Notes from a Spinning Planet—Mexico (9 page)

Just a couple of weeks before school was to start, my frustrated mom, in a desperate move, sent me off to spend a couple of weeks with Aunt Sid. Really, it was a smart move on her part. Sid was just what I needed. Oh, I doubt I ever admitted that to my mom. Maybe I will someday. And I barely discussed my little problem with Sid, although I'm sure she got me. As I recall, we ate out a lot, had pizza delivered, got popcorn with extra butter at the movies, and indulged in some pretty yummy flavors of ice cream late at night. But more
than balancing out my extreme eating habits, Sid helped me to feel good about who I was and how I looked and who ? was becoming. She's the one who got me to start writing in my journal. In fact, I think it was that summer I decided I wanted to be a writer like her. Anyway, by the time I went back home, I was pretty much back to normal. Perhaps a little thinner than at the beginning of summer but eating more like your average teen. It was like, “Adiós, anorexia.”

So why, I ask myself, am I thinking about all this right now? I mean, I'm obviously not anorexic. And here I am on this gorgeous Mexican beach with a beautiful aquamarine ocean and a clear sky overhead. And yet I am still staring at my flabby thighs and totally hating my body.
This is not good.

I'm tempted to go find Sid and confess my stupidity to her and beg her to straighten me out. But she's with Ian, and this is a special time for them—a time I will not mess with. I'm a big girl. Actually, a really BIG girl.
Okay, don't go there, Maddie. Just knock it off Grow up!

I close my eyes and try to think happy thoughts. I think about transferring to the university and the classes I'm going to take. I focus on the fact that Lydia will be in Seattle too and how cool it will be to live with Sid. Really, life is good. Isn't it? Finally I'm beginning to relax. I feel myself drifting off to sleep with the sound of the waves and the surf swishing back and forth on the beach…back and forth.

ey, Maddie,” says a male voice. I open my
eyes
and look up to see a shirtless Ryan standing over me. His sandy hair is mussed up, and his blue eyes are sparkling.

“Huh?” I sit up and blink, wondering if this is a dream.

“It looks like you could be burning,” he tells me.

I look down at myself, still in my swimsuit, and I do look a little pinker than yesterday. I feel something cool on my cheek and realize I must've been slobbering in my sleep. That's great.

“Come on over here,” calls a girl's voice. I turn to see Shelby comfortably situated on one of the chaises. Only she's in the shade. And it looks like Ryan has been using the chaise beside her.

“You were sound asleep,” says Ryan as he helps me move my chair closer to theirs so it's mostly in the shade. “I hated to wake you up.”

“Was I snoring?” I ask, only partially kidding.

He laughs. “Not that I noticed.”

“You have to watch out for the sun here,” warns Shelby. “Too much is really bad for your skin.”

I glance at her sleek and tan body, glistening with oil. “It looks like you've had a fair amount of sun yourself,” I point out.

“Yes, but I tan regularly at home. And I've been here almost two weeks already. Its not good to try to get it all at once.”

I nod as I drop my beach bag by my chaise. “Yeah, you're probably right.”

“You've been here almost two weeks?” says Ryan.

“Yep. My parents and I came on the fifteenth, right after finals week. We weren't supposed to go home until after New Year's, but my dad had a work emergency. He and Mom flew home yesterday.”

“So you're here by yourself?” I say.

“Yep. Five glorious days without my parents around.”

“Hopefully you're not planning anything crazy,” I say.

She laughs. “No. I've done crazy before. My friends and I came down here for spring break last year—not here at the resort, thank goodness. My parents would've had a fit if they had seen the way we left our hotel in town.”

“So
youre
the ones we hear about on the news?” says Ryan. “Tear up the town and get drunk and end up in jail?”

“Well, we didn't end up in jail. But the rest might be accurate. I guess it's something everyone needs to do once in a lifetime.”

I consider this. “Not me,” I say flippantly, rolling onto my stomach in hopes the backs of my legs will catch a little sun, although most of me is in the shade now.

“Me neither,” says Ryan. And I smile to myself.

“Well, it's not like I'll be doing that again,” says Shelby. “Hey, I wonder what it takes to get service down on this end of the beach. Where are those cabana boys when you need them?”

“Want me to go get you something?” offers Ryan.

“No,” she says in a slightly spoiled tone. “I want
them
to bring drinks to us. Don't you guys want something to drink too? Their margaritas are killer. And their pina coladas aren't too shabby either, although I hate to think how many calories are in one of those.” She laughs. “But, of course, this is a vacation. No time to be counting calories.”

I bite my tongue. No time for me to be saying something lame and regrettable, either. Still, like Shelby really needs to be counting calories! Give me a break.

“Hey!” yells Shelby, making me jump. “Amigo! Over here!”

I turn over in time to see Shelby on her feet and waving with both hands to a guy down the beach. He has on a white shirt and is carrying a tray. He hurries over and greets us with a friendly
“Buenas tardes,”
and Shelby immediately orders a pina colada. “And what do you guys want?” she asks. “It's on me.”

“I'll have a Corona,” says Ryan.

I'm tempted to pass, but I'm actually pretty thirsty. The taste of salt water is still lingering in my mouth. “I'll have an iced tea,” I say.

“No way,” says Shelby, shaking a finger at me. “You cant have a plain-old iced tea down here. You need something more festive, Mad-die. This is Mexico, and you're on vacation. Lighten up, girl.”

“Maddie isn't much of a drinker,” says Ryan.

For some reason this irritates me—or maybe it's just everything in general that irritates me at the moment. “Just because I didn't like Guinness in Ireland?” I say to him defensively.

Shelby makes a face. “I
hate
Guinness. It tastes like an old boot.”

I nod at Ryan. “See?”

“Have a pina colada,” she urges me. “Trust me, you 11 like it.”

“How about some bottled water too?” says Ryan.

“And a plate of nachos and guacamole,” says Shelby to the waiter guy.

He gets this all down, and I tell him, “Muchas gracias,” and smile, which he seems to appreciate. Then he hurries off to fetch our drinks.

“Do we need ID?” I ask, which makes Shelby laugh.

“The drinking age down here is eighteen,” says Ryan. “And I think they hardly ever card Americans.”

“Oh.”

“So what's this about Ireland?” asks Shelby as she sits back down on her chaise, gracefully crossing her long, tan legs at the ankle. “You guys went there together?” She removes her sunglasses, and her thin, arched brows lift with curiosity as she studies the two of us. I wonder what she thinks.

“Sid invited us to go with her,” says Ryan. “It was a business trip for her, and we just sort of went along for the ride.”

Shelby smiles and replaces her sunglasses.

“That's how Sid and Ian were reunited,” I tell her. I'm not even sure why I'm telling her, maybe just to fill up the space. “They went out together when they were in their twenties. But then they were apart for years.”

“So are they pretty serious now?” she asks.

“I don't know,” I admit. “I mean, I know they like each other. But I think it's kind of like starting over for them.”

“It was amazing that Ian was able to come down here,” says Ryan. “And amazing that he invited me to come with him.”

“So you guys are like one happy family then?” says Shelby. “Ian and Sid are like the parents, and you two are like the kids?”

Ryan kind of laughs. “Well, we could do worse.”

I'm curious as to whether Ryan has told Shelby about losing his mom yet. Somehow I don't think so. I wonder what they did talk about on their beach walk.

“So you and your aunt are staying at a different place?” says Shelby.

“Yeah. It's not too far from here, but there's been a mix-up in our reservations, so we need to find another hotel.”

“Yeah, how's that going?” asks Ryan.

“So far, not so good. It'sounds like everything anywhere near San Lucas is booked right now. We're waiting to hear back from Sid's travel agent.”

“Yeah, it's kinda like spring break during this time of year,” says Shelby. “The peak season. My parents have had their time-share here for ages, and they still have to book the holidays years in advance.”

“It's a cool place,” I admit.

Shelby actually smacks her palm to her forehead. “Hey, I know what you and your aunt can do! Duh! Why didn't I think of this earlier? You guys can move in with me!”

“Oh, I don't know if—”

“It makes perfect sense! I mean, I've got this big two-bedroom suite all to myself. Of course you guys have to come share it with me. It's so obvious.”

“That's a great idea,” says Ryan.

“Well, it would beat sleeping on the beach,” I admit. “I mean, I'm
sure it's really nice,” I say quickly not wanting to sound ungrateful. “Probably way nicer than where we're staying.”

Shelby nods. “Yep. And it seems the perfect solution. You guys can move in whenever you like. I'll pick up a couple of extra keys for you.”

“That's so generous of you,” I say. “I hope your parents won't mind.”

“Hey, my parents will probably be relieved to hear I've got roommates now, especially when I tell them how old your aunt is.” She laughs.

“Kinda like a chaperone,” I suggest.

“Yeah. My folks were a little worried about leaving me here by myself, but I convinced them it was no problema. I mean, look at this place.” She waves her hands. “It's like totally safe. They have good security, and we're far enough from town to stay out of trouble. Still, you know how parents can be.”

We discuss the details a bit more, and Shelby thinks Sid and I should move over here immediately. I'm beginning to think maybe she's right. The more we talk about it, the better it sounds. I suppose I like the idea of being close to where both Shelby and Ryan are staying. Not that I think anything would happen between them, exactly. But I guess I just want to be around. Don't ask me why.

Our drinks and nachos come, and Shelby signs the tab, then holds up her pina colada in a toast. “Here's to new roomies,” she says, clicking her plastic cup against mine. “And to a great next few days,” she says, clicking her cup against Ryan's bottle.

I take a cautious sip of this icy white concoction and am surprised to discover it's really pretty tasty.

“Hey, this is good,” I tell her.

“I told you so.”

I'm glad to see my sarong is completely dry now, and I tie it around myself as I go over to sit by the little table and snack on the nachos. The three of us sit there just drinking and snacking and visiting like old friends, and ?? wondering why I was feeling so upset earlier.

“Isn't this great?” says Shelby, happily leaning back into her chaise as she finishes her drink. “I just love it down here.”

“It's pretty amazing,” says Ryan, “especially when you hear they're having freezing rain in Seattle right now.”

“Really?” I say

“Yeah, I got an e-mail from my roommate today. It's nasty.”

“See how lucky we are?” says Shelby.

“Speaking of lucky,” I say as I stand up and adjust my sarong, “I think I'll go find Sid and tell her the good news about your sharing your suite with us.” I glance over at Shelby. “You're sure you really want to do this?”

“Of course.” She looks at Ryan. “I mean, I'm not getting myself into something I'll regret, am I, Ryan? These two aren't ax murderers or porn queens or anything skanky, are they?”

He laughs. “No, I can vouch for them. They are good people.”

Shelby smiles at me. “And since I totally trust Ryan, I know I can trust you too.”

The question is, can I trust her? But I tell myself not to be silly and paranoid, and I thank her again, saying I'll be right back. Then I head up the beach and up the stairs to find Sid as well as the bathrooms. By
the time I'm on the resort level, I decide to stop by the bathrooms first. After I use the facility, which, like everything else, is way nicer than the pool bathrooms at our hotel, I am slightly shocked to see my bedraggled reflection in the mirror.