Chapter 6

56 days. 

Only 56 days left of this torture. 

That’s what was going through my mind as I mindlessly fanned myself down with one of the menus. 

It was noon, the sun was boiling the small smoothie shack, and almost nobody was out on the beach today. 

I haven’t spoken to either Mark or my aunt since Sunday and it’s Wednesday now.

I had to speak to Chris, as we worked together. He was flirting with me and everything but I just didn’t have the heart to turn him down. Sure, we’d hooked up, but I don’t think he quite understood that he was the exact definition of a rebound. 

So I pretended to be interested in whatever he was saying while sweat dripped down my back and I was on the verge of falling asleep. 

My hair was up in a messy bun, the thick curls too much for me to deal with today.

“Marley.” Someone said on the other side of the counter, pulling me out of my heat-induced trance. 

“Huh?” I mumbled, sitting up straight. 

Amanda and Haley stood on the other side of the counter, grins on their faces. 

“How do you feel about going into town with us?” Amanda asked happily. 

“Huh?” I repeated, my brain not fully functioning yet. 

They both laughed. 

“The center of town is just like two miles down the beach, that’s there most of the stores are. We’re heading in, Chris can handle the shop for the day so come with us.” Haley smiled. 

I nodded, putting down the menu that I’d been using to fan myself. 

“I’ll come.” I nodded, pulling my tank top over my head. Even that small piece of clothing was too much for me on this burning hot day. 

Without another word to Chris, I followed the girls over to a jeep wrangler with no doors on it. 

“We’re just going to go shopping for the party this Friday.” Haley told me as I climbed into the back row of the Jeep. 

“Friday?” I asked curiously.

“Fourth of July? There’s always a big party.” Amanda replied with a grin. 

“Wait up!” Naomi yelled, running up to the car. 

I laughed, scooting over as the girl climbed in next to me. 

“Whew it’s hot.” She laughed, pushing her frizzy red hair back from her face. 

We all nodded in agreement as Amanda started driving. 

It only took about 10 minutes to get to a tiny street with shops lining it. I assumed this is what they meant by ‘town’. But I was so used to the shops near where Jane lived, that it looked like nothing more than a few run down shops. 

I followed the girls into what looked like the only clothing store in the town. Considering my dad had sent Mark and I down here with nothing other than our clothes and ourselves, I didn’t have any money to buy anything. But I still had fun while everyone else bought stuff. 

Naomi bought some cute shorts that were half stars half stripes and a cute white crop top that said ‘USA’ across the front. 

Haley bought a white sundress, saying that she’d pair it with a blue sweater or something. 

Amanda bought a pair of white jeans and an American flag t-shirt. 

“So I’m guessing I should wear something America on Friday?” I laughed as we walked out of the store. 

“Absolutely.” Haley nodded with a laugh. 

I groaned at the heat. 

“I hate having so much hair.” I grumbled, pushing some of the loose pieces back from my face. 

“Then cut it.” Amanda shrugged. “Short hair rocks.” She giggled, running her fingers through her own brunette hair. 

“Should I?” I raised my eyebrows. 

“Yea! There’s a hair salon just over there.” Haley nodded, pointing across the street. 

“Let’s do it.” I said instantly. 

Everyone raised their eyebrows. 

“You sure?” Naomi laughed. “That’s a big change from your long hair.” 

“Let’s do it. Right now.” I grinned, walking across the street. 

“You’re the best.” Amanda laughed, amused at my spontaneity. 

But what’s life without a few risks, right?

~*~*~

“What the hell did you do?” Mark said instantly as I walked into Aunt Audrey’s house that night. 

I grinned, doing a little spin. 

“I got my hair cut.” I replied with a smile. 

Mark just stared at me. 

“You’re insane. You are absolutely insane.” Mark shook his head. 

I stuck my tongue out at him as I sat down at the table for dinner. 

My hair was now above my shoulders. The woman who cut it had straightened it as well, making it look chic and gorgeous. I was in love with it short. 

“I don’t know why I didn’t cut it earlier. It’s great.” I laughed, piling some chicken onto my plate. 

“So, both of you, now that I have you in the same place at the same time, we have some things to discuss…” Aunt Audrey said as she sat down. 

Mark and I exchanged looks. 

This ought to be good…

“I assume you’re familiar with the point system?” Aunt Audrey asked. “Well it’s something that Granny Nancy used when we used to get in trouble as kids.” 

Mark and I just nodded. We were very familiar with the point system. 

“Excellent, well Mark, for staying out on Saturday night and not telling me where you are, 1000 points.” Aunt Audrey said to my brother. I snorted, trying to hide my amusement. “And Marley, for staying out on Saturday night and not telling me where you are, 1000 points.” 

My laugh faded as Mark gave me a look.

“Mark, for coming home Sunday morning with a hangover, 500 points. Marley, for coming home Sunday morning with a hangover, 500 points.” Aunt Audrey added. 

Mark and I exchanged shocked looks. 

The most points dad had ever given anybody was Michael, and that was last year when they all snuck out to a party and then Michael threw up in dad’s car. And even then, he only got 1100…

“And Marley…” Aunt Audrey continued, looking at me. “Let’s see… Slamming your door, 250. Giving me sass, 250. Which gives you a whopping total of two thousand.” 

I scoffed, leaning back in my chair as I set down my fork. 

“You can start by clearing the table while Mark does the dishes after dinner.” Aunt Audrey smiled, continuing to eat her food. “I’ll post the list tomorrow morning. You select your jobs by a draft pick, Marley goes first as she has most. My rules of grounding consist of this. The two of you will cook breakfast every morning. You will tell me when you are leaving the house, which is only for work. You will come straight home after work and continue working off your points. Oh, and even if your points are worked out by Friday, you’ll be home, with me.” 

“But the party!” Mark exclaimed. 

Aunt Audrey just smiled. 

“Yes, I am aware.” She nodded. 

I glared at her. 

How dare she give us so many points… She’s not our parent. She doesn’t have that right. 

~*~*~

“Marley?” Mark asked, walking into my room. 

“Hey.” I said, putting down my book. 

Mark sighed, sitting down on the end of my bed. 

“I say we boycott the point system.” Mark said softly. 

“Excuse me?” I raised my eyebrows. 

“Look, what’s the worst she can do to us? She can’t take away our phones, or our car, or our friends, because none of those things are here. I particularly don’t care whether or not our aunt likes us right now because she’s being awful to us.” Mark explained. 

I nodded in agreement. 

“Plus, if she calls dad, he’ll easily forget about it by the time we get home. It’s not like he’ll hold a grudge for 56 more days.” I laughed, agreeing with my brother. 

“You’re counting too?” Mark raised his eyebrows. 

I nodded, shrugging. “Can I tell you something?” I asked softly. 

“Always.” Mark nodded, his face growing sincere. 

“When dad said that we were coming here, of course I was pissed that we’d be leaving and stuff, but I didn’t think it would be that bad without Logan…” I said softly. 

“And then you got here, and you had a fight with me, and the one person you would’ve turned to wasn’t there.” Mark finished. “Yea, I kind of wished Nicole was here to calm me down.” 

“I hooked up with Chris.” I admitted, looking down at my hands. 

“I hooked up with Hannah.” Mark nodded. 

“And I got drunk.” I mumbled. “Really drunk.” 

“Same.” Mark sighed. 

“And I really miss Logan.” I admitted, tears collecting in my eyes. “Like I know that you don’t want to hear about my relationship with your best friend, but so far these three weeks have been torture without him…” I mumbled, wiping my cheeks. 

“It’ll get better.” Mark reassured me.

“Do you think he still loves me?” I asked, looking up at my brother. 

Mark sighed. 

“You know what? I’m sure he does. I don’t three weeks is enough to change someone’s feelings so quickly.” Mark squeezed my knee. 

I nodded, taking a deep breath. 

“Well I’m going to head back to my couch.” Mark laughed, getting up from my bed. “Tomorrow morning just get up, shower, and go right to work. Don’t even bother with the list, got it?” 

I nodded, wiping my cheeks. 

“Got it.” I smiled. 

“Goodnight sis.” Mark said as he walked out of my room.