Chapter 2: Stumbling Across a Bucket of Fate

I woke up to sunlight bleeding through the sheer white curtains Mom had bought for Dakota to “remind him of her.” He was too cheap to replace them with something manlier and more importantly, darker. I glanced at the annoying clock ticking steadily on the wall; 7:30. I was never awake this early during the summer. I buried my head into the fluffy pillow, in hopes of keeping my sleeping schedule constant.

                Then I heard a loud, shrilly voice. “See you later, babes. Are you sure you don’t want to have breakfast together?”

                Cayden was the first thing that came to mind. The second was that I was going to kill him for messing up my slumber routine. Not only was it too early for me to be irritated, the voice was especially horrible. No one should have to deal with that. I get that sex is pleasurable and all of that jazz, but how did they manage to do it with her? I imagine that her moans would get so unbearable that you’d have to shove cotton balls down her throat to silence her. But that was violent and probably illegal.

                “I—uh—no. I think I’m going to go back to bed,” Dakota grumbled.

                “I feel like you’re just using me for sex,” she pouted. She sounded like a bimbo, a prostitute in the making.

                That’s because he is using you for sex, I thought.

                I ambled out of bed. “Who was that?” I yawned, covering my mouth to block any morning breath.

                Dakota’s sleepy eyes shot open. “I—uh—you weren’t supposed to see that.”

                “Why not? Who was she? A lady friend?” I giggled, enjoying his flustered moment.

                He made a face. “Meh. It’s a mutual…hold on. You’re old enough. It was a one-night that’s been going on for about a month.”

                “So she’s your sex buddy?”

                “It sounds so dirty when you say it like that.”

                “Sex is a dirty deed when you’re not married.”

                “Oh, please. You haven’t turned into one of those church girls, have you?”

                I laughed at the thought of me, and innocent little, church girl. As if. “I’m not a religious person, and you know that.”

                “We went to church when we were younger.”

                “Like, twice a year. And that’s only because Grandma Ruth was visiting.”

                “She still thinks we go to church? Even after the minister asked us who we were and introduced us to everybody there?”

                “She doesn’t visit much anymore. She likes staying with Tilly.”

                Tilly was our cousin who thrived in warm weather. She was twenty-two now and owned a successful flower shop in a small city in Georgia. She visited us once and complained about how sixty degrees was too cold and that she needed a fluffy hat, pronto. Taking her out to ice cream that day wasn’t a smart idea. I think she got frostbite.

                “We could go visit her,” Dakota suggested, his voice neutral. “It’s not that long of a drive.”

                “No, thank you!” I said quickly. “The ride here was nauseating enough, and I’d rather not take a trip that long until it’s time for me to go back home.”

                “I just thought it’d be polite and nice of us to go visit her.”

                “It’s not like she likes us anyways. Not more than she’s obligated to, anyways.”

                Dakota yawned. His eyelids were drooping. “I’m tired. I think I’m going back to bed.”

                “What about breakfast?” There was no way that I could fall back asleep now. I had already been awake for more than seven minutes.

                “What about breakfast?”

                “I need to eat something!”

                “You’re what, sixteen years old? I think you’re capable of cooking your own food.”

                The least he could do after making me suffer through what I witnessed this morning was make me breakfast. “I don’t know where anything is!” I protested.

                “Just shuffle through all the cabinets. You’ll find something,” he said as confidently as he could while he was still sleep, but not sex-deprived.

                I make a gurgling sound mixed with a groan. “Fine,” I mumbled, “but I’m not going to like it. And don’t expect me to ever make you breakfast.”

                “Wasn’t going to,” he said half-heartedly.

                “Just ask one of your bimbos to.”

                He chuckled. “I’m not going to expect that either. They’d expect a date or something in return, maybe marriage.”

                I stuck my tongue out in response.

                “Are we done here?” he asked.

                I nodded and plopped down the stairs, grumbling the entire way. I padded through the living room, recoiling at the bra that was lying on one of the couch cushions. Trapped under a mess of blankets on the futon was Cayden. He looked dead, except for the rambunctious snores that escaped him. The kitchen linoleum was felt cold against my feet in contrast to the carpeting that was in almost every other room.

                Finding a box of Frosted Flakes was easy compared to finding the carton of milk. It was behind bottles of all different kinds of beer. Heineken, Bud Light, Corona; you name it. It was there. Luckily, the milk expired in a couple of day’s time.

                By the time I was done with my breakfast, Cayden was awake. He ambled into the kitchen and dropped into the seat next to me. “Morning, beautiful,” he said, kissing my cheek.

                “Are you drunk?” I accused, wiping his kiss off.

                His bright green eyes shot open. They were bloodshot. “You’re not Linda…or Laney…maybe it was Lisa…”

                “You had a girl over?”

                “She must’ve left after we had sex last night.”

                “Okay, gross! I didn’t need to know that!”

                He shrugged. “You asked.”

                “Aren’t you going to apologize?”

                He looked around, a confused expression crossing his face. “For what?” he queried.

                “For kissing me!” I exclaimed. “That was totally inappropriate.”

                He rolled his eyes. “It was just on the cheek. No harm was done.”

                I sighed, getting up to put my bowl in the dishwasher. Getting him to apologize was useless. It wasn’t going to happen. Cayden could be the most stubborn person in the world.

                “So what are your plans for today?” Cayden questioned.

                “I have no idea.”

                “Why don’t you go explore the town a bit? Make some friends?”

                “Who my age is awake at this time?”

                “The kids here get up pretty early. Like, six in the morning.”

                I could barely wake up that early for school, let alone during the summertime. These people were crazy. I knew there was a reason I cringed when my mom mentioned Jangles.

                I listened to Cayden and found myself at the beach. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, as if telling me that it was all going to be okay. I saw an old couple walking hand in hand along the wooden boardwalk that was parallel to the shoreline. The sight made me smile. I wanted that love someday, but didn’t everyone? I wanted to skip over the frogs and the messy heartbreaks and right onto my happily ever after with my Prince Charming. It’s too bad that he wanted to take his sweet time getting to me.

                The water was too cold for swimming and I didn’t see any teenagers out for me to befriend, but even if there was I wouldn’t talk to them. I decided to walk along the beach, letting my toes sunk into the wet sand. I glanced back occasionally to look at the footprints that trailed behind me. I breathed in the air that belonged to the salty ocean. Even the normally annoying squawk of the seagulls seemed to add to the tranquil and picturesque scene.

                That might’ve been the reason why I didn’t put up a bigger fight.

                I found myself sprawled against a stranger’s lap. I quickly got to my feet and wondered what I had tripped over.

                It was a bucket.

                I had tripped over a plastic bucket that was no bigger than a carton of yogurt. Some kid must’ve accidentally forgotten it or cruelly tried to attempt murder or severe injury. But if I had to put all of money on it, I’d pick the former.

                I cursed quietly and dusted the sand off of my white shorts. I offered my hand to the stranger I had fallen on. “Oh my goodness!” I exclaimed. “I’m so sorry! Are you okay? I didn’t mean to—”

                He took my hand and stood up. He was taller than me, probably around six feet. He looked my age, maybe a bit older. He had russet curls and light green eyes. He wore a grey t-shirt and cargo shorts.

                “I’m fine,” he muttered, his eyes still glued to the ground and refusing to make eye contact with me.

                I saw a tear leak from the corner of his eye. He was anything but okay. I didn’t realize that I was heavy enough to inflict pain on someone of his stature.

                “Are you sure? I just tripped over a stupid bucket. I’m such a clumsy person.” I laughed at myself. “I don’t even know how I managed to do that.

                He started to laugh, at or with me, I wasn’t sure. I was just glad that he wasn’t sobbing anymore. Once the laughter subsided, I asked once more, “Are you sure it didn’t hurt when I fell?”

                He grinned. “From heaven?”

                “You’re such a charmer,” I remarked sarcastically. “You must get all the ladies, right?”

                “And you’re a cutie. I bet all the guys are swooning over you.”

                I laughed. “About as much as a couple of vegetarians fighting over a hamburger.” I liked him. He was funny and the compliments didn’t hurt either. “What’s your name?”

                He stuck his hand out. “Elijah Clemens, but everyone else calls me Eli.”

                “Ashlyn McKenzie, but I guess you could call me Ash or Lynn. On second thought, don’t call me Lynn.” Someone called me Lynn in middle school once and ended up with a black eye. Needless to say, no one ever called me Lynn after that.

                “I think I’ll stick with Cutie.”

                “Please don’t,” I begged.

                “Oh? Why not?”

                “I don’t like being called cute.” That was the one adjective that was never used to describe me, unless you counted my mom when she was talking about or looking at my baby pictures. Ugh.

                He disregarded my question. “Are you new? I haven’t seen you around before.”

                I sighed. “Unfortunately.”

                “Lucky me,” he said.

                “Well aren’t you the flirt?”

                He smiled slyly. “You could say that. Yes.”

                Unlike the boys back home, this one had personality and not just cheesy pickup lines and cheap roses to hold my minimal interest. Going on dates with those types of boys entertained me. Unless they had a magical potion, I wasn’t going to be falling in love any time soon.

                “I could show you around. If you want,” he added quickly. “Because you’re new and stuff.”

                He seemed like a decent person, so I agreed. “Really? You wouldn’t mind doing that? Don’t you have other things to do? I wouldn’t want to intrude or anything.”

                “You’re not intruding,” he assured me. “I offered, remember?”

                I grinned. “So, uh, when do you want to do this?”

                “Now is fine with me. Is that okay?”

                “Sure. That sounds good.”

                The tour around the beach was brief. There wasn’t much there; just sand, ocean, more sand, and more ocean. He showed me stores in the quaint downtown area, which mostly consisted of homey cafés and local boutiques.

                After wasting about two hours moseying around town, we found our way back to the beach.

                “Thanks for showing me around,” I said gratefully.

                “It’s no problem. It was nice to have some company.”

                “You’re friendless?” He seemed like the type to be immensely popular. Besides, didn’t the loners have friends, too?

                “No, not at all! All of my friends are on vacation for a couple of weeks.”

                “Where’d they go?”

                “A cruise, I think.”

                “Why didn’t you go with them?”

                “I have to work. College is expensive.”

                I suddenly felt belittled. “You’re in college?”

                “I just graduated high school. I’ll be a freshman at the University of Florida in the fall.”

                “That’s impressive.”

                He did a one-shoulder shrug. “Not really. What school are you going to?”

                I felt my face redden. He thought I was in college. I hope he would be one of those people who thought they were too good to hang out with a high school student. I wouldn’t be offended if he did though.

                I did a half-smile. “I’m still in high school. Sorry.”

                “Oh, don’t be sorry! You just look older. That’s all.”

                “Thanks?”

                “No, it was a compliment!”

                “I know,” I giggled.

                My belly rumbled. To me, it was louder than a gaggle of middle school girls when the newest boy band sensation came out with a catchy pop single. To Eli, it was probably an atrocious thunderstorm, a decibel quieter.

                “Are you hungry?” Eli asked. His eyes flickered to my stomach.

                I resisted the urge to cover it up and crawl under a rock and hide there forever. “Sorry,” I replied, clearly embarrassed.

                He held his hands up. “Say no more. What are you in the mood for?”

                “I don’t know. Food? Where’s the best place to get something to eat?”

                “Probably Jitter’s Critters, but maybe I’m biased. I work there.”

                “Jitter’s Critters?” I echoed skeptically.

                By the sound of it, it didn’t seem very sanitary. Honestly, it sounded like a rundown, abandoned shack by the highway that sold road kill on a stick.

                Eli must’ve sensed my hesitation because he said with bright eyes, “Don’t worry. The name’s sketchy, but they have really good food. Trust me.”

                “You better not be lying to me,” I uttered.

                He smiled kindly. “I’m not. It’s about ten minutes away. We can take my car if you’d like.”

                It was a black Jeep. I didn’t know anything about cars, and I only knew it was a Jeep because it said so on the side of it. I hopped into the passenger seat.

                For being such a small town there were a lot of twists and turns. Once we pulled into the parking lot of Jitter’s Critters, my nerves eased away. It was a single story brick building with a sloped roof. Spelled with neon tubes was Jitter’s critters. There were advertisements and all sorts of flyers taped to the glass windows and doors. Someone was giving away a litter of kittens and Wanda, a golden retriever, needed a good home.

                “It doesn’t look half bad,” I joked.

                “I would never work at a dump, Cutie,” Eli retorted, appalled that I, a stranger, would even consider the idea.

                “You never know. And I thought I told you to stop calling me that!”

                “Are you coming or are you just going to stand there and judge me?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

                “I’m coming. I’m coming. Stop nagging me.”

                I followed him into the restaurant, thanking him when he opened the door for me. So maybe chivalry wasn’t completely dead. It was a 50’s diner, complete with the checkered tiles, red booths, and funky clocks.

                He chose a booth near the back, but opposite the bathrooms. I never understood why people would want a seat near the bathrooms. Wouldn’t it be unpleasant to have the smells of generic hand soap and body excretions wafting into your noise as you’re trying to eat? I suppose I was being insensitive. They could have a bladder issue, or like me, be unsure of the food and didn’t want to make a scene in front of all of the people.

                A waitress sauntered over to our table and set two menus in front of us. She was blonde, blue-eyed, and looked like she would rather be anywhere but here. There was a yellow notebook in one hand, a pen tucked behind her ear, and her remaining hand was firmly planted on her hip.

                “Hey, Sandra,” Eli greeted.

                “Eli. Eli’s fling,” she said politely, nodding in acknowledgment. “What can I get you two temporary lovebirds?”

                Although I admired her tell-it-like-it-is attitude, I found her a bit rude to be greeting her customers like that. But I guess she thought it was okay because Eli was her coworker.

                I glanced over at Eli questioningly before telling Sandra that I wasn’t his fling.

                “Well I know you’re not in a serious relationship,” she snapped. “Anyways, do you know what you want to drink yet?”

                I ordered an iced tea and Eli ordered a Coke. Sandra scribbled it down onto her notepad, but I doubted that she’d even needed it.

                Once Sandra had left, I asked Eli if he was a player.

                “I wouldn’t say that I’m a player.”

                “I don’t care if you are.”

                He seemed shocked and then recovered, looking at me suspiciously. “You’re not one of those girls who’s convinced that you can change me or whatever, are you?”

                “Don’t be silly. Those things only happen in books and movies. Not real life.”

                “Yeah. Do you see anything that you like?”

                “I’m thinking a double cheeseburger. Is it any good?”

                “You don’t want a salad?”

                I scrunched my nose. “To be honest, I hate salad and most vegetables.”

                In my early high school years, I felt out of place because I didn’t get a salad when the rest of my friends did. It made me feel unhealthy.

                “Really? That’s awesome!” Eli whooped.

                “It is? Because I’m pretty sure my doctor would beg to differ. It’s not a good habit. The burger, is it any good?”

                “We have the best burgers in the state! It’s an unbiased opinion, of course. I think there’s a plaque or something in here saying that…are you sure you can handle a double?” He sounded unconvinced.

                “Now it’s your turn to trust me. I can handle a double.”

                “Marry me?”

                My first reaction was to be confused, but then I realized it was another one of his little jokes. I laughed along. “What are you doing?”

                Then he dropped to his knee and plastered a stupid grin over his face. It was so unexpected that I should’ve expected it. “Will you be mine, Ashlyn?”  

                My eyes darted around the diner. A few people were starting to get curious and their eyes wandered in our direction. I tugged at his harm, urging him to sit back into his seat. “Elijah, people are starting to stare,” I hissed. “Get up!”

                He smirked only at me then proceeded to pretend to be brokenhearted. He wailed uncontrollably. “Why don’t you love me?” he sobbed. “I thought we were soul mates!”

                “Stop it!”

                Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, an elderly woman scurried over to us. “Just say yes, darling! It’s evident that he loves you.”

                I snickered to myself. He loved my reaction to his messed up idea of causing a scene. I saw a smile creeping onto his lips out of the corner of my eye.

                “She’s right, Ashlyn. I love you with all of my itty bitty heart. I know we’re young, but I know that this is love. Make me the happiest man alive, won’t you?”

                I shot him a glare and turned back to the old woman. “I’m sorry, ma’am. You must be mistaken. I just met him this morning. Besides, I’m still in high school!”

                “Age is but a number, dearie” she reasoned wistfully. “True love can come at any age.”

                “He’s just playing around. Isn’t that right, Eli?” I said through my phony smile, advising him to stop playing around through eye contact.

                Whether it was by an error on either of our ends, or he just didn’t want to, he didn’t get the hint. “I would never!” he gasped. “Do you not return the feelings, Cutie?”

                “You have nicknames for each other? That is so precious!” the old lady cooed.

                The old woman proceeded to pat his shoulder. She whispered into his ear loudly. I’m sure there was a bucket of spit in his ear by the time she was done speaking. “Don’t worry, sonny. She’ll come around. Don’t give up.”

                Eli gave her a heartwarming look. He burst out laughing when she exited through the glass doors of the restaurant. “Did you see your face?” he gasped.

                I slapped his arm. “What is the matter with you?”

                He batted his eyes innocently. “What?”

                “Don’t bat your eyelashes at me. Besides, it’s not manly. I hope you had fun, mister. That lady didn’t even believe me. You aren’t even a good actor!”

                “All have you know, I took a class on it: Introductory to Theater.”

                “And I’m going to go out on a limb and say that that’s all you took.”

                I admit it. I was being a little mean, but this was how I flirted. Well, without meaning to anyways. When I tried it was like a clown-apprentice convention—not very pretty.

                Sandra came back with our beverages. “Nice stunt,” she complimented Eli, although her tone didn’t suggest it. “What can I get for you two lovebirds?”

                “We’re not lovebirds!”

                “Right. Okay. Whatever.”

                “Anyways, I’ll have a double cheeseburger and a large fry, please.”

                “I’ll have the—wait. You know my order. Chop, chop, woman!”

                 She furiously wrote it down, still keeping the same nonchalant expression on her face. I heard her mutter “fatties” under her breath.

                We received our food quicker than I thought—approximately six minutes. Like Eli had said, the burger was huge. Its diameter was larger than my hand, which was still big even if my hands were small. I looked under the bun and pulled out the lettuce and the tomatoes, then dropped them on my tray.

                “You don’t like tomatoes?” Eli asked.

                I shook my head. “Do you want them?”

                He pursed his lips, as if not wanting to seem like a pig, but then snatched them up and placed them on his own burger. “I like tomatoes.”

                The burger was juicy and had a fresh, charcoal taste. The bread was lightly toasted and the cheese was melted to perfection. The condiments I normally thought were a waste of calories actually complimented it. I hated to agree with Eli, but I had to. This was the best burger I’ve ever had. I didn’t think I could go back to McDonald’s dollar menu anymore, which was a bad thing in this economy.

                “This is really good!” I moaned, taking a short break from stuffing my face.

                He looked proud and smug. “I told you they were the best.”

                Jitter’s filled me up. When I finished off my last fry I felt like I couldn’t even walk. I wanted Eli to cart me out the door. If this was what being pregnant felt like, I was never going to have sex.

                “You didn’t have to pay for me,” I told Eli. “I had my own money.”

                “I’m allowed to treat a pretty lady,” he said, poking my arm with a grin. “Aren’t I?”
                “You can do whatever your heart desires, but we just met. I feel like I’m taking advantage of you.”             “Pft. If anyone’s taking advantage of anyone here it’s me. I’m just terrorizing you with my good looks and irresistible charm. You won’t want to hang out with anybody else.”

                “All right, Mr. Big Head.”

                “So what do you want to do now?” he asked, drumming his fingertips on the steering wheel.

                “What? You’re not sick of me yet?” I teased, slightly thankful that he didn’t want to get rid of me.

                “Nah, you’re pretty cool.”

                I smiled. “I was expecting a sarcastic remark.”

                “Expect the unexpected.”

                “Of course,” I sighed. “Well, we could go back to the beach.”

                “Sure. Do you have a swimsuit?” he asked, starting the engine to his car.

                I nodded. I was glad that I remembered to put one on under my clothes. Sure, it was only on top because I packed it last minute, but at least I brought it.

                “So you’re not wearing a bra,” he stated, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

                My jaw dropped. “Elijah!”

                He chuckled. “I’m joking. You’re fun to mess with, Cutie. I mean, you could be a better sport about it, but—”

                “Stop calling me that!”

                “Never,” he swore. His face was solemn for a split second before a smile shone through.

                “Did you say that you had a girlfriend?”

                “I didn’t say anything about a girlfriend? Why?” He leaned close. “Are you interested?”

                “Don’t be absurd. No.”

                “C’mon, Cutie, let’s be serious. Everyone wants to be my girlfriend.”

                “Then let everyone be your girlfriend!”

                “They’d have to fill out an application.”

                “You’re not serious.”

                “Oh, I’m completely serious.”

                If he was being legit about the application, he was high maintenance and definitely a player. I wasn’t going to be the one to maintain him.

                “But if I wanted to be, wouldn’t I be automatically in?”

                “Why would you be?”

                I lifted an eyebrow. “Aren’t we fiancés?”

                “Oh, right.”

                “I’m not sure I want you giving out these applications anymore.” I crossed my arms, glared at him, and turned to face the window.

                “I’ll stop if that’s what you want, Cutie. I’d do anything for you.”

                Playing pretend with Eli was nice, heartwarming almost. I had never had a serious relationship. Sometimes I found a flaw in the boy that I bothered me so much that I couldn’t ignore it. Other times it was because I couldn’t see the relationship lasting for much longer. I never could envision myself in a white wedding dress unless I was in my mid-forties and trying on bridal gowns to at least have the experience of finding the “perfect dress.” The vision always ended up with empty pints of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream cartons, me being envious of the couples in romantic comedies, and a waterfall of tears streaming down my cheeks.

                If only Eli was the guy, right? Then I wouldn’t keep having depressing thoughts of myself being alone forever.

                “Eyes on the road, Eli. That’s, like, the first thing you learn in driver’s training.”

                “Okay, Mom.”

                I growled in response. “Shut up.”

                “Chill, Cutie. I was just joking.”

                Even though I had known him for less than half a day, I felt like we were already good friends. It took me a while to become that comfortable with my friends at home. With him, though, it was instant. I guess he had that personality that radiated off of him like a bad impression of the sun. I don’t know. It was foreign to me. But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

                “Isn’t it illegal to drive on the beach?” I asked when the tires of his Jeep touched the sand.

                “We better hope not.” He winked.

                “Elijah!”

                “I’m kidding! Maybe…anyways, are you ready to swim? Please don’t tell me you’re going to sunbathe like all of the other girls.”

                “All of the other girls? You mean you’ve taken every single one of them here? I thought I was special,” I pouted.

                He played along. “Don’t say that, Cutie. You are special.”

                “Then why don’t you ever take me somewhere romantic?”

                “I did.”

                “You did?”

                “Look where you’re standing. It’s the place where we first met.”

                I couldn’t help but blush, even when I knew that we were playing around. “How many girls have you said that to?”

                “Only you,” he whispered in my ear.

                “And how many times have you said that?”

                He chuckled softly. “Just once.”

                “I would ask you how many times you’ve said that, but I’m tired of it and I don’t care anymore. So let’s go swimming!”

                I slipped out of my clothes, kicked off my sandals, and started running down the pier shouting, “Last one in the water is a rotten egg!”

                “Hey! Get back here! That’s not fair!” he screamed, ripping his shirt and shorts off as he ran after me.

                I dove off the long pier, wishing I was flexible and athletic enough to do a fancy trick, and plunged into the icy ocean. Seconds later, Eli did a cannonball, spraying my face as I came up for air.

                “It’s freezing,” I sputtered, wrapping my arms around my goosebump-covered body. My teeth were chattering. It felt like tiny icicles were jabbing me, leaving a stinging sensation rippling on the surface of my skin.

                “It’s a great temperature,” he disagreed, looking the complete opposite of me, which was disoriented. “It’s actually warmer than usual.”

                “Then I’m never going swimming here again.”

                “You’ll want to.”

                “It’s cold.”

                “You’ll get used to it.”

                “I miss the sun,” I whined.

                “It is right up there,” he said, pointing his index finger up at the sky.

                I scowled, floating away from him. I rubbed my arm to try to retain any heat that might’ve been left.

                “You’re prettier when you smile, Cutie.”

                “Stop calling me that!”

                “No matter how many times you say that, I’m not going to stop. In fact, all it’s doing is encouraging me to call you that more. Cutie.”

                “Do you even know my real name?”

                “It’s ‘Cutie.’ Duh.”

                I sent him the look that said “try again.”

                “I’m joking!” He did that a lot. “It starts with an ‘A’. Like Alvin or something, right?”

                I frowned and splashed him, whipping my arms across the surface of the water. “Take that, loser. And it’s Ashlyn.”

                His jaw dropped in disbelief. “You did not just get my hair wet and call me a loser within the span of two seconds.”

                I smirked. “I believe I just did.”

                “You’ll pay for that, Cutie,” he threatened.

                “Do you accept credit card?”

                “Nope,” he replied, chasing after me.

                My eyes widened as I tried to run away from him. But due to viscosity or something like that, running is a difficult task to do in water. And since I wasn’t a very strong swimmer, naturally, Eli caught up to me.

                He lifted me up onto his shoulders. I let out a girlish squeal and grasped onto his hair like my life depended on it. I should’ve grabbed onto something more durable, but when you’re about to die, you hold onto whatever you can get your hands on.

                His hair was softer than mine. I made a mental note to ask him what brand of conditioner he used. I might have to use it.

                I felt him wince. “Ouch, you don’t have to rip out my hair.”

                I loosened my grip and swiftly moved my hands to clutch the sides of his head. “Sorry. Will you put me down now?”

                “No.”

                “Please? I’m afraid of heights.”

                “Then I better keep you up here for longer so you can face your fear. Besides, I think you’re afraid of falling, not heights.”

                He was right and his logic sounded valid, but he was still somewhat of a stranger even if I did feel comfortable with him.     

                “Elijah! Put me down this instant!” I demanded.

                He started treading smoothly though the water, cutting through the small waves. I wrapped my warms around his neck and squeezed my eyes shut.                                                I will not die, I will not die, I chanted in my head.

                “Having fun, Cutie?”

                “No!”                    

                “Well why not? You’re clinging to the hottest guy in town. Do you know how many girls would love to be in your position right now?”

                “I’m guessing they’ve already been,” I said slyly.

                “Nope. They won’t come into the water with me.”

                “They just stay on the shore and watch you swim? Do you even talk to them?”

                “Hey. If they wanted to come to the beach with me, they should expect me to swim. I’m not going to lay there and rub suntan lotion on her back. And besides, none of them have complained. They have a perfect view of this.” He gestured to his body. “Who would give up the opportunity to see me?”

                I raised my hand. “Me. Other sane people.”

                “I heard that.”

                “You were supposed to. Let me down. I’m not afraid anymore.”

                “Your hands would suggest otherwise. You’re choking me. You’ve got a strong grip.”

                I loosened my hold on him. “Better? Put me down.”

                “Just shut up and enjoy the ride.”

                After parading through the water, pretending he was a motorboat and I was an airplane, he finally put me down. I hadn’t screamed for the past fifteen minutes, which was a miracle because he went crazy.

                “That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Eli asked.

                “I suppose it wasn’t,” I agreed reluctantly. “I sort of had fun.”

                “That was the whole point.”

                I wrung my hair free of dripping water while Eli basked in the sunlight. Drops of water cascaded down his pretty chest, and he was shaking his head like a wet dog. Aside from him splattering water all over me, I found him really attractive. He wasn’t to Greek god status, but definitely high B-list or low A-list movie star or underwear model. Now I understood why girls stayed and looked at him. What a view.

                I pulled my shorts and shirt over my damp bathing suit. I glanced at my phone. It was already 5:27 PM; dinnertime. “I’ve got to get home, but thank you for today.”

                “I’ll drive you,” he offered. “Someone might take advantage of a pretty girl like you walking all alone.”

                I laughed. “Because someone’s going to mug me in Jangles. But really, you don’t need to. I live, like, ten minutes away. Thanks for the offer though.”

                “You’ll get there faster if I take you,” he pressed.

                I sighed. “All right, fine.”

                I instructed him to Dakota’s apartment. “Thanks for the ride.”

                “Thanks for keeping me company today. If it weren’t for you, I would still be wallowing in my own boredom.”

                “It was my pleasure. So, I’ll see you later?”

                I didn’t want to pressure him into being my friend, but being friends with him was just so easy. It would save me effort. I wouldn’t have to go seek any other teenagers. If Eli wasn’t tired of me now, he was going to be by the time August rolled around.

                “Definitely. What’s your phone number?

                “Give me your phone.”

                He handed me it. I punched it in and saved it as ‘Cutie.’ I would never admit it to him, but I found the nickname to be endearing, even if was meant to be an insult or used to mock me.

                “I hope you know that we’ll be seeing each other soon!” he called out his window.

                I smiled. “We’ll see.”