Spring break is a rite of passage into adulthood.

Freedom, warm weather, skimpy clothes, beaches, bars, hot bodies, suntan oil, music, dancing, drinking…so much drinking!

Everyone should go through the liberating experience of spring—break festivities at least once in life, right?

Spring break changed my life forever. It was a passage I could have lived without, a rite I would have forgone if I had known then what I know now. If life came with a crystal ball, I could have looked into my future to avoid so much pain———I would have made different choices. If only it were that easy, but I didn't have the ability to foresee the consequences of my actions.

Wishes aren't reality.

Pain and regret are reality, and I know them now all too well.

******

Campbell Stevens

Pounding on the hollow bathroom door of our eighty—nine dollar a night hotel room I yell out, "Lexi! Hurry up! You aren't the only one who needs to get ready!"

I sigh and walk over to the double bed where my suitcase lay wide open. I spill out its contents onto the gaudy multi—hued bedspread.

The first thing I noticed about Mexico was that everything is so jammed with color. Riding in the taxi to our hotel, I was astonished that people actually painted their homes cotton—candy pink, ocean teal, and banana yellow. The streets are aligned with seemingly connected homes, each uniquely and brightly painted, oddly blending into the next as the taxi passes by them.

This country's use of color fascinates me, and for the most part is pretty cool—with the exception of the colors in this particular hotel room, that is, which are quite hideous.

The comforters covering the two double beds look like a family of parrots flew into a speeding ice cream truck, thus causing the deadly explosion of color, feathers, and Neapolitan ice cream that cover these beds. I'm sure if I felt around the bed coverings, I could find hints of stickiness that didn't come from any ice cream truck either, but I choose not to inspect that possibility too closely. Ignorance is bliss, they say, and I'm in Acapulco on spring break. No complaints here.

I'm holding up my two choices of outfits for the evening when Lexi finally comes out of the bathroom with a cloud of hot steam trailing behind her.

"The blue dress, definitely," she says as she wraps a towel around her dripping, long blonde hair. "It'll make your gorgeous eyes pop. No guy can resist those big doe eyes of yours."

Squinting toward her, I say, "I'm not really too worried about what the guys here might think, Lex."

And I'm not. Guys have never been my focus. I've worked very hard all through high school to be the best. I'm currently at the top of my class and I had the choice between several colleges, all offering me full—ride scholarships in the fall. I finally accepted the invitation to DePaul University in Chicago only three months ago. The most influential perk about that particular college is the distance from my hometown. I don't particularly have anything against Jacksonville, Florida——it just seems the people that surround me there are perpetually stuck in an inconsequential life of mediocrity. I don't want to live paycheck to paycheck, either. I want more. When I'm not studying, I'm usually working at Howard's diner, saving everything I earn to pay for my future college expenses. I decided long ago that I was going to make something more of myself.

Most of all, my one, driving thought is I will not end up like my mother. I love my mom despite her many inadequacies, but her life was and is, the opposite of fulfillment. She works long shifts at another diner in town and sleeps around with random men. She's never invested in her life, herself———or me, for that matter. She's constantly tired and ornery. I want something greater in life and because of that, boys are not a priority.

Lexi drops her towel and shimmies on a red, lacey thong.

With a flippant voice, she says, "Campbell Grace Stevens, what better time is there to lose your V—card than on your senior year at spring break?"

Through her eager expression, I can see she's being completely serious. I laugh out loud, the hilarity rolling through me.

Placing my hands on my hips, I respond back in a mocking tone, "Oh my goodness, Alexa Anne Laine! That's so not going to happen!"

I shake my head, a huge grin spreading across my face despite the ridiculous content of this conversation.

I go on, "I can think of a thousand more meaningful scenarios I'd want to do that, than on spring break with some random stranger. That's just pathetic, and not to mention, plain gross!"

"Gotta pop that cherry sometime! Why not now?" Lexi smirks standing beside her suitcase. She starts rummaging through her lacy bra collection, picking out something that appears to be held together with dental floss.

I laugh as I throw one of my shirts at her. "Oh my God! What kind of a best friend are you? You're so crude." She flashes a smile at me and says nothing. "That and you're giving horrible advice!"

She grins, shrugging. "Hey, all I'm saying is that I cashed in that card two years ago, and I'm definitely not regretting it."

"Yeah, well, I'm not you, babe—not even close." A warm smile lights up my face.

It must be true that opposites attract, because I couldn't be more different than my best friend. She's somewhat of a 'wild child'. Sometimes, I think her rowdiness is a result of her being an only child. However, I myself am also an only child, and I am nothing like her. I guess the difference in our upbringings could play a factor. She has always gotten everything she has wanted. I on the other hand, have not. She's all about instant gratification and being the center of attention. She's gorgeous, and she loves to flaunt it. I don't think I'm ugly by any means, but I've always been more comfortable hanging in the background than having the spotlight on me. I'm a good student, and I've always worked hard in all aspects of my life. Lexi is what I would call more of a carefree spirit. She doesn't invest too much of her energies into school, coupled with the fact she's never had to work a day in her life.

"Well fine, be that way. I'm just glad you're here!" Lexi states with excitement, her bright blue eyes shining while putting on her bra. "I can't believe your mom let you come!"

I nod back, catching her enthusiasm, "I know! I still can't believe it! I feel bad for Jules, but I'm so excited to be here, too. It took a lot of convincing, but thank goodness she came around."

I was a last—minute addition to this trip. Lexi was originally scheduled to room with our good friend Jules but unfortunately for her, her mom came home to find her stoned sky—high and having sex with their twenty—four—year—old neighbor in the pool. That quickly ended her spring break trip. Fortunately for me, Jules had already paid for the hotel room, so I just had to come up with the cost for my flight. So I dipped into my college savings I'd accumulated from working over the past two years.

It will be worth it. After all, I'll only have one senior year spring break.

There is no reason my mom should have said no. I'm paying for the trip and I'm responsible enough to handle myself. Yet sometimes she just likes to play the authoritative parental role. If she's in a foul mood, she tends to turn down all of my requests, regardless of what they are. So I've learned to gauge her mood before asking to do anything. It's either that, or I ask her when she's asleep. In the foggy haze she experiences when she's trying to wake up, she always says yes.

The shower has to be quick, or I'll never be ready on time. My hair takes at least thirty minutes to dry as it is. I've been told my long, thick brunette locks are a blessing. I admit that I have pretty hair, but it takes some effort if I want to do anything with it other than put it in a ponytail.

Lexi walks into the bathroom as I'm finishing my lip—gloss application.

"You are H.O.T. Hot. I love that dress," she says approvingly.

I study myself in the mirror. The dress is cute, but very revealing, not something I would normally wear. It clings to my body like a glove, accentuating my hips and chest. It is low cut, displaying more of my breasts than I feel comfortable with. I bought it especially for this trip, and I'm trying to steel up the nerve to actually leave the hotel room in it. I'm not one to flaunt my body—ever.

I turn to Lexi and realize that her barely—there dress makes me feel suitable for church.

"Thanks," I say, feeling a bit better about myself.

"All right, babe. You ready to get our party on?"

Lexi's exuberance paired with my excited energy send a torrent of pleasant jitters through my body.

With a wide smile across my face I say, "Yes. Let's go."

I grab my black wristlet off the bed, double—checking to make sure my I.D. and money are in there as I follow Lexi out of the room.