• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

Pem's expression softened. "He's so great. I know I had a crush on him last year, but this is different. For one thing, it's reciprocal. He's into me, too. I know you think he's just some gear-head who wears Hawaiian shirts, but there's more to him, Lena. He's so sweet and funny and cool."

"I'm sure," murmured Lena.

"And you know what?"

"What?"

"We're going out tomorrow. A real date, not sneaking around."

"Really?"

Pem nodded. "I even told my moms."

"You did? How did they take it?"

"They were okay, actually." Pem sounded surprised. "Of course I have to be home at, like, a ridiculous hour, but still."

"Were they freaked out that he's in college?"

"A little. But I explained that he only turned eighteen a few months ago. So we're only two and a half years apart."

"Good. I'm happy for you, Pem."

"Thanks." Pem glowed.

"Hey, Pem?"

"Yes?"

"I wasn't going to tell you this, but..."

"Oooh, sounds juicy," said Pem, scooting closer.

"No, not like that. But first you have to promise not to tell Max."

"I promise."

"Or Kai."

"Wow. Okay." Pem waited.

"Um, well, Martha and Leslie invited me to the movies tomorrow. And I'm going to go, but ... um, I'm not really going to the movies."

"Huh?"

"I'm going to go surfing."

"What do you mean? I thought you just said you were going to the movies."

"I am ... I mean, I'm going to have my dad take us to the movies, but then I'm going to sneak out and come back home for Max's surfboard, and go surfing."

"What?"

Lena nodded.

"But why? If your dad finds out, he'll—"

"He won't find out."

"How are you going to get there?"

"Walk."

"Walk? You're going to walk all the way to Back Yard with a surfboard?"

Lena hesitated. "No."

Pem stared at her, puzzled, then went still as a stone. "No," she whispered. "You don't mean Magic's."

"I do," said Lena.

"You're, like ... messing with me, right? Tell me you're just messing with me."

"I'm serious."

"You can't be."

"I am."

"Lena..." She struggled for words. "You just learned to surf. Magic's is for extreme surfers!"

"I can handle it."

Pem grabbed her hand. "Don't do this. I'm begging you."

"I have to."

"Have to? What are you talking about? Lena, listen to me. Have you ever seen a girl surfing at Magic's?"

"Well ... I guess not."

"Why do you think that is?"

"I don't know."

"Because they know you could get killed out there! Why do you think they call that one spot out there the Cauldron?"

"I'm not going to get killed, Pem. Jeez. Dramatic much?"

Pem glared at her.

"Theatrical?" added Lena, smiling.

Nothing.

"Uh ... hysterical?"

But Pem would not play. "And there's the Boneyard," she said. "You know about the Boneyard, right?"

Lena hesitated. Oh, yeah. The Boneyard.

Pem leaned in so that her face was inches from Lena's. "It's that shallow spot, nothing but reef and rocks. It will cut you up like hamburger if you get washed out there."

Lena swallowed.

"Yeah," said Pem. "How do you like Magic's now?"

Forcing a light note into her voice, Lena said, "I won't wash out in the Boneyard. I promise."

Pem stared at her a minute longer, then sighed and shook her head. "If I can't talk you out of this, at least wear a helmet," she begged.

Lena smiled.

"I'm serious! If you're going to do this insane thing, at least protect yourself."

"I'm going to be fine. Nothing's going to happen. I just wanted to let you know. In case..."

"In case what?" Pem's face was strained.

"Nothing. I just wanted to tell you because you're my best friend." She stood up. "Let's get something to eat. I'm hungry. What is Mama Mia making for dinner?"

Pem stood up, too. "Lena," she said, "if the conditions are bad tomorrow, swear to me you won't go through with this."

Lena did not answer.

CHAPTER 19

"See you later, Dad," said Lena, climbing out of his car.

"Thanks, Mr. Whittaker," said Martha, who smelled unusually floral and who seemed to take a long time exiting the car.

Leslie got out of the car and joined Lena, rolling her eyes.

"You're