Shelly
Hey — don’t leave me here!!
My friends don’t hear me yelling.
They’re already zooming into the night on their ATV four-wheelers…
Heading back to the campground…
Where our huge group is spending the 4th of July.
Just a minute ago we were all out here stargazing…
But now I’m stranded in the middle of nowhere!
I look around the big, lonely desert.
Dear god, what am I going to do??
Then I hear a voice behind me.
Guy
You can catch a ride with me.
And I should run away as fast as I can.
But I slowly turn around instead.
My ex-boyfriend, Keith, is standing there…
Looking super cocky as he holds an ATV helmet.
My pulse kicks at me, but I kick right back at it.
Keith and I were a total disaster.
He had a reputation as a player.
But did I listen when everyone said he was wrong for me?
Nope. And I paid for it a couple of nights ago, too…
When he crushed my heart.
Shelly
Thanks but no thanks, Keith.
Shelly
I’ll just call my friends to come back and get me.
Keith
Good luck. There’s no reception out here.
Shelly
Okay, no big deal.
Shelly
Someone will realize I’m not with the group.
Shelly
Then they’ll come back.
Keith
Shelly, if you wait for that to happen…
Keith
You’ll be here forever.
Keith
I’m your only hope.
In fact, I hate him so much that I want to hurt him…
Just as much as he hurt me.
That’s why I decide to lie to him.
Shelly
Gosh, I guess you’re right, Keith—
Shelly
Maybe I should catch a ride with you.
Shelly
Yeah. I mean, the fireworks are starting soon…
Shelly
And I’m going to be watching them with a hot guy.
Hah — why don’t I rub it in even more?
Shelly
Yup. My date is a *very* hot Australian dude…
Shelly
From the campsite next to ours.
Now there’s a muscle flexing above Keith’s jaw.
I should feel even more gleeful—
I start thinking of the good times we had…
How he used to kiss me and murmur sweet things.
God, why did he have to ruin everything by cheating?
Keith
Okay, Shelly, since you have such a hot date…
Keith
We should really get moving.
Wait. Is that all he has to say?
Maybe he doesn’t still care about me after all.
I slowly walk over to his ATV.
Then I take the helmet and goggles from him.
I sit on the raised back seat, and when he sits in front of me…
Wow, his broad back is right there—
So close that I can almost feel the heat coming off him.
But then I remind myself:
He’s a player, and he broke my heart.
Then I wrap my arms around his waist…
Only because I have to hold on to something during the ride.
But as soon as I touch him…
I haul in a breath and tingle all over.
I think I feel Keith gasp, too.
Just as I’m beginning to melt…
He looks over his shoulder.
Keith
You know there are handles for you to hold onto, right?
Keith
Or are you just finding an excuse to hold onto me?
Gritting my teeth, I grip the hand-holds.
Shelly
I forgot these were back here, okay?
Shelly
Can you please just get me to my fireworks date?
Keith
Sure. Whatever you want, Shelly.
But then, suddenly, the engine cuts out.
Keith starts the engine again—
It looks like I’m about to be stranded again…
But this time, it’s with my ex!
Keith
Let me check this out, okay?
He climbs off, then fiddles with the bike.
I try not to watch him work…
My gaze skims over his thick, dark hair…
And the hank of it that has slumped over one of his eyes.
God, I loved looking into his green-blue eyes so much.
I used to melt at the emotion I saw in them.
But now I know that Keith never felt anything for me.
I tear my gaze away from him.
Shelly
Can you please hurry?
Keith
Why? So you can get to your hot fireworks date?
And as something changes in his gaze…
I realize that he also seems…sad.
Keith
Shelly, I just need to ask you something.
Keith
Why did you drop me cold?
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut.
Shelly
I wasn’t the cold one, Keith.
Keith
But you blindsided me.
Keith
I mean, one minute we were dating.
Keith
And the next, you were sending me a breakup text…
Keith
And totally shutting me out.
But I steel myself against him.
He’s a player, I remind myself.
Don’t fall for his tricks.
Shelly
You know exactly what happened.
Shelly
You hooked up with Julie Higgins behind my back.
Keith
Wait. Who told you that?
Shelly
Julie told me, you jerk!
Shelly
And thank god she did—
Shelly
Otherwise, I might’ve never known!
Shelly
God, why didn’t I just listen to everyone?
Shelly
They said you didn’t have a heart…
Shelly
And that you would eventually break mine.
Keith looks into my eyes…
And there’s pain in his gaze.
Keith
Shelly, I swear this is the truth:
Keith
Julie’s just spreading rumors about me.
Keith
She’s been after me all year…
Keith
But I never hooked up with her.
Keith
In fact, when you came along, I never wanted anyone else.
But what if he’s just trying to sweet talk me?
What if everyone is right about him?
Keith
Okay. I can see you’re done with me.
Keith
I need to get you to that date of yours.
I’m trying hard to hold back tears…
Because the only guy I’ve ever really wanted is him.
He starts the engine right up and it roars to life.
Shelly
I thought the engine wasn’t working!!
Angrily, I climb off the bike and shut the thing off.
Keith
Okay, I’ll admit it—
Keith
I couldn’t stand the thought of you being with another guy…
Keith
So I pretended the engine died.
I should still be angry, but I’m actually…happy.
And when he gives me a bashful gaze…
Keith
I have another confession.
Keith
I actually asked your friends to ditch you in the first place—
Keith
Just so you would finally talk to me.
I’m trying really hard not to melt…
Shelly
You actually recruited my friends for this dirty trick?
Keith
Yeah, and they were totally on board.
Keith
When I told them how I still feel about you…
Keith
They wanted you to give me a chance.
Keith
Just ask them when we get back, okay?
OMG, I can’t be angry at him—
Not when he’s just put his heart out there on the line.
Besides, didn’t I pull a dirty trick on him, too?
Shelly
I have a confession of my own, Keith.
Shelly
I never had a date for the fireworks tonight.
He gives me a hopeful look.
Shelly
No. I was just trying to make you jealous.
An awkward silence falls.
Then Keith touches my sleeve.
Keith
It sounds like you have an opening for a date during the fireworks.
Shelly
Because that spot is all yours.
At that moment, fireworks light up the sky in the distance.
It’s the 4th of July show at the campground.
And as I fall into Keith’s arms for a kiss…
Fireworks explode inside me, too—
Heated blossoms of hope and sparks of passion.
Afterward, when we look into each other’s eyes…
The fireworks just keep exploding…
Bursting into a million different colors in my mended heart.
