Because of You (6 page)

They all follow me out. “That water felt amazing,” Farrah giggles, cozying up closer to Josh.

“Yeah, I haven’t had this much fun at the beach in a long time,” Josh says, enjoying his view of Farrah’s pink sparkly bikini, or should I say her chest stuffed in the bikini top.

“I thought that was you,” a squeaky sound shrieks behind me. I turn around to see who everyone is looking at. Leah is standing right behind my towel. Really, do these people have Low-Jacks on each other?

Her blond hair glistens in the sun giving her an angelic air while her eyes give me an evil look. Her sister and two friends stand right next to her giving me the same look. I wonder if I’m going to get threatened again.

“What are you doing here?” Austin asks, leaning back on his elbows.

“Enjoying the last days of our summer vay-k.” She lays her oversize beach towel right next to Austin’s. “You guys don’t mind if we join you?”

“Not at all,” I say with a sardonic smile. I put my sunglasses on and lie back hoping I can make them disappear.

“So I missed you last night, Austin,” Leah says. “Why didn’t you come to Ariel’s?” Wait, he didn’t go? But I saw him get in the truck. Maybe they all changed their minds. “Josh said you had to help your mom with something.”

“Yeah. I’ll be there the next time,” he responds. I’m confused. Why didn’t he go?

“So, Jade?” Oh God, why does she have to talk to me now. “What are you going to be doing now that you’re not cheerleading?”

“You’re not cheerleading anymore?” Austin asks shocked.

“Everything I couldn’t do when I was too busy cheering like an idiot,” I answer sitting up to face her.

“Well it’s all for the best. You really weren’t any good at it.” Her sister and friends begin to laugh. Farrah’s mouth drops open, while Josh tries his best not to join in the laughter.

This is bullshit. I don’t need to sit here and have to listen to these people who have no real importance in my life. “It’s been fun, but I gotta go.” I get up and start to get dress.

“Wait, do we really have to go?” Farrah asks, motioning her eyes towards Josh.

“I have to go to work, remember?” I hate tearing her away from her crush, but I can’t stay here a minute longer.

“Hey, it’s cool. I’ll take you home, and Farrah can drive Josh home. If that’s okay with you?” Austin asks Farrah as if I don’t have a say in this.

“Yeah, that’s perfect,” Farrah quickly answers.

“Wait a minute, isn’t there someone else who can take her home?” Leah questions. “Sweetie, isn’t there someone you could call so you don’t ruin our fun?”

“It’s cool. I have to get home too,” Austin says picking up both our towels.

Farrah gets up and gives me a quick hug goodbye. “Thanks for doing this.”

I try to come up with something to say, but all I manage to do is part my lips without a sound coming out. Everything is happening so fast and before I know it I’m walking towards Austin’s car with him.

“You don’t have to give me a ride. It’s not a far walk,” I finally manage to say.

“No. It’s cool, besides I owe you.”

“For what?”

“For giving me a reason to leave.”

“What? You don’t like being goggled at by one of your groupies?”

He let’s out a small laugh. “Only if I’m being goggled at by the right girl.” He gazes up at me. I try to ignore the tingling feeling going on in my body. I will not fall for his charm.

“I just hope I don’t get threatened again.”

“Who threatened you?” Austin asks opening the car door for me. Wow, I didn’t think he was this type of guy.

“Forget it.” I place my towel on the black leather seat so I don’t get it all wet.

He grabs my arm making my heart race again. “Who threatened you?” His eyebrows furrow in concern.

I know I have to tell him before he thinks it’s something more serious. “Holly, Leah’s younger sister. She warned me to stay away from you. You know if you’re dating Leah, you’re not behaving like a good boyfriend.”

“Ha! She’s not my girlfriend. We’re just friends.” He walks around to the other side of his white Honda Civic and gets in. “I’m sorry she threatened you.”

“No big deal.” I hate that I’m actually feeling comfortable with him.

Austin turns on his car as I lean back and close my eyes. I sit right back up when I hear The Allman Brothers Band’s, Whipping Post come blaring out of his speakers. “You’re listening to The Allman Brothers?”

“Hell yeah. I listen to all those classic rock bands. What is it that your father used to say, ‘There’s no music like the music that came out in the late sixties and early seventies. It was all groovy man’,’” Austin says laughing.

I can’t believe he still listens to it. My dad used to take us to the basement and teach us all about the music from that time period. He said it was important we appreciate all kinds of music and not only what was playing on the radio stations.

He puts the music up louder making me happy I don’t have to talk to him anymore and have my heart begin to forgive him. I have to remember the real Austin. The one who ran off when I was younger never to talk to me again. The Austin, who left me standing on the street last night like I didn’t even matter. Not the one who keeps showing me he remembers our past together.

A few seconds later, he lowers the music. Please don’t let him start talking to me again. “I’m really sorry about last night,” he utters.

“It’s not a big deal.” I stare out the windshield refusing to look his way.

“I got out of Derek’s car and went looking for you, but you were already inside your house.”

“Like I said it’s not a big deal,” I lean forward and put the music up again. I don’t want to hear his excuse for being a dick last night. I don’t want to forgive him.

He presses the volume on his steering wheel and lowers the music again. “You wanna go get something to eat?”

“No. I just need to get home.”

“What time do you have to be at work?”

“In an hour.”

“What time do you get off?”

“Nine.”

“Do you want me to pick you up? Maybe we can get something to eat then,” Austin says pulling up across the street from my house.

I can’t take this anymore. I don’t understand why he’s trying to become someone in my life. “What do you want?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“Why do you keep acting like we’re friends? We haven’t been friends in years.”

“I know. I guess I was hoping we could get to know each other again.” He stares at me without blinking.

“Well I don’t want to. I like not knowing you. Lets just keep it that way,” I snap and jump out of his car. I can’t allow myself to get close to someone I don’t trust. I don’t need him breaking my heart again.

7

Had Enough

I walk into Delights exhausted. Logan is behind the counter helping out the long line of customers. I knew I shouldn’t have gone to beach today. How am I going to survive for the next four hours?

“Hey, how was the beach?” he asks when he spots me.

“Okay. Why didn’t you come?” He could’ve saved me from Austin.

“I had to see my dad. It was our monthly visit.”

“Did Summer go this time?”

“Nope.” Summer hates her father as much as I hate mine. She’s lucky though she’s not forced to see him like I am.

I put on my pink apron and begin to take the next order. “How was it?” I ask Logan.

“I guess okay. He brought the new girlfriend.”

“Can I help you?” I ask the next customer in line.

“Yes, mint chocolate chip on a waffle cone please,” the older man says.

“What’s she like?” I ask Logan as I get a waffle cone.

“Let’s just say she makes your dad’s girlfriend look like her babysitter.”

“Are you serious? What is it with our fathers and much younger women? It’s like they need to prove they still have it by dating these stupid women.”

“I know. I hope I never turn out like them,” Logan says with a far distant look in his eyes.

“You won’t.” I hand the man his cone. A huge smile appears on his face. I think it’s funny how ice cream can make people so happy.

I walk over to Logan and give him a tight hug.

“Thanks, I needed that.”

We both continue to take orders. The lines do not slow down and when the movie theater clears out it gets even worse. I wish this running around would keep my mind from wandering, but it doesn’t. Every spare chance I have I find myself thinking of Austin.

I keep picturing the way his dark eyes looked at me last night, and how his arms grabbed me in the water. I also find myself watching the door expecting him to come in. He’s been popping up everywhere I am lately that I totally expect him to show up here.

By the time my shift is over I begin to feel disappointment enter my body. I hate how badly I want to see him and that I allow myself to feel let down once again. I can’t let this happen. I have to stay away from him.

“You better go lock the door before anyone else comes in,” Logan says grabbing the broom.

I walk to the door and just as I’m about to lock it Farrah appears with a huge grin on her face. I’m going to guess things with Josh went good this afternoon. “Hi, I’m so happy you’re still here,” she says walking in. I make sure to lock the door right behind her.

“Get out! We’re closed,” Logan teases.

“Nice to see you too.” She turns to me and says, “Thank you so much for allowing me to give Josh a ride home. He ended up inviting me inside his house, where we spend the next hour making out!” She jumps up and down like she’s just been shown her prize is a new car on The Price is Right.

“Ohmigod!” I give her a tight hug.

“I’m not really sure what’s going on between us, but he said he would call me later. I still can’t believe it. I’ve only been waiting for this day since the ninth grade.”

“I hope he really does call you, but I doubt he will,” Logan says shaking his head while he sweeps.

“Logan?! How could you say something like that?” I scold him.

“What?” He shrugs like he didn’t say anything hurtful. “I’m just saying, I know how Josh is and how many girls he’s hooked up with this summer. I hope he does call you back and you’re not just another hook up.” I can’t believe he’s saying this to her. I know he’s not a big fan of Farrah, but he doesn’t have to be so cruel.

“You think he’s gonna call me?” Farrah asks losing all the color on her face.

“If he knows what’s good for him, he will,” I state hoping it will make her feel better.

I sit at a table and listen to Farrah relive the whole day again to see if there’s any proof she might just be another hook-up, while Logan cleans up the whole place by himself. It serves him right for being so mean.

“So do you think he’ll call me?” She asks again as we walk out of Delights.

“Don’t worry he’ll call you,” I reassure her, but to be honest I’m not too sure. Josh does hang out with Austin and that whole group of guys is made up of insensitive jerks.

“I hope so. I’m so sorry I’ve been so self involved with this I forgot to ask you how did it go with Austin?”

“Fine.”

“Did anything hap...”

“NO! He just dropped me off that’s it.” I need to shut her up before Logan hears more. I don’t need him questioning me.

“Well, I better go. I need to go check on my mom. She hates being home alone with all the kids. I’ll call you later,” Farrah says giving me a hug goodbye. “Logan, it’s been real. See you guys later.”

We watch her drive off before Logan begins to drill me, “What did she mean you and Austin?”

“Nothing. I let him drive me home from the beach so Farrah could drive Josh home.”

“I hope that’s it. Because if Josh is bad news, Austin is worse. Remember what he did to Olivia and me. I also play football with those guys and I hear them talk in the locker room. They’re both assholes, who are just like our dads.”

“I know. It was just a ride, that’s it. You know Logan, sometimes you’re too over protective. I’m scared for all of Summer’s future boyfriends.”

“ What do you mean? She’s not allowed to date.”

“She’s fourteen. The same age you were when we dated.”

“So. She’s still not allowed to date.” “

Until when?”

“’I go to college.”

I start to laugh. “Oh God, you’re too much.” I unlock my car doors. “Come on get in, I’ll give you a ride home.

Farrah is coming early to pick me up to go to the mall. It’s our tradition to go back to school shopping right before the first day. I think we like the pressure. Every year my mother pouts about me wanting to go without her, but this year she’s so busy with three different weddings she just gave me her credit card without any hesitation.

“Thanks mom,” I say ready to walk out the door. This was too easy.

“A...Jade.” She calls out. I knew it was too easy.

“Remember no more than...”

“I know two hundred and fifty.”

“Actually that card is still in your father’s name so make it five hundred.” She smiles and makes me so proud of her. “What the hell make it seven hundred?”

“No way! Thanks Mom.” I run over and give her a tight hug. This year my wardrobe is going to rock.