**
The sun hung low, casting golden tones over everything it touched. It was a luminous late afternoon and the intense heat was finally subsiding. Staring at the water, I wanted to go swimming. I was overwhelmed with mixed emotions, and the water would be a soothing remedy. I moved, quietly, to an unoccupied lounge. Nadine hopped up, taking a seat next to Chris.
Hearing my name called out shook me from my cloud.
“Dude, Aly! Turn on the music,” Nadine shouted. “Hello, you there?”
Chris looked quizzically at me, mouth half open. “So, Aly…Jake Masters? Really?” He clearly didn’t believe what Nadine had told him, whatever it was. My mouth hinged for a few seconds. “Ha! Aw, Aly, you’re pink. Does that mean I’m right?”
He continued to chuckle and Nadine punched him in the arm.
“Don’t tease her, you jerk,” Nadine scolded.
“Ouch!” Chris winced and playfully shoved her back. Nadine grabbed his muscled-up bicep and rubbed it apologetically. “This time, I swear I’m not teasing her.”
Chris continued to observe me. We all silently glanced back and forth at each other. Chris shook his head. “Wow, little Alyssa and Jake Masters. Who woulda thunk it?”
I was insulted. “What’s that supposed to mean? And besides, we’re friends. We just started hanging out again, that’s all,” I said defensively.
Nadine and Nicole came to my guard as well. “Yeah, and why not Jake Masters?” Nicole piped in.
Nadine punched Chris again and he yelped, getting up and taking a few steps away.
“Hey, man, I don’t mean it like that.” He smiled. “I mean, shit, man, I guess I could see it. Aly, growin’ up n’shit.” He looked at Nadine and then to me. “It’s just hard for me to think of you any other way than my little sister’s annoying friend.”
“Oh, now I’m annoying!” I chided, half-laughing. “You’re a dick. Keep digging yourself a hole, douchebag.”
“Oh, douchebag, am I?” he exclaimed, dashing over and scooping me up into his arms. I fought him, knowing he was about to throw me into the pool. I heard Nadine scream as she flew into the water in the arms of one of Chris’ sporto friends.
Chris held me tightly as he jumped towards the water and just then, in mid-air, I glanced up, seeing Jake come out of Nicole’s house into the backyard. Chris held me firmly as we hit the water. I opened my eyes to a million little bubbles as I struggled against his tight grip. He didn’t let go of me until our heads popped out of the water.
“Next time you’ll think about calling me a douchebag.” He laughed, taunting me with a little splash to the face. Chris effortlessly climbed out of the pool. The muscles on his back flexed and shimmered in the late afternoon sunlight. Hopping to his feet, he turned, surprised to see Jake. “Oh man, speak of the devil,” Chris said loudly. I could feel my face getting red. “We were just talking about you. What’s up, bro?”
Was this really happening?
9
Alyssa
I wanted to scream. I now stood at the shallow end of the pool and stared dumbly at everyone. What the hell was Jake doing here anyway? Nadine waved eagerly for me to get out of the pool, but my feet were stuck to the bottom, as if encased in cement.
“Yeah, man, Aly said she’d be over here,” Jake explained.
“Hey, it’s cool,” Chris said, awkwardly looking around. “Your girl was teasing me, so I had to let her have it.”
I wished I were a mind reader. Jake glanced over at me, giving a nod and lop-sided smile. Chris continued with his nonsense and I wanted to stuff a sock in his mouth. Jake stood there, glancing between everyone.
“So, you and Aly, huh?” he asked, snooping—like it was all a lie or something.
I wanted to sink to the bottom of the pool. I pictured myself hurling one of the nearby plastic dog toys at his head.
“Somethin’ like that,” Jake remarked, validating the rumor.
My head must have exploded. I only heard ringing in my ears. Did I hear him correctly? Searching for Nicole, she’d moved to a lounge, sitting down with a towel up to her mouth to hide her expression. Our eyes met.
“You got a towel for her?” Jake asked.
“Oh, yeah.” Chris readily bolted over, grabbing a fresh towel from a large rattan basket near the fire pit.
Jake stood poolside in all his hotness, holding a towel open for me. I emerged fully clothed, sloshing over to him. His brilliant smile broadened across his face. I was mesmerized and breathless. Awkward silence hovered like the L.A. smog as they all watched us. Nadine came to the rescue, clearing her throat.
“So, Jake, did you work out the sitch with the party?” she prodded, moving closer to Chris. She killed me! She was a piece of metal and a good-looking guy was the magnet—she was always makin’ moves.
“Yeah, I did. That’s why I came over. Nine tonight. Two-thirteen Circle Court, Hermosa.”
With a towel draped over my shoulders, for a brief moment, I felt at ease. My friends and Jake were all in one neat little box. The fear of Nadine freaking out, whoosh, it was gone. If Jake didn’t care about Rachel, neither should I.
I dried myself, rubbing the towel up under my eyes. I knew I looked like a drowned raccoon with mascara melted underneath my eyes.
“So…what are you doing here,” I asked softly, surprised that I was embarrassed by his presence.
“I had it out with Rachel and I told everyone to leave.”
“So, what does that mean?”
“It means I’ll see them later and Rachel will get over it.” He wrapped the towel more tightly around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “Walk out front with me.”
I trembled inside. “I’ll be back,” I called out.
Jake and Chris exchanged nods.
“So, when you playin’ next? I hear you’re going on tour soon,” Chris asked.
“Yeah, we leave in a couple of weeks, back before school starts,” Jake informed me.
My stomach sank. He never mentioned he would be gone the entire summer. Chris finally finished ooo-ing and ahhh-ing over Jake’s impending tour, while I had a nervous breakdown, waiting.