Notice Me

by Lili Lam

"Will you hurry up and get your butt out here already?" Anya shouted loudly from the other side of my bathroom door. "They'll be here any minute now!" I blatantly refused to leave the safety of my wonderful bathroom, especially not after letting Anya pick out my outfit.

  She had my hair straightened and pulled back into a side ponytail, my long bangs angled to the right side of my face. My makeup was way too drastic for my liking; I usually like to keep it simple with some lip-gloss and maybe a little mascara. But no, simple isn't in Anya's vocabulary. I look like I was preparing to go out on stage to perform at a freaking rock concert. Black eyeliner lined my hazel eyes along with a thick layer of gray eye shadow.

  Anya forced me to wear a pair of her extremely short and when I say short, I mean coochie-cutter black cargo shorts. I had to bite my tongue from asking her if she didn't pack her little seven year old brother's shorts by accident, that's how bad they are! They're so short in fact that if I bend over, my cheeks will be on full display. I have on one of her gray frilly tube tops and on my feet are dressy black flip-flops.

  Not only do I have her clothes on, but she also demanded that I wear her strapless push up miracle bra for great cleavage. She even tried to get me to wear the matching lacy thong, how humiliating. I completely drew the line when it came to underwear, as I threw a slight bitch fit. Best friend or not, I'm not sharing panties. Eww, that's just way too gross!

  Shaking my head and staring at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes widened in revulsion as I took in my own appearance, like really? Who in the right mind dresses like this to go kayaking? Through her shameless flirting with Luke at the roller-skating rink last night, Anya gladly accepted an invitation for us to join the guys kayaking today.

  Thanks so much for asking me what I think of the whole idea, note the sarcasm here people. Some best friend she is huh? She knows I barely have any hand-eye coordination, but yet she still agreed to my early demise. I could see the headlines now, 'Teenage girl tragically loses life after kayak capsizes and runs her over causing her to drown to death.'

  "Just go without me, tell them I came down with a stomach virus." I grumbled towards the door. I was sitting on the side of my bathtub picking at the black polish on my fingernails. Anya finally talked me into coming out of the bathroom by pulling the guilt trip card on me.

  "C'mon Lise I really like Luke! I only have one more day here, one more. I'm leaving tomorrow and I want to hang out with him, but I want to hang out with my best friend too." She pleaded while banging on the door so hard I thought she was going to break it down.

  Standing up and swinging the door open causing Anya to practically fall forwards; I gave her the eye. "Fine, you so owe me big time!" I huffed as I dragged myself out my room and down the steps.

  "Thank you, thank you." Anya chirped happily as she skipped along behind me. "You look so hot by the way."

  We're meeting up over at Tristan's and riding over to the harbor in Max's Chevy Suburban. How they think we’re going to shove eight people inside a seven-seat SUV is completely beyond me. The guys were already standing around Max's truck waiting for us when I locked the front door behind me. It felt like all eyes was on me as I nervously followed behind Anya, tugging uncomfortably at the hem of my shorts. I guess I was hoping I could magically make them longer.

  “Get in the truck." I heard Tristan bark out causing Max, Gabe, Jordan, and Sam to suddenly scatter into their seats. What the heck was that all about? Did they always do everything Tristan told them to? He says jump and they say how high?

  Max instantly hopped into the driver's seat with Jordan next to him in the passenger. Gabe and Sam jumped into the two seats behind them, which left me, Tristan, Luke, and Anya in the last row. There's no way the four of us can squeeze comfortably onto the last row; Tristan and Luke are too massive.

  Luke walked up and grabbed Anya into a hug making her squeal with excitement. I could see love blooming on the horizon between these two. Gag. They talked on the phone until late last night even though they literally spent the entire time together at the rink, then they text each other all day long.

  Feeling flustered all of a sudden I turned my head to catch Tristan biting down sexily on his bottom lip as he tried to hold back an unrecognizable expression. "Hi." I greeted with a small wave and slight smile as I stood a couple steps away from him. I don't know what it is about this boy that causes me to get all hot and bothered when I am in his presence.

  Tristan stepped towards me; he was so close it'd be considered invading my personal space. Once again there seemed to be heat radiating off his body. This boy's hot, literally! He was dressed in a pair of black swimming trunks, a white singlet, and white Nike sneakers. His muscles stretching the singlet in all the right places and proudly displaying the tattoo that went from his right shoulder down to his elbow.

  As usual, I stood there frozen unable to form any coherent words. His words from last night were on constant replay echoing in my mind. What did he mean it was physically impossible for him to stay away from me? To tell you the truth it was physically impossible for me to stop thinking about him ever since that kiss.

  "You look absolutely..." Tristan articulated smoothly with a sigh. "Amazing." A heartbreaking smile spread across his lips causing me to smile in return. Inside I was secretly jumping up and down, ecstatic that he noticed me and liked what he saw. "Thanks." I mouthed quietly feeling my cheeks flush scarlet.

  "You're welcome." Tristan whispered back, we were caught up in the Moment. He was searching my face for a reaction as he inched closer to me. Like two magnetic force fields drawn together. "Ready to kayak?" He asked tilting his head to the side slightly; it was the cutest gesture I've ever seen.

  It made him look like one of those puppies with the big brown eyes, that quirks its head to the side when you speak to it. What's gotten into me? "As ready as I'll ever be." My voice mumbled grouchily. My face scrunched up in an unhappy pout.

  Tristan's hearty chuckle broke me out of my reverie, his laugh sounding like music to my ears. It was so full of life and happiness. "Don't look so miserable, I promise I won't let you fall in. You and I'll be sharing a kayak." Tristan reassured as his hand cupped the small of my back. He led me over to get into the car.

  Oh my word, we'll be sharing a kayak? Why can't I share a kayak with Anya? At least this way I won't make a complete and utter fool out of myself! Anya and I can look like fools together. Gabe and Sam got out so that they could flip the seats forward allowing Tristan and Luke to climb into the back row.

  Just the two of them alone took up the entire row causing Anya and I to look at each other in a, 'where the heck are we going to sit' type face. She was standing on the other side of the car across from me. "Umm maybe Anya should just drive and we'll follow you guys." I suggested with a shrug of my shoulders.

  "Get in." Tristan grunted patting his lap to show me where I could sit. Is he for real, what is he some sort of a caveman? He wants me to sit on his lap the entire ride to the harbor? Before I knew what was happening, I was manhandled from behind being picked up by Gabe and practically shoved in.

  I landed ungracefully in Tristan's arms just as he flipped me around and pulled me down into his lap. The same thing happened to Anya. What is this some sort of kidnapping? "Are you comfortable?" Tristan's voice came out husky; his breath tickled the side of my neck. He pulled the seatbelt around the front and across me, snapping it in.

  I nodded my head stiffly not being able to say anything in response. Wow is it me or did it suddenly get extremely stuffy in this car? My heart was thumping wildly against my chest at our close proximity. His one arm was draped across my midsection the other on my leg.

  I don't think Tristan is aware he was unconsciously rubbing my thigh with the pad of his thumb. With each movement my heart skipped a beat, tiny tingles jolting down to my toes. Is Tristan aware of the havoc he's wreaking on my body? Is this how it feels whenever a guy touches another girl? This can't be normal can it?

  I never had a
ny experience with guys so I wouldn't know what it was like to be kissed or hugged. Hugs from my relatives don't count for much. Relief was the single expression that flashed to my mind when we finally reached the harbor. We all filed out of the car and made our way to the kayak rentals.

  "You ok?" Anya asked with a knowing smile as she bumped me playfully with her shoulder. "You look a little agitated." How the heck would she know what I look like, she spent the entire time laughing it up with Luke. She didn't pay me any mind, besides throwing me a couple suggestive winks here and there.

  "I'm fine." I murmured looking around. The view of the harbor from the docks was incredible. The water seemed to stretch on forever. There were boats lined up in a row. In the distance you could see the ferry making it's way around the calm waters of the Muscongus Bay, a big tourist attraction here.

  "We're going to kayak out to the Marshall Point lighthouse, hang out for a little while where we'll have lunch and then make our way back." Tristan announced to the group as he held up a picnic basket for show. Where the heck did he get a picnic basket? Aww, how adorable is it that the guys packed lunch. Who would've thought?

  Tristan being the gentleman that he is helped buckle me into my life vest. He held onto the kayak and helped me get in, telling me to get up front and that he'd sit in the back to balance it out. Tristan showed me how to paddle, even though my paddle barely even touched the water. He did all the work and before we knew it we were all at the shores of Marshall Point lighthouse.

  I've only ever seen this from afar; from up close it is breathtaking. "I figured this could be sort of like a date that is if you want it to be." Tristan said, a bit unsure. "My way of apologizing for yesterday." Since when does he have doubts in his ability to get a girl to fall for him?

  Max, Gabe, Sam, and Jordan ran off to explore the lighthouse taking their sandwiches with them. Anya and Luke sat on a blanket a little further down the beach eating and talking. Tristan led me away from them and laid out a blanket for us to sit on.

  This by far is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. We sat down; Tristan handing me a turkey sandwich and a bottle of raspberry flavored water. "Is that ok? I have ham here too in case you don't like turkey." Tristan asked offering me an alternative.

  "Turkey's fine. Thanks." I answered happily. I was grateful for a lot more than I was letting off on. Not only for the food, but also for the newfound excitement in my life.

  Looking off into the horizon, I let out a sigh of contentment. For once in my life I wasn't invisible. I was included in things and it's all due to this guy sitting next to me.

  Chapter 5: Day of Many Firsts