Shark Bait (The Grab Your Pole Series) (9 page)

She looked at the caller ID and gasped, “No way.”

I tried looking at the name on the screen. “What? Please say it’s Tristan!”

“No, you’re not gonna believe this, though, it’s Zack…hold on, lemme see what he wants.”

Kate tapped a button on her phone and put it to her ear, the picture of serenity, but I was so antsy I was actually bouncing up and down on my toes. You see, after having Kate lay it all out for me, I’m expecting for this to take a long time, but I’m not looking forward to it. I’m not very patient. I’m also trying my best to follow a one-sided conversation and that’s pretty annoying. All of a sudden, though, Kate’s eyes lit up and her jaw dropped. She looked at me with a big smile in her eyes and then said into the phone, “Listen Zack, I gotta go, I have a call waiting.” She then hit the speaker button on her phone and picked up the call that cut her conversation with Zack short.

The following is a kind of transcript of the call Kate graciously allowed me to listen in on:

Kate: “Hi.”

Jeff: “Hey Katy. Can we get together and talk?”

Kate: “Um, yeah, I guess…but I’m at Camie’s right now.”

Jeff: (Awkward pregnant moment of silence and she winked at me.) “Oh. What are you doin’ there?”

Kate: “I drove her home from school today and then I was invited to stay for dinner.”

Jeff: “Oh. Hold on a second, okay?” (We hear the distinct sound of the mouthpiece being covered up and then what might've been a button being pushed on the phone as the music playing in the background ceased. Kate gives me a silent high-five.) “Sorry, I had to turn the stereo down. You still there?”

Kate: (Pause.) “Yeah, I’m still here. I wanted to step outside to talk so I wasn’t being rude to Camie.” (She gestures to the porch as if to say that wasn’t a lie.)

Jeff: “Oh, right…um, is she cool?”

Kate: “Totally. I really like her. Oh and I’m not the only one who likes her either.” (She quietly snickered at this.)

Jeff:
“Huh?!”

Kate: “Zack called right before you did.”

Jeff: (We hear what sounded very much like someone swearing in the background and we both have to cover our mouths so we don’t start laughing.) “How’d he get her number?”

Kate: “No, you idiot. He called me. I hung up with him when you called.”

Jeff: “Oh, right…okay. So, does she like him?”

Kate: (Silence as she inspects her finger nails.)

Jeff: “Katy? Did you hear what I asked?”

Kate: “No. What?” (She shrugs.)

Jeff: “I asked does Camie like him?”

Kate: “Does she like who?” (She winks at me again.)

Jeff: “Jesus, Katy, you’re killing me! Does Camie like Tr—” (We hear the definite sound of paper, like a magazine maybe, flying through the air and a
thwap
as it hit Jeff. Simultaneously, the mouthpiece is covered again. Not well this time, though, because we heard Jeff’s smothered
“Quit it, you dick.”
) “—Zack or not?” (Both of our mouths form the silent words
Oh My God!
)

Kate: “How am I supposed to know? I literally just hung up with him and answered your call. I haven’t had a chance to even talk to her about it.”

Jeff: “Well… Oh! Didn’t you talk to her about what she thought of him flirting with her today?”

Kate: “Yeah, a little.” (She rolled her eyes when she said this.) “How’d you know about that?”

Jeff: “Uhhh…I was there, remember?”

Kate: “Oh yeah.”

Jeff: “
Well?
”

Kate: “Well what?”

Jeff: “What did she say?”

Kate: “What the hell, Jeff? You sound like you have a crush on her or something.”

Jeff
:
“
I don’t!
God, Katy, you
know
I want you back!”

Kate: “Then why do you care if she likes him?” (She’s good, isn’t she?)

Jeff: “Uh, I don’t. I was just curious, you know?”

Kate: “Whatever. I think it’d be cool if Camie went out with him though.” (She shook her head, mouthing the word NO.)

Jeff: “
WHY?
Please Katy, if you love me even a little bit, tell me you won’t encourage her to go out with that asshole.”

Kate: “Ugh…fine. Hey Jeff, lemme call you later when I get home, okay?”

Jeff: “Oh, um…yeah okay. I love you.”

Kate: (Pause and then she sighed.) “We’ll talk later, I promise. Bye.”

“Well that was unexpected,” Kate said and put her phone in her purse.

“What do you think they’ll do?” I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be able to learn at the feet of a master like Kate.

“Honestly, I don’t know. We’ll have to see how this Zack thing sits with Tristan. He may decide not to bother if he thinks you like Zack, or if Zack really starts putting the moves on you. I’m kinda hoping what I told Zack will keep him from being a problem though,” she said and then bit her fingernail in thought.

“What did you say to him?”

“Well, it’s amusing actually…Zack thinks Jeff is the one who likes you. He missed seeing Jeff accost me. I didn’t say one way or the other because he’ll find out the truth when Jeff and I get back together anyway. I mean I’ve never thought Zack was all that bright, but he really is an idiot to think that and then actually ask me about it…Jeff and I have been together for
years
, but whatever. I had to make some things up, though, because if Zack knows it’s Tristan who’s interested, then he’ll probably try to get in the way just to spite him. This whole thing could get really complicated,” she told me with a little concern.

“What did you make up?” I asked, growing uneasy myself. I like it so much better when Kate is confident—it’s contagious.

“Oh. I told him that you just broke up with your boyfriend and you were taking a break from dating for a while. If he thinks that, then maybe he won’t pay so much attention to what you do,
or
how Tristan and Jeff behave. You know, like he won’t think of them as competition because he’ll think you’re not interested in anyone right now,” she explained with more certainty.

“Jeez Kate, you’re really amazing. I don’t think I could’ve ever come up with some of the things you said to Zack
or
Jeff. I can’t believe Tristan was listening in, though, that was hysterical!” I said and unable to hold it in any longer, I let my laughter about that out.

“Oh my God, I
know
!! I thought I was totally gonna blow it a few times!” She started laughing, too, and then continued. “You know what? I think I’m gonna go hunt Jeff down and talk to him in person…if I’m lucky, Tristan will still be with him and I might get some more for us to go on.”

“See what I mean? That’s so smart! Thanks for everything today, Kate. I really appreciate you being so great.” I meant it too. Even though this whole thing could blow up in my face, I think it’d be worth it just to be friends with Kate.

“Hey, no problem! I’m actually really excited about this. Do you know how awesome it’d be if you got Tristan and Jeff and I are together? We’d make the greatest foursome! I’d so love that,” Kate said with a big smile, then she hugged me goodbye. “Okay, so I’ll pick you up in the morning. Hopefully I’ll have some kind of news.”

“Sounds good! See you in the morning,” I said and watched her get in her car and drive away.

Dinner at my house was a louder affair than it normally is. My dad always has music on, and tonight was no different. A song of The Cult’s—my mom’s favorite band from when she was in high school—was playing, but my sister and I were talking non-stop with loud excitement about our first day, doing a fair job of drowning out Ian Astbury’s hauntingly robust voice. Every now and then during the conversation, my mom and dad would share a bewildered look, like they couldn’t believe after all the drama and tears about being thrown into public school that Jill and I both had such glowing reports on our respective days. I didn’t share any of what I’m scheming to do, although I did tell them that I’m in love. My mom and dad simply laughed and asked for some details. Again, just another example of how utterly cool they are.

I described Tristan much the same way I had for you, but I left out the part where he should be a senior. I know my parents won’t have a problem with me dating or having a boyfriend,
but
I’m not so sure how they’d feel if said boyfriend is almost two years older than me. And I have to admit, I’m a little nervous about it myself. Yeah. Do the math. I’d learned from Kate on the drive home that Tristan is seventeen
right now
, but he’s going to be
eighteen
in February. That also means he’ll graduate at the ripe old age of nineteen. I can’t stress about that right now, though, because if I start to worry about how in over my head I’m probably getting, I won’t be able to tread water whatsoever and I’ll just end up drowning that much sooner.

Oh, I also asked Kate about what Paul said this morning about being older and whatnot, and I found out Paul is literally only two weeks older than Tristan. Kate says Paul’s always been jealous of Tristan because he’s both smart and athletically inclined in addition to being popular, and he doesn’t have to work hard at any of that so Tristan being a grade below him is kinda like a pride thing I guess, which from what Kate said, Tristan finds funny.

“So tell me what you didn’t tell Mom and Dad…” Jillian demanded as she flopped down on my bed that night.

“What do you mean?” Obviously, Jill has been blessed with those same powers of deduction that Kate has. I think I might be a little jealous.

“Gimme a break, Camie. What are you hiding from them and why?” She persisted.

I sighed and decided to just lay it all on the table for her. I really don’t want to give my sister any ammunition to turn her super-duper sleuthing skills on me. I’m probably gonna have to be evasive enough as it is, and she’ll see right through me anyway. “Okay. You know the guy, your future brother-in-law? Well, Kate and I are kinda stalking him and plotting to make him wanna be my boyfriend.”

“So? That’s not such a big deal…I mean certainly nothing to keep secret from Mom and Dad. You know they won’t care if you have a boyfriend, even
if
you have to plot to get him, sooo, there has to more…” I told you. She’s like a mini-Kate, but I know my sister and actually, she’s worse.

“Yeah, I know that. Here’s the thing though…he’s
uber
-popular, most of the girls in school want him, and…he’s older than me. Kind of a lot actually,” I told her while closing my bedroom door…just in case.

Jillian watched me take that precaution and then studied my face for a moment. “Is he a senior?”

“No…but,
technically
, he should be,” I admitted with some anxiety. I’m really hoping to have Jill on my side because if she’s not, things could become tricky if she were to decide to throw up roadblocks in the interest of “protecting” me.

She took a minute to absorb what I’d admitted, including everything that might entail. Then she whistled. “Wow, Camie. You really got your feet wet today.”

“Yeah, I know, right? Kate really thinks I have a shot and I told her I was in, but, I sorta feel like I’m setting myself up to drown…what do you think?” An almost sixteen-year-old asking advice of her almost thirteen-year-old sister might seem odd, but not only is she as intelligent as she is, Jillian can also be more mature than some adults when she wants to be. Plus, I respect and value her opinions.

“Well, let’s think about this for a minute...I’m guessing in scheming, your plans entail going to parties and places where there won’t be adult supervision, right?”

I nodded. I seem to be doing a lot of that today…

“Also, there’s an expectation factor here if he’s that much older and popular… Well, you know you’re gonna find yourself in some situations that you’ve never been in before, which will eventually be the case anyway…unless you simply die an old maid and chances are, that’s not gonna happen. So, I guess it all depends on how much you like this particular boy and how wet you think you’re ready to get. Like do you think you’re ready to get in up to your waist or chin maybe? Or do you think you’d be more comfortable in the wading pool?”

I looked down at my comforter and chewed by bottom lip, thinking.

“All questions you’re the only one who can answer, Camie, and you probably won’t even truly know until you’re faced with having to make a decision, although it would be wise to know your own mind first. Then you won’t feel pressured to make rash choices when the time for decisions inevitably rears its head.”

She never fails to amaze me with how fast she catches on. She knew immediately what my concerns were. The main one being that I’ve never even kissed a boy before. Not that I wouldn’t relish the chance to kiss or be kissed, but I’ve just never had the opportunity. Also, like Jillian implied, Tristan’s age would indicate that he has a certain amount of life experience and chances are, he’ll have certain expectations because of that. Therefore, if I really want him to hang around, I might have to go further than kissing to satisfy some of those expectations.

“Well, from everything I’ve heard so far, I think I could
really
like him. And I know what you’re saying…I’ve thought about that too. I don’t wanna get too ahead of myself, though...this whole thing could be over before it even starts. I just wanted to see if you’d support me.” If this whole thing does go south, I’m pretty sure I’ll need her shoulder to cry on.

“Oh, I totally got your back, so don’t worry about that.”

“Cool, thanks…” I heaved a big sigh of relief.

“No problem, that’s what I’m here for. Just be careful, okay? You could end up being used
and
never being able to live down a slutty reputation,” she replied with sisterly affection.

“Yeah, I’ll do my best,” I chuckled.

“So how cute is he? Are we talking moderately drool worthy or, ‘hey Cujo, you’re foaming at the mouth?’” She asked and straightened the ears on one of the bunny slippers she was wearing.

“Jilly, he’s Taylor Kitsch hot. In fact, he looks just like Taylor Kitsch with light brown hair and blue eyes. I’m not even kidding.”

“Dang,
really?
”

Let me explain. Taylor Kitsch is the king of my “Hot Guy Island.” And I really wasn’t exaggerating; Tristan actually does look a lot like him. Besides, by using him as an illustration, Jillian can now appreciate how gorgeous Tristan is, too, because I don’t compare normal people to my favorite hot actor. EVER.