No Such Thing as Too Young

I sat back, resting my back against Tony's wall as he sat in front of me playing guitar. He lightly strummed, and hummed a tune I wasn't familiar with. His eyes were closed and I studied him. He had changed a lot over the years. His dark hair was getting long, and often got in his eyes. He had snake bites, and ears that he had been gauging since his sophomore year of high school. He had a few tattoos already, and I must say that they suited him. His jaw wasn't as swollen, but his hand was, and his eye was still bruised from the fight two days before. His house was silent besides our breathing, and his guitar playing. Our parents had gone on their annual family vacation, but instead this time it was a "parent" vacation, deciding we were old enough to stay home and they needed to get away. Suddenly Tony stopped playing and noticed me staring at him. He was smiling at me, and I looked down, blushing. His phone buzzed and he quickly typed out a response to whoever texted him. "Wanna head up to the lake, and meet up with everyone?" He asked in a hopeful voice. "Are we staying the night?" I asked him. He nodded as he began to throw some stuff in a backpack. I rolled my eyes at how he just threw things in there, such a boy. I gave him a quick hug. "I'll be right back, I gotta grab some stuff, and change" I told him, motioning the sweat pants I was wearing. He rolled his eyes, and smiled before going back to getting what he needed. I ran over to my house, unlocked the door, and began to pack a bag. I quickly changed nto shorts and a shirt, throwing my swim suit into my bag. I headed outside, re-locked the door, and ran over to Tony. "Need help?" I joked lifting the other end of the cooler he was trying to put in the back of his truck. "Need help with anything else muscle man?" I teased, bumping him with my hip. "Get your ass in the car" he said in a joking tone. I tossed my bag into the back of the truck and did as he asked. He was soon seated next me to me, starting the car. With a roar from the old engine we were off. Once again New Found Glory was playing though the stereo speakers, but we were singing along this time. "Catalyst, you insist to pull me down. You contradict the fact that you still want me around. And it’s all downhill from here, And it’s all downhill from here" I sang along with Jordan's voice on the stereo. I heard Tony chuckle, and I immediately stopped singing. I glanced over and saw a smile on his face. "You can sing pretty well Shay" He told me. I blushed and looked down. "Thanks.." I mumbled, not bothering to restart singing the song. The car was silent, expect for the music. "Come on Shay, I enjoy your singing" He told me, trying to get me to loosen up again. I shook my head and laughed a bit. Tony began to sing, and not very well may I add. He wasn't horrible, but he couldn't sing anywhere near the way Vic could. His voice was calming though, I had grown to love it. I soon started to sing along to. I glanced over at him again, and saw he was once more smiling.

After an hour long drive of useless banter, and music we finally were a few minutes away. "Tony you drive like a douche!" I yelled, laughing at him scrunching his face, and drum on the steering wheel. He was singing loud to the 80's station on the radio, and it was the most ridiculous thing I had ever seen. He looked over at me, nodding his head to the beat, his face still scrunched. I rolled my eyes, laughing even louder. "Keep your eyes on the road Turtle" I kidded. His face went back to a normal shape, and his face lite up with a smile, and a loud laugh escaped his lips. "We are on a private road that leads up to the house Shay. What the fuck would I hit, big foot?" He kidded. I stuck my tongue out at him, and found myself singing along as Motley Crew came on. Tony smiled at me, and began to sing along also. The house came into view, and as we pulled into the end of the road where the other cars were. We saw everyone gathered around a bonfire. I climbed out of the truck, and walked over to everyone with Tony. "Tony!" Vic yelled. Tony smiled and lifted his hand to greet everyone. I sat next to Ashley, and giggled. "I love you too Vic" I told him winking. "Shay! You know I love you baby" He said getting up and sitting himself in my lap. Everyone laughed. "Yeah okay" I said pushing him off of me. He landed on his ass in the dirt. He sat there pouting and everyone just ignored him and began to talk. "Assholes" Vic muttered standing up, and sitting down next to Taylor once again. I noticed a small blush creep on to her checks. I smiled at the sight. "Ey, is there anymore room in the fridge Ash? I brought some stuff from home" Tony said smiling. "Uhm, I think so. Top shelf should have some room left" She said shrugging. "Alright, cool" Tony said jogging back over to the truck. "So what's the plan?" I asked looking at everyone. "How about skinny dipping?" Mike joked. Ashley smacked his chest. I flipped him off. "How about Truth or Dare?" Beth suggested. "I mean I know it's kinda middle school, but it could be fun" she added when we all looked at her. "No, no. That's a good idea" I told her. "What's a good idea?" Tony asked walking back over to everyone. He handed me a mike's hard lemonade, before taking a seat on the other side of Vic. "Truth or dare" Taylor pipped up. Tony nodded "So who's starting?" He asked a smirk on his face. "Well I guess I will" Beth said a devious look on her face. "Shay, truth or dare?" she asked a smirk still on her face. I gulped knowing I would regret choosing either. "Uhm truth..?" I asked in a soft voice. Vic chuckled at my indecision. "Who was your first kiss with?" She asked me. I felt blush flood my checks, looking down. I peeked up at Tony through my eyelashes, and saw a small smile on his tan face. "Tony" I mumbled under my breath. I heard Ashley giggle, already knowing the answer. "What was that Shay, I don't think anyone heard you!" Jaime joked. "Tony" I said again a little louder. I saw Tony chuckle a little, and a blush appear on his face as well. Yes, Tony blushed a bit. "What!?" Mike shouted. I shot a glare at Mike, as everyone began to yell "Come on Shay!" I sighed frustrated, "Fine! It was Tony! My first kiss was with Tony alright!" I shouted. Everyone awed. "What happened!?" Taylor yelled. "Nuh uh, only one question. It's my turn now!" I scolded. I saw Tony laugh and shake his head from the corner of my eye. I blushed even harder and buried my head into my hands. I felt someone sit next to me, and arms go around my shoulders. I inhaled and the familiar smell surrounded me. Not in a creepy way, he just had a distinct scent. I buried my head into his neck, and he kissed the top of my head. "Don't be embarrassed Hun" Tony whispered. The term of endearment just made me blush more. Everyone began to Aw even more, so I lifted my hand to flip them all over. "Okay, take your turn Shay" Ashley encouraged. I took my head out of Tony's embrace, but he kept his arm wrapped around me. "Okay uhm, Jaime, truth or dare?" I asked. He smiled. "Dare, bring it baby!" He yelled making Beth shake her head and giggle. I glanced at Tony, and he had a smile on his face wondering what I'd make him do. "I dare you to strip down, and run around the fire at least once!" I giggled. Tony shook his head and everyone was laughing. "Like I haven't done that on my own drunk before" Jaime kidded. He stripped down, holding his hand over his crotch as he ran around the fire. I couldn't contain my laughter as Jaime's ass jiggled. He finally got his clothes back on, and sat down next to Beth. We all calmed down, and it was Jaime's turn to pick. He looked at me and smiled, and I knew what was coming. Tony rubbed my arm, knowing I didn't want to tell the story. I leaned my head onto his shoulder and cuddled up to him. "Dont feel weird" He mumbled into my ear. I nodded as Jaime's smirk grew. "So Shay, truth or dare?" He asked. I shook my head. "I know you will all keep going back to me, so truth" I said defeated. They all practically cheered. I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the feeling of Tony's hand on my arm. It was calming a bit. "Well I remember thinking that everyone but me had kissed someone. Of course that wasn't true, I was just a stupid fourteen year old. I knew from the moment Ashley had her first kiss, that I wanted mine to be comfortable, not weird like hers" I smiled at the memory. Ashley scrunched up her face in disgust and we giggled together. "Well it was summer before freshman year" I continued "During one of our many sleep overs Tony and I decided it was a good idea to climb into our old tree house and hang out for old times sake. After about half an hour of talking, and looking at the sky Tony turned to me and asked if I was still worried about high school, and the whole dating aspect of it. I had told him my concerns after Ashley discussed her first kiss with us. I told him I was, but not to worry about it because I wasn't pretty or skinny enough for any guy to want to kiss me anyways. And I'm guessing he planned it because New Found Glory's cover of Kiss Me came on, and Tony told me to look at him, and rested his hand on my check." I blushed once again as I discussed this with Tony sitting next to me. I glanced at him, and noticed a blush upon his face to, but he was smiling. "He told me to stop saying things like that, that I beautiful, perfect even and then he leaned in and kissed me." I said ending the story. Everyone erupted into a chorus of Aw's, and told us how cute that was. I hide my face once again in Tony's neck. He hugged me, and kissed my check. "Don't be embarrassed. It's our memory, and nothing can change it" he told me softly. I nodded and turned to everyone. "So Mike, truth or dare?" I asked with a smirk.

After an hour of torturing each other with dares we decided to go swimming. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror staring at my naked body. I didn't have a perfect body. I wasn't big per say, but I wasn't skinny either. I had Latino curves from my dad's side of the family. I always wanted to have Ashley's figure. She was perfect. Her blonde hair, flat stomach, and thigh gap. I sighed as I slid my bikini top on. My curves were just one flaw, but they weren't the biggest. My eyes ran down my body, and rested on my hip bones, and thighs. Running along them were red marks, scars that had been carved onto my canvas over the past year. I slid my swim shorts on, making sure they covered my scars. No one knew, not even Tony and I planned on keeping it that way. I stared at my stomach, and repeated over and over again in my head that these were my best friends out there, and they had seen me in a swimsuit before. I put a fake smile on my face and stepped out to see the girls talking. "Damn Taylor, trying to tease Vic?" Ashley teased. I looked over a Taylor who bite her lip, and blushed. She did took good , her swim suit seemed to reveal quite a bit though."Well look at you Ash, damn cleavage much?" She said motioning to Ashley. She shrugged. "I got a boyfriend to please" she said winking. Beth shook her head. "So what's going on with you and Tony? Trying to impress him" She asked me, smiling. I gave a nervous laugh. "Come on,it's Tony guys." I reminded them. "Exactly. Tony. Your best friend since forever, the guy you have sleep over with, who you shared your first kiss with. The only guy who has seen you in the morning, messy hair, has seen you sick and still think the sun shines out your ass" Ashley said smiling. I bite my lip and looked down. "Tony see's me as his sister, his best friend. That's it" I stated simply. "Yeah, okay" Beth said laughing and leaving the room. We all followed.

I went to set my towel by the fire, and then headed over to the dock. I took a deep breath and jumped in. I came up for air, and felt a pair of strong arms wrap around my middle. "Nice swim suit" Tony said lowly in my ear, and then took off for the guys. They began to joke and rough house. I giggled before going back under water. What has gotten into Tony.

Tonys POV

Once we all got sick of more drinking, goofing off, and playing chicken we went our seperate ways. Ashley and Mike were in Ashley's room, probably fucking. I chuckled a bit at the thought. Vic, Taylor, Jaime, and Beth were all in the living room watching a movie, and most likely cuddling. Shay and I decided to stay out here. I glanced over at her, she was still in her swim suit but a hoodie was placed over her upper half. The flicker from the dimming fire provided little light, but she looked good. Her hair was drying, and her tan, make up free face seemed concentrated on the fire, or more so something in her head. Her swim shorts were short and her legs were shaking from the cold. I couldn't help but place my hand on her knee. Her eyes widened in shock like a deer in the headlights, and I snapped my hand away, regretting touching her leg. "What's wrong?" I questioned her. Her eyes shot down in a panic. What the hell is her problem. I looked down, and saw her hands eager to pull her shorts back down into place. In the low light, I saw something I wish I hadn't. I put my hand over hers, stopping her from going any farther. I saw cuts, some newer, and some older covering her thighs. Her thighs had scars, and what scared me the most what that I could only see 1/4 of her it. She shoved my hand away, and I was frozen staring at her. I looked at her,waiting for an explanation. "Tony..." she trailed off. The gears were turning in my head, searching for any explanation but the obvious. "Ton, you- you know I have that new cat. He was a stray and isn't exactly used to people yet. If my parents knew this happened they would make me get rid of him" she said, her eyes filling with tears. I simply nodded, not sure what else to do. I pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back. We sat, just like that, wrapped up in each other.
My brain was going over a million different things. She did have a new cat, and he was a douche but the evidence sat right in front of me. I couldn't believe she would do this.
She has a cat, she wouldn't do that Tony I told myself over and over. She would tell you, your her best friend. She loves and cares for you just like the way you love her. She wouldn't do that to herself. Tears filled in my own eyes and I slightly tightened my grip on her scared she would slip away from me.
I wanted to question her, make her tell me what was really going on, but I knew she would just shut off, and push me away. I needed to buy my time. I didn't even know what was really happening.
I denied all the bad thoughts. She has a cat, she is happy, she loves you I told myself once again, and a million more times that night.