“Spring break, bitches,” he jokes in a high-pitched voice. “There’s a crowd at the bonfire now. I figured you might want to go check it out.”

I pull out a cigarette and light it. The small bag in my pocket is still burning itself into my skin, but I don’t want to touch it. It’s not something I’m comfortable doing in front of Hale. Considering I still owe him over four hundred, it feels like a punch in the face to smoke my debt right in front of him, so I settle for a cigarette.

This is how he corners me into selling for him, to pay off my debt. Meanwhile, he keeps his image clean, and in a small community like Wickett, the plan is pretty flawless.

Well, not for me. I tend to rack up debt faster than I can pay it, and he knows that. Hence why he sticks with me. That and the fact that I have a way with these kids, especially the girls.

No, I’m not proud of myself, but these punks show up once a year, trash our beautiful beach, use and abuse us, then leave. What the fuck do I care if they get a little kick while they’re here? At least they can afford to get hooked. Unlike the rest of us.

“I’ll have to go down there and say hello,” I say with the cigarette hanging from my lips. I can barely smoke it. I’m just in a funk tonight. I agree to go to the beach, but my heart isn’t in it. All I can think about is that Sandra Dee blonde with her perfect white shoes and soul-piercing blues, and I just don't give a shit about smoking or bonfire bitches. I suddenly wish I was the kind of guy who could cozy up to her on a night like tonight. And I’ve never thought like that before.

“They’re just getting started, so you might want to hustle. And you know…hustle.” He laughs at his own lame joke, and I’m reminded that this kid is still clean as fuck.

“Yeah, let me just clean up around here, and I’ll head down there.” I reach my hand out toward him, keeping an eye on the alley way to make sure there isn't anyone watching or walking by. He hands me a plastic bag full of smaller bags. It isn’t much, but with what they will pay, it doesn’t need to be much. I shove it into my pocket and clap his hand before turning to walk back into the shop.

“I’ll catch up with you tomorrow,” he calls to me as he walks away. I don't think he looked up from his phone once during our entire conversation. But I don’t really care. I’d rather not have a relationship with him. Or anyone, for that matter.

Sierra

There’s a crowd around the fire, and they're all getting so drunk it will be a miracle if they make it through this night without anyone falling in. I’m sitting on the wooden log that acts as a bench. Natalie is showing off her tattoo to anyone that will listen. She's already pulled off the plastic even though Logan told her to keep it on for eight hours.