What Happens Abroad by Jen McConnel Page A

dance
sober
on a fountain in Italy?” Joelle added with a laugh, shaking her short hair to an invisible beat.
    I laughed. “Fair point.” I moved my hips carefully, trying to keep my balance. “I just don’t want to go for a late-night swim.”
    â€œWe’re way too cool for that,” Sarah said, stepping away from me and flinging her arms wide. “Watch!” She started to twirl, and Joelle and I ducked out of the way of her spinning arms, laughing. We were still laughing when Sarah’s foot slipped and she sailed backward, her hands grasping at the empty air before we had a chance to react.
    She landed in the shallow water with a splash, and for a minute, Joelle and I froze. “Oh my God, are you okay?” I leaned in, reaching my hand toward her to fish her out, but Sarah just started to laugh. Tears were streaming down her face as she pushed herself to her feet, rubbing her tailbone ruefully, but she didn’t stop laughing. Joelle reached for her other arm, and a wicked glint flashed across Sarah’s eyes. Before I could react, she’d tugged us both into the fountain with her.
    Water shot up my nose as we landed in a heap on top of Sarah, but instead of being angry, I started to giggle. Flicking water at the girls, I struggled to stand up, but my feet slipped out from under me and I crashed into the water again.
    â€œThis is ridiculous,” Joelle managed to squeeze out between laughs. “You two are crazy, you know that?”
    Nearly hysterical, the three of us finally made it to our feet and climbed out of the fountain. Sarah hiccupped. “Now that,” she said in between gulps for air, “was fun!”

Chapter Nine
    The next night, back in the apartment, I was leaning out the kitchen window, looking at the city. I was nearly horizontal, my stomach pressed against the window frame, my hair falling around my face as I stared down at the street below. The breeze was almost cool that night, and I shook my head, enjoying the movement of the night air against my skin.
    â€œHey.” A male voice startlingly close to me spoke, and I straightened up, surprised.
    Leaning out the next window a few feet away from me was the curly haired guy who’d broken into our apartment the other night. He was staring at me. Nervously, I pulled my hair away from my face.
    â€œHey,” I began, not sure what to say.
    â€œLook, we’re really sorry about all that. My mates and I were a bit pissed, and I think we made a poor show of ourselves.”
    His accent was thicker than I’d realized, and I struggled to understand him. “No worries, I guess.” I gestured to the window. “Looks like you made it home okay, after all.”
    He laughed. “It was an honest mistake! At least we were on the right floor of the building.”
    Someone next door called out something unintelligible, and his head disappeared for a moment. I was just about to go back inside when he reappeared with a grin.
    â€œGood, you’re still here. Can we make it up to you girls?”
    â€œYou don’t need to do that.”
    He smiled, and a dimple appeared in his cheek. God, he was pretty cute. “Yes, we do. My mates and I need to show you that we can be proper gentlemen when we aren’t too pissed to see straight.”
    I laughed despite myself. “What did you have in mind?”
    â€œMeet us down at the little park around the corner. We can all have a chat and a drink.”
    I thought about it. “I have to ask the girls.”
    He grinned at me. “So ask away; I’ll be out here waiting for your answer!”
    I giggled as I pulled my head back inside, then headed down the hall to Joelle’s room.
    She was propped up in bed, reading, and Sarah was staring vacantly at her phone. They both looked up when I came in.
    â€œWhat’s up?”
    â€œDo you remember those guys from the other night?”
    Joelle snorted. “I