Save The Last Dance

By Indigo Wren

When a camping trip among friends ends on a sour note, the future of Beth and Aaron’s two year long relationship hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, Megan harbours a secret that she is too scared to talk to anybody about – a secret that threatens the security of her own relationship with Bryce. As the school dance approaches, the events of the weekend at the lake take over the lives of the six teens and force them to focus on the unsavoury actions of a so-called friend. The decisions that result could change their lives forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Indigo Wren
• Release date: Jan 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310842061

Indigo Wren

Indigo lives in Alberta, Canada with their two young adult children and their life partner. They have adopted and lost a variety of cats over the years, but usually have one hanging around. They enjoy teasing the cat, writing (of course), and hanging out with the kids. They began writing at a young age, starting with short stories, moving on to poetry, and eventually participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and completing their first novel. Since then, they have produced several manuscripts of novel-length. When they grow up, Indigo hopes to be an expert in the field of faery security. Their advice for writers, young and old, is to be brave in their work and never give up.

Book preview

Part 1: Saturday, May 22, 1999

Chapter 1

Beth rolled over in her sleeping bag, the rocks and grass crunching beneath her. The ceiling above her was green and vinyl. The air within the tent had a faintly musty, wet smell about it. Lying beside her in the double-zipped bag, Aaron was still asleep. She hesitated to reach for him, gingerly wrinkling her frozen nose. She watched him sleep for a few minutes, gently easing herself closer to his warm body. She wondered briefly if she had slept through the spring and summer, and found herself in his arms. She’d been so busy concentrating on her thoughts and her silence that she didn’t notice Aaron opening his eyes and reaching to embrace her. Beth smiled and reached her hand out to his face. She caressed his cheek softly and relaxed in his grasp.

Morning sweetheart. Sleep well? she asked quietly.

He nodded. Always do when you’re with me.

Her cheeks flushed. Even after two years, he could still embarrass her with a kind word. I have to pee, she said after a long moment of comfortable silence, but it’s too cold to go!

He smiled and chuckled quietly. What if we go out together?

That’d be alright, I guess. She shivered as they sat up and cast off their covers. She stood quickly and slipped on her shoes. Let’s go, she whispered.

Aaron reached out and pulled the zipper quickly. Beth cringed at the thundering sound it made in the silence. She jumped out of the tent quickly and ran to the outhouse, with Aaron following close behind.

Today’s the last day, Aaron called softly from beyond the curtain that served as a door.

Yeah, I know. It’s kinda sad. This is kind of like home! She emerged from behind the ratty fabric with a smile.

Yeah, except for the simple conveniences like running water and flushing toilets, Aaron added as he took her place in the outhouse.

And warm baths! she laughed.

There was a brief silence, and Aaron emerged. He held out his hand to Beth, and she took it. They walked back to the campsite together. There were sounds of stirring bodies from within the other tents set up around the fire pit. She sat on a tree stump and watched as Aaron tried to light the fire after a damp night. He muttered and cursed a few times, unable to light the soggy logs. He glanced up at Beth, shivering on the stump.

Can’t get it lit?

The wood’s too wet, he grumbled. He stared pointedly at the pile hidden under a tarp about fifteen feet away.

I guess a little work will help warm me up, Beth said as she stood. Aaron watched her as he balanced on his toes. She left the circle of tents and found her way to the outhouse. There was a basket inside to haul the wood with. She heard the sound of laughter from the fire pit, and turned to see Crista and Daniel emerge from their tent. Crista had a glow about her, as always. Daniel grasped her hand, and they trotted off in Beth’s direction. Aaron had stopped throwing the wet logs to the side to watch the two leave. He seemed to realize he looked ridiculous sitting on his haunches with a log in his hand, and resumed discarding the logs. Beth hurried and got the basket from the outhouse. She heard the whispering voices of Crista and Daniel as they approached, and stepped out into the sunshine.

Good morning, strangers! Have a good night?

Crista grinned. But of course, darling! Now, I really do need to use the little girl’s room! She grabbed Daniel’s hand and pulled him into the small outbuilding. Beth soon heard giggles from behind the curtain. She took off toward the woodpile.

Hurry up with the wood, will ya, Beth?

She lifted a corner of the tarp and picked out a half-dozen dry logs and a handful of kindling, then started back. Megan was emerging from a tent looking tired and haggard. Her curly red hair stuck out in all directions and she looked like she hadn’t slept long or well. Aaron had taken Beth’s spot on the stump.

Morning Megan! Restless night? Beth set the basket down and looked at Aaron.

Unh, Megan grunted. Is the outhouse free?

Beth made a face. No. Crista and Danny just went in. Don’t bet on gaining access for a while yet.

Great. She flopped onto a bench across from the stump Aaron was sitting on. He was glaring at Beth.

Aaron... I don’t know how to light a fire.

He blinked at her. She blinked back. He stood up, heaving a sigh, and yanked a log out of the basket.

Go get some dry matches, will ya?

She bowed low to him, hands clasped in front of her. Yes, Massa. She ran to the tent and retrieved a box of dry matches, then ran back. She bowed low again, holding the matches between her clasped hands. Here you matches, Massa, she whispered.

Aaron glared at her a moment, then ripped the matches from Beth’s hands. She sat down on the stump, mildly shocked, and watched as Aaron got the fire going.

Megan, where’s Bryce? He was usually the first awake and in the lake, but there had been no splashing when Beth had gotten up.

Megan opened her mouth to respond when a head poked through the tent flap, interrupting her. I’m right here, Beth! He stepped out of the tent. I decided to treat myself and sleep in today.

Everybody laughed. Crista and Daniel appeared from behind their tent, smiles on their faces. What’s so funny?

Aaron looked up. That goofy grin on your boyfriend’s face! Crista turned around and laughed.

You’re right! It is kinda goofy! She craned her neck up and kissed Daniel. His grin grew goofier, and he sat down.

Megan’s eyelids drooped sleepily. She yawned, her mouth opening wide. Beth yawned along with her, and laughed. She smiled quickly and stood up to go to the outhouse. Bryce took her place on the bench.

The rain kept her awake last night. It was hard on our tent, he explained.

Crista’s face lit up. Hey! Who wants to go out on the boat? Danny got it working before he went to bed!

A murmur of agreement rippled around the fire.

Megan stumbled back to the fire pit. Bryce moved over a few inches to allow her room to sit. She waved him away and crawled into the tent. She collapsed on the sleeping bag and curled up into a little ball. Everybody gazed in after her. She didn’t close the tent flap.

Crista stood up quickly, dusted herself off, and headed for the dock. Coming? she called back to her friends.

Daniel stood up and ran after her, followed closely by Aaron. Bryce climbed into the tent after Megan, which left Beth alone. She signed and followed the guys to the dock.

Chapter 2

Crista and Daniel were setting up the water skis behind the boat, and arguing about who would drive.

Aaron wants to try to get up one last time. Since he keeps wiping out with you, I think I should drive.

Yeah, Danny, Aaron interjected, she’d better drive. I want to save my knees.

Daniel griped and grumbled for a few minutes more while he finished getting the skis ready. Fine, he finally said. Crista can drive. But we can only have two people in the boat at a time. So who goes and who stays?

Nobody spoke for a few minutes. Beth could tell Daniel wanted to go, so she finally gave in. I’ll stay. I might go for a swim or something. You two can go. She stretched up and kissed Aaron on the side of his mouth. Good luck, sweetheart!

Aaron stood on the end of the dock and put his feet in the skis. Crista turned the key and Daniel jumped in beside her. She eased the boat forward. Daniel sat at the back of the boat and held the towrope so it didn’t get caught in the motor. Crista turned around and glanced at Aaron.

You ready for this? she called.

Aaron gave her a thumbs-up and a grin, and the motor revved. The boat took off with Aaron in tow. He was struggling to keep his balance, but eventually got his knees locked and his back straight. As Crista led the boat in a wide arc to the right, Aaron leaned to the right to avoid falling in the wake. Beth watched Aaron as he swung with Crista’s direction changes. He did pretty well for his first time up. They went halfway out across the lake, and Crista turned slowly. Beth figured Aaron was probably getting quite confident in his water-skiing ability. Crista turned sharply to the left. Aaron was leaning to the left, trying to stay out of the wake, but he leaned over too far. His feet went out from under him, and the skis flew off his feet. He landed spread-eagle on his back. The towrope had flown somewhere to the right of the boat. Daniel was reeling it in as Crista carefully eased the boat toward Aaron.

Wiped out?

Bryce’s words startled Beth. Huh? Oh. Yeah. Pretty bad, too. Probably told Crista to take closer turns.

Yeah, probably. He always has been a hotshot.

Megan sleeping?

Yeah. She was so exhausted. Long day yesterday, and then up all night...

Man. Hey, do you want to go for a swim?

Bryce looked over the water. Aaron was in the boat now, and Daniel was at the skis. They watched as Crista started slowly, allowing Daniel the chance to get his rear end out of the water, and then sped up.

Sure. They’re far enough out that they won’t bother us.

The air had warmed considerably since they’d gotten up for the day. They walked back to the campsite and climbed into their tents. Beth tore off the heavy sweater she’d slept in and slipped into her bathing suit. She grabbed a dark t-shirt and a towel from her bag and climbed out of the tent. Bryce was sitting on the stump waiting. He stood up and put his left hand on his hip. Shall we?

Beth linked arms with him, and they skipped back down to the dock. She laid her towel out in the middle of the dock and took off at a dead run. She yelled, Geronimo! as she leapt into the air. Bryce followed close behind Beth, jumping in next to her cannonball. There was a floating dock about a hundred yards offshore. Beth stared at it for a moment, then dove underwater and swam for it. She came up for air and saw Bryce was about an arm’s length ahead of her. She dove under again, determined to beat him to the dock. When she came up for air again, Bryce was only a few feet away from the dock, and she was only three-quarters of the way there. She decided to tread water while she watched him climb onto the dock. He sat on the edge and started laughing.

Come on, Beth! You can do more than treat water!

She sighed and swam the rest of the way. Bryce reached out and grabbed her forearm, hoisting her up onto the dock.

Thanks, she breathed.

She lay down on the boards, staring into the sun. Bryce laid down a few feet from her. She turned her head to look at him.

Beth had never really noticed what Bryce looked like before. He had always just been Bryce, the nondescript kid that Megan dated off and on. She saw that he really was quite handsome. He had hazel eyes and full red lips. His eyebrows weren’t too thick or too thin. His nose was perfectly shaped for his face – not too child-like, but not too large and sharp, either. His hands – he was running them through his hair – were big, but not overwhelming. His hair was a soft blonde – not quite yellow, but not quite brown. His eyes had a subtle shape – not quite round, not quite almond. His skin was lightly tanned from working outside. She wondered briefly what it would be like to kiss him.

Beth stood up and gazed across the lake. She could just see Daniel doing tricks on the other side of the lake. Bryce sat up as well. He stared off at the campsite. Megan seemed to still be sleeping.

Have you noticed Megan acting strange lately?

She glanced at him. His eyes seemed worried.

I don’t know... she seems more tired than usual. Are you guys having problems?

Not that I know of. That doesn’t mean anything, though. I’ve been preoccupied with Madison and Sheryl lately. Maybe that’s the problem. Bryce sighed. I just wish Sheryl would either get clean or go away. Madison doesn’t need to be exposed to her shit!

How old is she now? Madison, I mean.

Eighteen months on Monday.

It’s really sad that Sheryl couldn’t stay clean for her child. Has she been to a rehab program?

Several. She keeps hanging out with the same people, though, and ends up falling back into her old habits. It makes me sick.

She’s messed up.

Bryce nodded slowly. Yep.

Beth reached for his hand and squeezed it between both of her own. Hey. You’re a good dad. Just because Sheryl can’t be a good mom all the time...

Bryce looked up at her. Do you... do you think Megan could be pregnant?

She stared at Bryce, dumbfounded. Pregnancy was a possibility, but Beth liked to think that Megan would at least drop a hint to her. I... she... you... I don’t know!

I mean, it’s not like we have unprotected sex – I’m in no hurry to create a sibling for Madison – but things happen!

Beth shook her head. I don’t think that’s it.

He closed his eyes and fell backwards. You’re probably right. Maybe I’m over-reacting.

She shifted her position so she was looking at the shoreline. Maybe she’s got something on her mind about home or school or something. She gets nervous and can’t sleep when it’s something like that.

Perhaps. I just have a feeling that this time, it’s something bigger than her... more than she can handle by herself... you know?

She nodded slowly. Yeah. I know what you mean. I’ve dealt with a few of those types of issues. As long as you have support, you survive. She paused for a moment, reflecting on her own battles. Megan has support.

You’re a good friend to her, Beth. She needs someone like you in her life for always.

She blushed slightly. I just give what I get, Bryce. Nothing less.

Someone was playing music at another campsite along their side of the lake. She turned onto her stomach and closed her eyes for a minute.

Going to sleep?

No... tanning my lily-white legs!

Oh.

Still want to talk?

Well, kind of.

Shoot.

Oh. Um. Huh. She stammered for a few seconds, then fell quiet. Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Beth opened one eye and peered up at him. His face showed that he was serious. She sat up and looked him in the eye. Do you ever get so scared that you can’t move, can’t talk, can’t even produce a coherent thought from the chaos that is your mind? Do you ever sit in the corner of a dark room and just shake and cry and want to scream but you can’t because you’re crying too hard, and you just want to hurt someone? Do you ever go for long walks in unfamiliar places without paying attention to where you’re going? Do you ever just want to be lost that someone might find you? Hurt that someone might heal you? Hate that someone might love you? She paused and took a breath. Bryce blinked. He opened his mouth as if to speak. She shook her head and continued. In moments like that, I desperately want to believe in Santa Claus. I want, more than anything, to believe that someone out there can make miracles happen. She paused again. Bryce just stared at her. But do I believe in Santa Claus as a matter of course? She shook her head. No.

Bryce nodded. She wondered vaguely if she’d scared him. She lay back down on her stomach.

What about God?

You mean that entity that is the basis of so many religions?

He nodded.

I haven’t decided yet. I’ve come to believe, I think, that there is something at work in the universe. I’m just not sure what it is. She turned her head away from Bryce, so she could only hear him moving. She resisted the urge to look.

So, what’s your view on the bible, then?

She flipped onto her back and closed her eyes. I think it’s mostly just a storybook. God – as believed by so much of the world – is primarily a creation of man’s fantastical imaginations.

What’s important to you?

She opened her eyes and looked over at Bryce. He was lying on his side, supporting his head with an arm. She smiled. Friends. Music. Love. Trust. Truth. Communication. She gazed at the world around her. Fun and responsibilities. And, of course, the basics – food, shelter, clothing.

Oh! Speaking of food – nobody had breakfast, did they?

I know I didn’t, and I was the first one up. What time is it?

Bryce glanced at his watch. Nearly twelve-thirty. Wonder where Cris and the guys are?

Probably found a mid-morning party somewhere.

Beth? She looked up at Bryce. Thank you for being honest with me. It means more than you could know.

She sat up and grasped one of his hands. She looked into his eyes. Anytime you need to talk... just call me. Okay?

He nodded. I will. Thank you. She leaned over and embraced Bryce.

When they separated, Beth looked toward the campsite again. She could just barely see a mop of red hair sitting on the stump, poking at the dead fire with a stick. Looks like Megan’s up. We should get back.

Bryce didn’t respond, just stood and dove into the water. She slid into the water from the ladder and started swimming.

Chapter 3

Beth reached the dock a few seconds behind Bryce. She hoisted herself up and wrapped her towel around her waist. She plodded to the campfire and sat on the bench. Megan glanced up at her and smiled.

Hey there!

Hey Beth. I feel a bit more human now.

Beth nodded. Good. Sleep can do wonders. Hungry?

Famished!

Me too. Where’d Bryce take off to?

He’s using the ‘facilities’, such as they are, and getting some more wood.

For all the grumbling Aaron had done, the fire hadn’t lasted the three hours they’d been out on the lake.

Hey, Meg...

Yeah?

Umm... did you... I mean...

What’s wrong, Beth?

She took a deep breath. Did you think Aaron was acting odd this morning?

To be honest, I was just concerned with peeing and going back to bed.

Oh. Megan was going to be about as much help to Beth as Beth had been to Bryce.

Well, ladies, here’s your wood. Anything else I can do?

How about starting a fire with that firewood?

Gee, I don’t know about that, Beth. I never was in Boy Scouts, so I’m not sure I know how!

I’m confident in your abilities, Bryce.

Bryce feigned delight. I’m so proud to have your confidence, Beth! They all laughed at Bryce’s silliness. Oh, fine. I guess I can start the fire.

Beth stood up and found her way to the cabin tent they’d set up. It housed their food coolers and a small table, along with a small propane space heater. She stacked some plates on the table and dug through the cooler. What do you guys want for lunch?

What’ve we got?

Franks and beans... ham slices... eggs... bacon... that’s about it. Oh, and some potato chips.

Enough franks and beans for lunch and dinner?

Depends. Do you think one can of beans is enough for dinner?"

Probably not if we all go swimming again. Let’s have ham sandwiches.

’Kay. What would you like to drink?

I’ll have a water, Megan said.

Bryce wants Sprite.

Got it. Meg, want to help me?

Okay.

Bryce had the fire going by the time the girls finished making the sandwiches. As they settled around the table in the tent to eat, they heard a motor sputtering to a halt and three distinct voices chattering away near the dock. They could see the beach from the tent, but the dock was obscured by a small grove of trees. They waited a moment, and then saw Aaron and Daniel walking up the small slope to the campsite. Crista was running to catch up.

Well, look who decided to come back! You three hungry?

Crista grinned. Nah. We found some grub with some guys on the other side of the lake. They had some good stuff.

Aaron had a glazed look in his eyes. His head was dripping wet, but his clothes were dry, save for his shoulders. Daniel’s eyelids were drooping. He looked like he’d been washed and wrung out by a giant instead of being left to hang dry.

"Rough ride, boys? Or