming.” Her voice was matter of fact.
    My eyes widened. “Swimming?”
    They laughed again.
    “We love to swim at night,” Wren explained.
“Have you ever done it?”
    I half rolled my eyes. “No.” I lied about
that. Mom was the only person I knew who swam in the ocean at night
and she liked to drag Dad and me along with her.
    “It’s entirely thrilling,” Lyra murmured.
“Swimming in the black ocean under a dark sky is spooky, yet
exciting.
    I shrugged again, considering the dangers
before I changed the subject. “Where are you guys camping? I didn’t
notice you at the campground.” I looked at both Lyra and Wren and
couldn’t help but admire Wren’s abalone shell necklace that gleamed
many colors in the firelight.
    “We just sleep wherever.” Wren sort of
giggled when she said that. She repositioned a string of pearls in
her hair.
    “You mean right here?”
    Lyra sat up. I was surprised to see that she
was only wearing