Shark Bait (The Grab Your Pole Series) (12 page)

“Oh
yeah
, you’re right! He was!
Ha!
Camie, if you pull this off most of the guys at my school will shout praises for you from the rooftops. There’s nothing we hate more than when a shark preys on the fish who live in another guy’s sea.” Just so you know, I’m not so sure I like being compared to a fish, but I’ll take the praise nonetheless.

“Oh I totally forgot to tell you about this, but
he’s
the guy who got Samantha to do the things she broke up with Josh for wanting her to do with him…”

“How do you know that?”

“Because Sara never logs out of her phone’s email account and she left it at my house one night…I was bored and thought she’d probably have some good reading material in it. Damn, you should’ve read all the shit Samantha told her about him.”

Derek gave me a sideways glance, considering whether he should get the lowdown now or wait until I wasn’t around. Unfortunately, he went with now. “Well I know it bugged him that she wouldn’t have sex with him, but Josh’s bigger pet peeve was that she refused to even let him go down on her or vice versa…” Ahhh!! No, stop there please! I don’t think I need to hear any more than that!

“Yeah, well, she didn’t refuse
anything
that night. This guy hit a goddamned
grand slam
at that party. Here’s the fuckin’ funny part though…Josh totally owes him because from what the email says, she doesn’t mind doin’ any of it anymore and afterwards, instead of getting her number or giving her his, he
actually
talked her into getting back together with Josh! I mean this guy is like my fuckin’ hero!” Nice. So yeah, I’m pretty glad I listened to that whispered warning.

“How in
the fuck
did he do
that
?! Dude, I remember when they broke up and she was adamant that it was over…I was totally blown away when they got back together.” By the way, I’ve almost become invisible while they’re talking about some cheerleader and my heartthrob—the apparent slut that he is.

“Well, evidently she felt like she could trust him or something and kinda had a mini-meltdown about the break up or some shit…she said he wasn’t just a really great lay (kill me now please), but a good listener, blah blah whatever, anyway, he said a bunch of sensitive bullshit and by the time her clothes were back on, it was like nothing happened and she called Josh right then and there. I forwarded the email to myself if you wanna read it.” I hate to admit it, but I almost want to ask him to copy me on it as well.
What
is wrong with me?

“Yeah, I want to because
damn
, that’s impressive…” My cousin said, nodding his head. Brandon went back to his phone and game, and Derek found a place to park. Then all of a sudden, he remembered how they got on the subject of Tristan in the first place. “Hey Bran, Camie’s trying to take him outta the game.”

After hearing what Brandon had to say, though, I’m not so sure Derek is as okay with that anymore, however, I’m reconciling myself with this over abundance of information. Honestly, it really shouldn’t have come as such a shock. Although I’m sure they’re not, it seems like almost everyone around me is having sex. And I mean it’s not like I expect Tristan to have a halo and wings, you know? Kate even told me that he hooks up with girls a little more than occasionally; it’s just that she used far more tact informing me than Brandon.

We got out of the car and then for the first time tonight, Brandon actually looked at me. Well, it was more than just a look… He
totally
checked me out, his disarming perusal of me ending with a sly tilt of his lips. “I bet she can do it, too.”

“Hey! Cut it out, you jerk. That’s my little cousin you’re leering at.” Derek punched Brandon in the arm. Hard.

“
Hey!”
Brandon laughed and rubbed his bicep. Then he looked at me again. “I’m just sayin’…” He left the statement hanging and winked at me.

Aw, that’s so sweet…of both of them. My problem now is, though, if Derek’s reacting to his own friend like this, what’s he going to do if Tristan looks at or even talks to me?
And,
what’s Tristan going to do when he sees me with Derek, who isn’t so random as I’d thought?

Apparently the answer to those questions is not a goddamned thing. (Ugh…sorry God.)

We arrived at the game kind of late so the stands were already filled with the majority of the crowd’s attention engaged on the field. I waved at Kate and Melissa doing a cheer on the track in front of the fans, then the three of us made our way up the metal stairs to find seats in the bleachers. Holding hands and slowly, just to make sure he got a good look; we went right past the row where Tristan was sitting with Jeff and Pete. Although his eyes most definitely zeroed in on my “date” and his face registered some kind of reaction, he didn’t do anything else. In fact, the irritating Prince of Passiveness and his previously sex-starved sidekick actually had the nerve to get up fifteen minutes later, leaving Pete and the game altogether.

I sat through the next two and a half hours uninterested in both the game and listening to some girl in front of us literally breakup with her boyfriend via phone; however, I did eavesdrop with half an ear. It sounded like the only reason she did it was because her friends don’t think the guy is “boyfriend material” and/or “good enough” for her. Derek shrugged, non-committal, but Brandon rolled his eyes and shook his head, looking like he wanted to smack all four girls upside their heads for their idiocy. Anyhow, when the game was over Derek and Brandon wandered over to the snack bar before it closed, and I moseyed down to the track to meet up with Kate.

“Hey! Wasn’t that just an awesome game?!” Kate enthused, bouncing up to me in a flurry of blue and gold pom-poms. I told you, Kate’s spunky.

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun except your boyfriend’s slutty best friend is a pain in my ass. Did you see them leave?” I asked with a fair—okay, large—amount of annoyance.

“Yeah, I know. He definitely took note of you, though, so that’s something,” she said in a more upbeat manner than I could appreciate at the time. “But um, why slutty?”

After Kate heard my new intelligence she shrugged her shoulders and grimaced. “Yeah, Jeff told me about her...Tristan was in a
really
big funk when that happened so I think he felt weird or something about that whole thing. Maybe I should’ve told you, but, he doesn’t talk about his sex life, Camie, and he’s bound to have some skeletons…we all do in some way or another.”

“Hey! What’s up?” Melissa asked as she joined us equally cheerful as Kate had previously been.

I sighed. “Nothing…I’m just cranky and starting to think there’s no way he’ll wanna waste his time with me.”

Melissa frowned. “Why would you be a waste of his time?”

“She just heard about a
massive
conquest…” Kate answered with another grimace.

Melissa’s eyebrows rose as her mouth formed a silent “Oh.”

“It’s not just that…it’s…well, it’s kinda, I don’t know…embarrassing…” I said, dropping my eyes to the ground, my face beginning to heat.

“What is?” They asked simultaneously.

“Well, promise you won’t laugh or say anything?” They nodded. “I’ve never even kissed a guy before…” I shyly admitted and waited for their reactions.

“Really?”

It was Melissa who’d asked and thankfully, without making me wish a hole in the ground would open up and swallow me for admitting my colossal lack of skeletal remains. Kate, however, didn’t look surprised one iota. I nodded and then putting her arm around me, Melissa shared a little something about herself to make me feel better.

“He was my first. Kiss I mean… He knew, too, and he was really great about it. He didn’t laugh at me or make me feel self-conscious at all. We were saying goodnight after our first date and when he bent down to kiss me, I totally blurted out I’d never kissed anyone. All he said was something like, ‘Well, there’s a first time for everything’ and I remember being so freaking nervous, I thought I might pee my pants or screw it up somehow, but, it was amazing. In fact, I really wish Keith were as good a kisser as Tristan is. Oh and another thing, he’s not the kind of guy who expects sex or
anything
like it on a first date.”

“That’s totally true. Don’t stress about this, Camie, he sounds way worse than he actually is…I promise, he honestly doesn’t just go around nailing random girls every chance he gets like he did with that other girl. I mean he totally could if he really wanted to, but he just doesn’t. Mostly I think he keeps things pretty minor.”

Melissa was nodding in agreement and with their combined reassurances, I was able to breathe a little easier. I mean I know he’s not a virgin or anywhere close to it—and
now
, thanks to Brandon, I know that for sure—but even so, I just needed to hear someone I trust and who knows him well enough tell me he’s not like a sex addict and in need of a twelve-step program or something.

Wanting to move away from “graveyard” talk, I thought to introduce Kate and Melissa to Derek and Brandon, but they weren’t within hearing distance yet. They’d stopped on the track on their way back from the snack bar. More accurately stated; they were taking advantage of my “incentive” by scoping out some of the cheerleading squad. I caught Derek’s eye and he wandered over to me, but stood so he could keep an eye on MaryAnn, making it clear she’s the cheerleader of his choice.

“Okay, so what’s our plan for tonight? Keith’s going to Megan’s so should we go there?”

“Yeah, Jeff wants me to meet him there too, and I’m sure
he’ll
be with him,” Kate said, eyeing my cousin with some suspicion.

“Yeah, I’m sure where Tweedle-Dee goes, Tweedle-Dum will follow. Oh, don’t worry about Derek either…he knows everything and he’s in.”

“Oh, okay. Seriously though, Camie, you need to chill. I swear you don’t need to worry about that other stuff right now, especially since this might take a long time,” Kate told me gently but firmly.

“No it won’t,” Derek chimed in, out of the blue.

Huh?!

“What are you talking about?” I didn’t even think he was paying attention…he’s been totally busy making some kind of visual love connection with MaryAnn. Now I ask you, why can’t my hunk o’ good, good lovin’ be more direct like that?

“He wants you, Camie. Trust me. Hey Bran, how long do you think before she snags him?” Derek asked Brandon who sidled up next to Kate and handed Derek MaryAnn’s phone number.
Damn
, that was beyond fast! I’m
more
than impressed!

“Mmm…I say she sees some kind of action in a week, maybe two,” Brandon ventured confidently, crossing his arms over his chest while eyeing some of the football players, who, I think, might’ve been eyeing him and my cousin first. I swear, sometimes I wouldn’t be surprised if guys literally peed on girls to mark them as off limits.

“I’ll take that action. I bet it’s more like three…four tops. He’s a calculating opponent, Camie, but you have this in the bag,” Derek informed me with certainty.

“Uh, thanks for the votes of confidence, guys, but how the hell can you lay odds on a freaking time frame?” I was completely mystified yet gratified at the same time. Also, I love my cousin dearly, but I’m hoping Derek loses this particular wager and that Brandon comes out the victor—along with me. You know, my lacking patience and all.

“Camie, we’re guys. Anyway, you good? We’re gonna hit up a party down at the beach. You can come if you want, but I’m guessing you probably wanna show up wherever the shark’s gonna be,” my cousin the barracuda said of my ocean dwelling predator.

“The shark?” Kate asked, confused.

“Yeah. Camie’ll explain it to you when there aren’t so many listening ears.” Derek winked at us. You’ve really gotta appreciate the support of your family, you know? “Hey Bran, you’re still DD tonight, right?”

“After that concert last weekend…dude, I won’t be drinking for a
long
fuckin’ time.”

We went our separate ways, Derek and Brandon discussing the concert and what sounded like a possible encounter Brandon had with the missing link. We three girls exchanged an amused look and Kate whispered in my ear, “See?
Everyone
has a skeleton or two…” I giggled and nodded in agreement. Then I started musing about what sort of unpleasantness I’d eventually bury first and who, if anyone, would be attending the funeral with me. Once we were alone though, I explained Derek’s shark metaphor to Kate and Melissa as Kate drove us to what would be my first-ever keg-party.

Now I have to say if you haven’t been to one of these things yet, I can guarantee your first time will probably shock the crap out of you. At least it did me, unsurprisingly. Upon entering this shindig—or maybe the more appropriate term would be hootenanny…Oz from
Buffy
would know—I immediately pictured the party scene at Jake Ryan’s house from the iconic ‘80s movie classic
Sixteen Candles
. It was unreal. I mean there wasn’t a pizza spinning on a record player or anything, but there was just so much chaos my eyes couldn’t focus. With this and everything else I’ve started to learn this week, I’m starting to wonder if maybe I
have
been sheltered up until now. I guess there’s only so much knowledge one can glean from watching movies and reading books, you know what I mean?

Kate and Melissa navigated us through the throng of underage alcohol consumers and the occasional patch of noxious fog produced by those who were polluting themselves with cigarettes, and over to the three kegs being manned on the patio in the backyard. We waited for what had to be ten minutes before we were each handed a plastic cup overflowing and dripping with a frothy brew.

When I hesitated on taking the proffered beverage, Melissa leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “Just take it, you don’t have to actually drink it if you don’t want to. Just think of it as a prop.” Interesting. I guess it really
is
all about appearances…

Semi-relieved, I gripped the twelve-ounce cause for all this mayhem and with Melissa bringing up the rear; I followed Kate as she expertly steered a course to where Jeff and Tristan were standing. We made our slow progress through the bodies, being jostled, shoved, and spilled on without ever being apologized to. Or maybe we were apologized to, but music was blaring so loud, I couldn’t distinguish what anyone around us was saying. I knew they were communicating, though, because kids would open their mouths wide and lean towards each other, and then indicating they’d heard what had been said; the recipient of the hollering would nod their head.