"Did she say that she wants to talk to me?"
"Dad. Listen to me. Who you are right now doesn't exist to her. In her head, she's a… a kid. When she was sixteen, you were her best friend."
Steve's lips thinned.
"I'll call Erica."
"Erica's going to say she needs more time. You need to step up and just go see her."
His nostrils flared. "What do Sara and Jesse know?"
"That she has amnesia. That she's working on getting better. That something's really wrong."
17
Serene - May 1996
"Oh my god, J, turn it up. I love this song," Taylor shrieked as they sped onto CA-1 South toward Hermosa Beach.
Warm, sultry air heavy with the ocean's scent and impending summer blew through the open windows of the car, freeing wispy strands of hair from Serene's perpetual ponytail. Julie reached over to raise the radio volume as Taylor sang along to “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins. Serene glanced over to see her lying back against Steve's chest, face tilted up toward him. Her arms snaked around his neck, pulling his head down for a kiss. He touched his lips to hers while his eyes darted up, uncertain about their public display of affection. Taylor's tongue flicked out, tracing his top lip sensually before giving his bottom lip a little nibble. He lowered his gaze back to her and let himself get lost in the kiss for some seconds before pulling away. Serene turned back to face front, a flush of heat flooding her cheeks.
"And we don't know just where our bones will rest," Taylor resumed singing. She had a nice voice, actually, and the fuzzy reverb in the song gave a dreamlike quality to their surroundings. It took the rest of “1979” and Jewel's “Who Will Save Your Soul” before they got to their destination and Julie parked the car. Serene grabbed her skateboard.
"Really?" Taylor said. "You guys are going to skate?"
"You saw us put the boards in the car," Steve said with a shake of his head, his lips compressing with irritation. Serene said nothing, opened the door and climbed out just as “Creep” came blasting over the airwaves.
"No way," Taylor yelled. "I love this song. This is my jam. Don't turn it off yet." She got out of the car, singing while locking her gaze with Serene's.
"You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so fuckin’ special."
"Come on, Taylor, you're acting like a dick," Steve said as she sang over him,
"But I'm a creep."
Swiveling her hips, she came so close to Serene that their breasts almost touched. Serene held her ground, chin lifted, refusing to show any weakness to Taylor. Refusing to show Taylor how uncomfortable her blatant display of sexuality was making her. Taylor tossed her hair out of her face and laughed before ducking back into the car to strip down to her bikini. Julie had already done the same, grabbing their beach bag with towels, suntan oil, water and a paperback novel peeking out over the top.
"Alright, you creep," Julie said in mock offense. "Can I turn this off now? You ready to hit the beach?"
Taylor poked out her bottom lip. "Come on, you guys. You skate, like, all the time. Let's go enjoy the S-E-A."
Steve's eyes snaked in Serene's direction.
"Don't look at her," Taylor admonished. "Jesus. You're my boyfriend."
"It doesn't mean you fucking own me," Steve snapped.
His words were like a slap wiping the mocking smile off her mouth. Julie turned off the car as Taylor's face fell from the shock of his lashing anger and she went to her friend's side to poke around in the bag on her shoulder for something to do.
"We'll catch up with you later," Steve said, dropping his board to the ground and pushing off, weaving around a car backing out of its stall. Serene dropped her board too, looking over her shoulder one last time at the two girls. Taylor had similar proportions to her mother, that same pear shape around the stomach, a dip at the belly button, abdomen protruding slightly, a little soft.
For an hour, they rode around fast and hard, squatting low as they took tight corners, jumping curbs and stairs and flying down sloping streets. Mostly, Serene followed Steve around the beach town, going where he led. They'd practiced a few tricks, not talking, his features set sullenly. There'd been nothing to say anyway, and Serene was okay with quiet. Every minute didn't have to be filled up with chatter. Watching Steve's tall, wiry body, always just a little ahead of her, filled Serene with an overwhelming sense of homesickness. The growing familiarity and the still newness of their friendship made Serene ache for female companionship.
They returned hot, sweaty and ready to hit the water. Taylor and Julie were sprawled out on their towels, skin glistening and golden in the afternoon sun. Julie was reading. Taylor slept, the beginning of a burn forming on her exposed cheek.
"Can I get the keys?" Steve asked when Julie looked up. Wordlessly, she handed him the beach bag, and he dug around inside for the keys. Then he motioned to Serene with his fingers. "Here, give me your board, I'm going to put them away."
She gave it to him and watched him lope away, intersecting a dark-haired girl who stopped to talk with him. After a minute, he went on his way and the girl continued in Serene's direction. Julie made a face when she saw her coming. "Ugh, Betty Ross," she mumbled.
Betty had pale white skin and her dark hair hung loose and all of one length to her shoulders. She had a small nose ring, another in her eyebrow, two in her bottom lip and a tattoo of a serpent around
