Waiting for Something (2 page)

“Isn’t the party that way?” I pointed in the other direction.

“Ali? I thought you left?” He looked at me.

“I did, I just live like right up there.” I pointed towards my house.

“Oh nice. Sit with me.” He grabbed my hand.

“You’re drunk, aren’t you?” I laughed as he pulled me down.

“Only this much,” he tried to pinch his fingers.

“Yeah, so you still feel the need to bite me?” I smiled in the moonlight.

“Only since you first came to the party.” His eyes turned dark.

“I was given clear orders.” I laughed.

“What were those?” He threw his head back finishing his drink.

“Stay away from you.” My tone got a little too serious.

“Why me?” He looked directly at me.

“Because you’re a player.”
I pulled my hair out and let it fall below my breast line.

“I’m
not, I just come off as one. Okay, maybe I am a little but I don’t know. People change, right?” He leaned in closer to my side.

“Yes, people change all the time.” I sat with my knees against my chest.

“You should stay away from me though. For other reasons. I’m bad news.” He rested his head on my shoulder.

“That’s hard to believe,” I whispered.

“That’s because you’re pure and innocent,” he mumbled.

“So what if I am?” I let the silence grow.

“You are. And that’s exactly why you should stay away.” He suddenly stopped talking and I heard a light snore erupt from his lips.

I really didn’t know what just happened between us but it was something. It freaked me out and I had no idea what to do or say. I don’t even know
him but I could feel something within me change and I don’t know what it was.

Before long I felt the warm sun hit my skin and heard a guy’s voice.

“Jake! Jake, wake up,” said the voice. “Oh, Ali, hey.” 

I opened my eyes and Carter was standing above me.

“Shit, I’m in so much trouble. Jake, get up.” I shoved his head off my shoulder.

“I’m up.” His head shot up.

“Yeah, I’m in loads of trouble. I’m gunna go.” I got up but my back and neck were in so much pain it took a while to readjust.

“Ok, see
ya.” Carter waved at me and smiled.

I walked back up the beach and looked at my phone. It was 8 in the morning and my parents were bound to be awake. I went up to the back patio and saw my dad inside making bacon and eggs.

“Good morning, sunshine. Bacon?” My dad looked up from the food.

“In a little bit. Where’s mom?” I grabbed the apple juice from the fridge.

“She went on a jog. She thought you might be down at the beach or something.”

“Oh, yeah.
I just went down to walk around a little. Get some fresh air. I’m a little nervous for school tomorrow.” I drank my juice and sat down at the table.

“That’s understandable. Will you go wake up your brother? Then we can have some breakfast,” he smiled and I obeyed.

“Dillon, get up. Time for breakfast.” I knocked on his door.

“I’m up. What time is it?” He whined.

“It’s 8:30. Come on, we have to get up now so we won’t be up late tonight,” I opened the door.

“Get out, I’m
awake,”he threw a pillow at me. I went back downstairs and my dad made me up a plate.

“Your brother up?”
He asked as he made up his plate and Dillon’s.

“He should be. I went up there and woke him up,” I took a bite of bacon.

              “Alright, thanks. So did you have fun last night?” He sat down with his cup of coffee.

             
“Yeah, I did. I met like thirty kids from my class so that’s nice.” I remembered Marlie and Justin and thought I should text them.

             
“Great. Thirty, isn’t that like an entire class?” He laughed.

             
“I know that’s what I thought but I guess not.” I wondered how many were in my class exactly.

             
“Well I’m glad you had a good time.” He looked proud of me for some reason.

             
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I blushed.

             
“I’m just proud of the young woman you’ve become.” He sipped his coffee.

             
“You’re so weird.” I shook my head laughing.

             
“Only sometimes,” He went back to his breakfast.

             
“Bacon. Jackpot!” Dillon went right for his plate.

             
“Well good morning, sleepy head. You have a lot to get done today.” My dad looked at him.

             
“Like what?” Dillon bit into his bacon.

             
“I want you to mow the lawn, help me put together the front porch swing, and sweep the sand off the patio in back.” He took his empty plate and put it in the sink.

             
“Dad, it’s the day before school, seriously,” he whined.

             
“I know, so eat up and start the lawn. I’ll help out.” He drank the rest of his coffee and rinsed the cup out before putting it in the sink.

             
“Why doesn’t Ali have to do anything?” Dillon groaned.

             
“Your mom has her doing some things around the house with her. Worry about yourself. Finish eating and get ready.” He left the room, ending the conversation.

             
“Why is Dad always so crabby lately?” Dillon ate his toast.

             
“Are you stupid? We just moved and he just started a new job. I’d be crabby, too.” I finished off my juice.

             
“Whatever. Where did you go last night? I saw you sneak off.” I felt my stomach sink.

             
“Nowhere. Just out back. I wanted some air.” I lied.

             
“Yeah, sure you did. You’re safe this time but next time I’m ratting you out.” He finished off breakfast and put his things in the sink.

             
“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes.

             
“Anytime.” He ran upstairs and that was the end of that.

             
After I got all showered and freshened up, my mom was waiting to hear everything from last night. I told her almost everything ,minus Jake and me on the beach. She sounded so excited for me and insisted I ask Marlie over this weekend. Marlie and I have been texting all day and I really like her. Justin and I have talked a little but not as much as me and Marlie. I thought I’d actually made a real friend.

              Mom put me to work dusting and washing windows. She cleaned the toilets and vacuumed. At around one I was finished with everything and  the guys were almost done, too. I went ahead and changed into my bathing suit and put on my cover up and headed down to the beach to tan for a while. I brought some fruit salad and a chicken salad sandwich to eat for lunch.

             
Not a lot of people were around, not as many as usual anyway, but school is starting soon so that made sense. I sat down my bag and set up my chair in a spot directly facing the sun and made myself comfortable. I put in my headphones and listened to competition music and started practicing the dances in my head. I drifted off after the third song and must have been asleep for twenty minutes before I felt drops of water hitting my naked stomach. I opened my eyes wondering if it had started to sprinkle but sure enough someone was standing right above me and that somebody was Jake.

             
“You look good,” he grinned, his bright blue eyes staring down at me.

             
“Uh, thanks.” I self- consciously covered myself up.

             
“Thanks for last night.” He sat down beside me.

             
“I just held your head up while you slept basically,” I shrugged.

             
“So how much trouble are you in?” He ignored my comment.

             
“None actually. They thought I woke up early and went to the beach for a walk.” I laughed a little.

             
“Well that’s good. At least your parents care.” He smiled slightly.

             
“Did you get in any trouble?” I asked.

             
“Do I ever get in trouble? No. That’s something you need to learn now. Carter and I never get in trouble with our parents.” His tone was off.

             
“Why is that?” I was curious.

             
“You ask too many questions. So what are you doing out here?” he avoided an answer.

             
“Just thought I’d tan and practice my dances.” I slid my Victoria’s Secret cover up over me.

             
“Dances?” He looked interested.

             
“Yeah, I’m on a competition team here and then I also am on the school dance team.” I smiled.

             
“How long have you danced for?” This guy actually cared about my life?

             
“I’ve danced since I was two but started competing when I was six. I’ve won plenty of times.” I felt proud talking about my passion with a stranger.

             
“Wow, that’s amazing. So can you do any cool tricks?” He smirked.

             
“Depends on what you want me to do,” I looked at him through my lashes.

             
“A split?” I could hear the dirtiness behind the question.

             
“That’s easy. Try doing a scorpion, now that’s hard. Or a no-handed side tilt.” I couldn’t help but giggle at his cluelessness.

             
“Good to know,” he turned his flirt mode back on.

             
“What are you doing here dripping wet?” I looked at his wet muscular abs

             
“Surfing. Been doing it since I was ten when I got a board for my birthday and haven’t stopped since.” He shook the water from his hair.

             
“Are you any good?” I wiped some water off my arm.

             
“Duh. I’ve been in five competitions and placed in the top three each time,” he laughed.

             
“Teach me.” I surprised myself.

             
“Teach you? I don’t think so. It’s a little too rough of a sport for you,” he shook his head.

             
“Too rough, seriously? I’m a girl not a fricken princess. You don’t think I can do it,” I glared at him.

             
“Let’s just say you’re fragile. It can get pretty nasty out there,” he shrugged.

             
“Trust me. I’m not fragile. I’ve been a dancer for a long time. I’ve done every trip, fall, smash, crash and everything else you can think of on the dance floor. I’m used to pain,” I summed up true dancing really well, sacrifice.

             
“Hmmm. Maybe. Only on one condition.” His expression changed.

             
“Shoot,” I gave him the go ahead.

             
“Don’t get jealous when you see girls all over me. I’m a Thomas after all. It’s natural that girls come crawling to us,” he smirked.

             
“Yeah, sure, whatever. I won’t get jealous,” I rolled my eyes.

             
“I’m serious. I can tell you’re already falling for me.” I saw his eyes smolder into me.

             
“I’m not falling for you, trust me. I would know.” My voice cut sharp.

             
“Alright, then I guess you got a deal,” he held out his hand.

             
“Sounds good to me.” We shook on it.

             
“But not today. How about this weekend?” He stood up.

             
“Why not today? It’s like two.We have all afternoon,” I whined a little.

             
“Eager to learn are we?” His grin showed his dimples that I just recently noticed he had.

             
“Well it’s not that exactly. I just don’t understand why not start early so we can get done early,” I covered up my disappointment.

             
“You really want to know why? Because I gotta get home. I have a “friend” coming over soon,” he winked.

             
“Gross. Go ahead and go. I guess I’ll see you around or something,” I turned my music back on.

             
“Let me put my number in your phone,” he grabbed my cell from my side before I could respond.