Rebel Love

Lydia 1

I listened to my brother lie about going to the movies with his friends and I waited for the car’s engine to disappear against the noise of the rest of the town. 2

“Mom, I’m gonna go to bed early,” I said quietly, I clutched my pink robe tightly against me, “I’m not feeling to well. Jet-lag from school or something,” I smiled, making sure to the push the idea of being tired or sick into my eyes. Please let them buy this!3

“Okay, sweetie, do you need anything from the store? I’ll go out and get you something? Some Ben and Jerry’s? I’ll call Josh for you-“4

“No, Mom, it’s okay. I’m just going to go to sleep,” I smiled and walked slowly to my room. I shut the door softly and waited, listening for any clue that Mom was going to follow me here and try to get me to ask for something.5

I quickly ditched my robe beneath my sheets next to my pillows and a few crumpled shirts. I threw the wig from last Halloween on the pillow and took a step back. It was perfect, any parent who had grown up in the fifties would buy it. 6

I stood on my desk chair and unscrewed the light bulb, that way Mom wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the purple wig and my own dirty blonde hair if she came in to check on me.7

I quickly climbed out the window and ran across the lawn. I wasn’t sure why Josh chose to drive, the beach was only a five minute walk away.8

I found the group quickly and looked for some of my friends, but mainly I made sure Josh wouldn’t run into me. I didn’t even want to think about what he would do, not only would he tell Mom and risk being grounded himself, he would totally ruin any chance I had at dating. Ever.9

“Lydia,” Ramona pulled my name out, “You made it! Your brother just arrived, he’s around here somewhere!”10

I shook my head and smiled, trying to keep my calm, “I know, um, don’t tell him I’m here. Please. He’d kill me, seriously.”11

Ramona smiled, proud of my rebellious little feat, “Good for you, don’t worry. My lips are sealed. Beers in the cooler, do you know the routine? Empty bottles go in the green one, otherwise the beaches will get closed at night.”12

“Sounds cool,” I said, giving her a thumbs up, “Well, not the closing down but… um, yeah,” she was already walking away from me. 13

Remus 14

Remus had arrived at the party after much arguing with his parents. They hadn’t wanted him to leave and “miss out on this wonderful opportunity.” 15

It wasn’t that Remus didn’t like Wicca. It was just that he didn’t want to be the weird one anymore.16

He stood on the outside rim of the party, waiting for someone to come up to him. Being the first person to talk had never worked at his old school, why would it start working now?17

“Hey,” someone said to him. He hoped to the Goddess that it wasn’t the OCD perky blonde from this morning. As nice as it had been of her to invite her one could only take so much zest before having their head explode. 18

He turned around towards the voice and smiled, it wasn’t said girl from this morning, only a sweet dark haired girl he hadn’t met yet but did look familiar.19

“I heard there was new kid here tonight,” she smiled, “it’s a small town, word gets out really fast here. What’s your name?”20

He smiled back down at her, she was the first one to ask, “Remus.”21

She snorted and then covered her mouth, “I’m sorry. But, Remus? Like Professor Lupin?”22

“Well, my parents were really into mythology when I was born, so really it’s the Remus of Rome. But, yeah, like Professor Lupin.”23

The girl tilted her head to the side and smiled again, “You don’t like turn into a werewolf or anything, right?” she looked up into the sky and the full moon.24

“No, I don’t,” we stood there awkwardly, she shifted her feet back and forth waiting for to be buried up to her ankles, “What’s your name?”25

“Oh!” she covered her mouth again, “It’s Lydia! I’m sorry. That’s so rude!”26

“So, do you have a ghost friend named Beetlejuice?” he asked.27

The girl just looked up at him, confused, “What do you mean?”28

Remus laughed, “You’re too young, never mind.”29

She scoffed, “I’m not that young!”30

“How old are you?” he asked, eyeing the beer in her hand.31

“Sixteen…and a half,” she said shamefully, he took the beer from her hand and took a swig. He grimaced. It was awful, “How old are you?” she placed her hands on her hips.32

“Seventeen…and a half!” she eyed the beer, “It tastes awful anyway,” he said, pouring the rest of the beer into the sand, “Trash can?”33

“Green cooler, cop thing,” she explained simply. He started walking over to the cooler and she followed him. He was confused, a girl had never followed him somewhere and he didn’t know what it meant.34

“So, where did you move from?” she asked.35

“The city,” he answered, ditching the bottle in the green cooler and grabbing two bottles of water. The girl smiled in thanks and took it from him.36

“The City? That’s the name of your town? I’ve never heard of that before,” she egged him, cracking open the bottle.37

“San Francisco,” he sighed. He missed the small cramped apartment for some reason. He missed the traffic at night, in the past week he had sleep maybe a few hours each night. Tourists always complained about the noise of the city. But it was the silence that drove him mad. The silence left too many possibilities open.38

“Wow, that’s a big move. I can’t even imagine what that must be like. I’ve lived here my whole life, in fact I don’t think I know anyone who hasn’t lived her their whole life. Taylor Coulter spends her summers in Europe, but she always come back for school.”39

The two had started walking along the beach away from the roar of the campfire and rowdy teens, “What’s in like San Francisco?”40

“Cold,” Lydia laughed. It was a warm night. Remus liked Lydia’s laughed. He wanted to hear it again, “Loud. Busy. Diverse. But, it was comforting and familiar. It was home. Most people can’t imagine living in the city, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”41

“I have this blanket, it’s totally thrashed but it’s my baby blanket. I couldn’t imagine sleeping without it,” she covered her mouth again, “I can’t believe I just said that,” she was embarrassed but still smiling. He took her hand from her face.42

“I like your smile,” she blushed and looked away. He could feel his own face reddening, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. He couldn’t explain it.43

“Lydia, what the hell?” a voice came.44

Lydia ripped her hand out of Remus’ and covered her entire face, “Crap. Crap. Crap.”45

“Boyfriend?” Remus asked, his heart dropping.46

“Worse,” she moaned, falling into the sand.47

“Father?”48

“My brother.”49