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He asked “What is with his
mood swings anyway?” I explained to him I wasn’t sure, but I had a
feeling it had to do with when he gets sick once in a
while.

Jett came back to the car
all smiles “Your brother is a good kid. I told him I would take him
on his raft in the pond next door sometime.”

“Awesome, I’m sure he’d love
that,” I replied. Declan turned around and looked at me and
shrugged his shoulders, suggesting Jett was in a better mood now
and everything was fine.

We got to our designated
picnic area and there weren't many people at the park yet and
Declan immediately started to complain – “Jett why did you make us
come so early.”

Jett said “Because I
volunteered us to set up rather than clean up, otherwise we would
have to stay until the very end of the party. This way we can leave
anytime we want and not come back.”

“Hmmm, that's my boy, always
thinkin’!” Declan gave him a hearty slap on the back and was now
very eager to help set up. “You two ladies sit down while I help
Jett.” They left to empty Jett's mom’s car.

Rae and I sat down at the
table with Mrs. McGaven and another lady she was talking to. “You
are lucky you don't have girls, my girls are so emotional I can't
even tell you, mood swings all the time!”

“Are you kidding me?” I
started “The McGaven boys act like a bunch of girls. I have never
seen anyone as moody and hormonal as Jett and Storm in my life!
Trust me - my sister and I would be a cake walk compared to
them.”

Mrs. McGaven and her friend
started laughing, and then Rae and I joined in. Mrs. McGaven was
laughing so hard she had tears running down her face; she obviously
agreed with me. Mrs. McGaven, in the middle or her rant said “That
is so true, oh boy, I haven’t laughed that hard in years, I almost
wet myself.” She came up behind me and hugged me. “You’re so right
Addie, my boys are a mess.”

She was wiping away tears
when Jett and Declan reappeared with a couple folding tables. And
then Mrs. McGaven and her friend just burst out laughing again. It
made everyone else around smile even though they had no clue what
was going on. She pinched Jett's cheek and said she's a keeper,
nodding toward me.

Jett introduced me to his
dad and took off to unload his car. His dad asked me “Are you
Jett's new girlfriend?”

Mrs. McGaven replied like
whiplash. “I don’t think that is any of our business Hank!” and she
gave me a wink. I smiled.

“Oh sure it is. Whoever is
dating our son, we should get to know!” He said with this deep
raspy voice.

I glanced his way and said
“You're right, parents should know, most days we're dating, but
between him and his mood swings....I'm not sure half the time, but
you keep me posted if you hear anything different.” Mrs. McGaven
gave a little chuckle.

Mr. McGaven and I kept
talking, even though he seemed like the quiet type I was focused I
kept him busy with all sorts of questions. He was a ruggedly
handsome sort of guy, I could see where his boys got their looks.
He was built but not too. He had dark, short brown, wavy hair and
scruff on his face. His eyes were even more piercing than Jett's or
Storm's and very blue. I didn't expect him to say much to me; I
thought he was like my dad, the strong silent type, but he was very
friendly and talkative.

“I'll have a serious chat
with Jett today to find out about your relationship status and I’ll
report back to you.” Mr. McGaven replied.

“Really,” came a loud
sardonic voice from behind me, totally startling me. It was Jett
with a great big smirk on his face. I could feel myself blushing,
but as I’m quick tongued, I rebelled and said “Absolutely pally,
your parents are on my side.”

His dad winked at me and his
mother looked at her husband and said “I like this girl more and
more – I knew I liked her the first time I met her too, she has a
lot of spunk.”

“Great, I have spunk...” She
cut me off mid-sentence and said “Of course your gorgeous too, Jett
wouldn’t pick a girl who wasn’t.”

I looked at Jett and told
him “I like your parents!” and I really did like both his parents.
They were very nice and fun. His dad actually sat next to me with
two drinks and Jett said “Ah, what are you doing dad?”

“I’m talking to this young
girl, now run along, would you.” He laughed and Declan and he were
off to set up a canopy. We talked for quite a while about sports,
business, school, their property which I loved. Later Jett
confessed that his dad never talked to any of his friends and
Declan confirmed that, so now I was feeling pretty good about
myself.

After a while, I had noticed
that Declan and Rae had disappeared and Jett was off helping
someone carry a cooler to the picnic area. I started thru the park,
weaving in and out of everyone looking for them and started toward
the parking lot when I noticed the two of them sitting in the car.
On my way over I noticed a group of guy’s two cars down playing
hacky sack when I saw him from behind; somehow I knew it was him.
He stopped me cold in my tracks where I stood petrified. It was
Logan, that horrific night came flooding back to me.

Declan was saying something
to me but I couldn’t quite hear him. I turned my head and looked at
him my feet wouldn’t move. He said “Are you all right?” I breathed
in and out and looked back at
them
. My eyes started to burn, I
choked down a swallow. I could see someone coming toward me out of
the corner of my eye, I wanted to move and carry on but I couldn't.
Rae touched my elbow and asked again if I was all right. Not
looking away from
him,
I choked out with a quivering voice “Do you know
where Jett is...” My voice was shaky and crackling and it didn’t
come out very clear. My hands were trembling so bad I spilled half
my drink. When I really meant to scream help me, please help
me.

Declan hollered over to the
two of us. Did she hear me? Did I tell her I needed help? He waved
us over and Rae was holding onto my elbow trying to get me to walk.
I wanted to take a step but I don’t think my legs moved, they felt
solid, like cement holding fast to the ground. My arms fell to my
sides and so did my cup. My eyes felt like there was grit in them,
they were about to tear. Declan was saying something. My face felt
like the sun was burning it, I was mad at myself for recalling all
the memories of that dreadful night at the Monaham’s..... I was
trying to block them out. I was trying so hard to forget them, but
they were back.....
I was flat on my
back and couldn't move, he licked my neck and was kissing me
again....
I told myself to forget him,
forget him, forget him...

My eyes squeezed shut, Rae
jiggled my arm, “Addie, honey, what's wrong?” I was remembering
everything that had happened and I was terrified all over again. I
thought I was moving but when I glanced back to Declan he had this
look on his face, he looked further away than before like he was in
a tunnel… “Addie, Addie...” I could hear him faintly, "Addie, are
you okay?" My face scalding, my eyes and ears burning. Everything
sounded muffled, everything was blurred. I think I was breathing; I
tried not to hold my breath. Declan was still saying something to
me, what does he want from me? I can’t do anything, how I wish I
never came, I wish I wasn’t here, I wished that night never
happened. Just move, leave, ask Jett to take you home, where’s
Jett?

I turned my head and saw
Jett; I exhaled slowly telling myself to breath, I watched Rae meet
him and talked to him before he started walking toward me with a
sense of urgency. Jett took notice of the obnoxious group Logan was
in.I looked over where
he
stood and behind him stood three others. I had to
swallow back the bile that rose in my throat. I wanted to think,
think, try to think of what I should do. My legs still not
listening to me, they were still tree trunks rooted and not moving
but I was glad they were holding me up.

More than anything, I wanted
to be somewhere else. I closed my eyes hoping it was a
dream. When I opened them nothing had changed and I was still
here, not dreaming. And then I heard the voice of an angel, Jett’s,
he was in front of me, he took my hands “You okay?” He said in my
ear ever so softly “Take a deep breath, you're okay. I've got
ya. Did you drink too much?” I shook my head. He said "What’s the
matter? What’s going on I’ve never seen you like this before?" In a
sigh of relief, I knew Jett would help me, I felt a tear run down
my face that felt cool against my skin and I wiped it away quickly,
my legs felt lighter.

Logan started shouting "Hey
baby it’s me, where have you been?"

From behind me Declan put
his hands on my shoulder "Is that your ex-boyfriend, is he giving
you a hard time?" Declan questioned.

Logan said as he was coming
closer "Baby it's me, Logan, come on I'll show you a good time!” He
turned and said to his friends “Boys the party has just
started!"

Jett straightened up and
said "You're kidding me, who’s this joker?"

Declan took a few steps
closer to Logan and his friends and told them to back up or else,
Logan didn’t budge. Jett let go of my hands and they dropped to my
sides like jello and he gave me a hug which was really holding me
up. “Close your eyes take a deep breath and think of something
positive, going to the beach, dating me,” he gave me a big grin and
kissed my neck just below my ear. “Do you feel better
yet?"

Rae came up behind us with water. “Do you
need to sit, I opened my eyes. I still saw
him
, he
and his buddies were standing in front of Declan. “What
is the matter Addie? Do you want to go sit in the car?” Rae
asked.

“No,” my voice
crackled. It was urgent they knew I didn’t want to get any
closer to 
him
.

Jett was being so patient, I
needed to relax, pretend I was at the pool. I'm always relaxed in
the pool, breath in breath out. I wanted to speak but it wasn’t
that easy. I was able to produce the words “I’m sorry.” My voice
crackling again. I couldn't seem to move my
feet.

I saw Declan walking in
Logan’s direction.

Jett immediately said “For
what, what are you sorry for –” and I let out a deep breath and
said “I'm being a baby” voice still
crackling, I took a sip of water and tried clearing my
throat. “I don't... I can't
move... I don't want to be here...” my voice trailed
off. “Away from here. I wasn’t ready for this, I thought
I was, but I'm not.”

Jett said, “I'll drive you
anywhere you want to go.” I turned away from
him
breaking his hold and got my
balance and started walking in the opposite direction
of 
him
,
Jett followed. I couldn’t even think of his name I was so
distraught. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going
on….”

I cut him off mid-sentence
“I just don’t know what to do or how to act and I can’t believe I’m
crying in front of you and everyone. I'm confused, I don’t know
what I'm supposed to do, I don’t want to ‘cause a scene I just want
to go home.”

“Ah baby, where are you
going? I missed you!” Logan yelled in my direction. Right when
Declan reached him and said something. I turned to look, the body
language wasn’t good.

And that did it, I broke
down and started to cry, which I never wanted to do. I couldn't
control myself. I was mad and upset and because I hadn’t
seen 
him
 since…I just didn’t know how to react. “Let’s go to the
car I'll take you home, it's no problem” He said in a very stern
voice.
“I can't go over there....” I said as I feebly
pointed toward Logan. “That is the guy…” I cried and sniffled
“that… I told you about, he's the one.”

I stood there with my legs
shaking and my heart pounding. Jett slipped his hand into mine. It
felt so safe and warm. He gave it a little squeeze and gave me a
hug, he had never held me like this before, I felt like we had a
connection. He gave my neck a kiss, his lips were soft and
warm. “Let me help.” He said softly. I thought of the two of us in
my basement after our first date. I wished we were back there in
that awkward moment versus here.

I wasn’t prepared to ever
see
him
again. What were the chances I thought? Grow up, stop
shaking and stop crying I told myself “I’m trying to stop, I just
can’t” I said.

“I can leave you alone if
you like, I'm not sure what you want or what I should do, tell me
something.” His grip loosened, Jett wiped my tears.

Declan trotted over and said "I think she's
upset because her ex-boyfriend is here, you know Logan the one that
gave me the messages for Addie and he is saying … never mind.” I
let out a huge gasp of air I felt relieved he knew, the tears
subsided.

There was a long pause; I
turned to look at Jett “Logan, you
mean “
the”
 Logan?” Jett asked me, I shook my head and his hands
dropped. “I'm sorry I freaked out. I'll be okay in a minute, I
didn’t mean to be such a baby, I told you it was stupid.” I
explained.