Making Waves

by Nicole Leigh Shepherd

  Zoe slides off the chair and squats down to the girl’s view. “Hey, Christina Medina Flipeena. Did Mommy tell you that I’m watching you tonight?”

  Christina jumps up and down. “Wanna practice my letters on my iPad with me? Please! Please! Please!”

  “Sure thing, bada bing,” Zoe says.

  “Yes!” The little girl pumps her fist.

  She darts toward her mother, the woman who’d asked Zoe to babysit yesterday. This time the woman is followed closely by a nanny pushing a stroller. Still, she seems frazzled by the bouncing child in front of her. She barely manages to wave at Zoe before the group of them shuffles off.

  Zoe slides back on the stool and looks at me. “You’re coming with me, right?”

  “What?” I ask, confused.

  “To babysitting? I figured we’d go together after what you said about how we’re linked and everything.”

  I jut out my lip. “Sorry, Zoe. I didn’t realize. I …”

  Zoe lets out a loud sigh. “Ditching me for Brody already.”

  “Nah, no, no …” I stammer. “That’s not how it is. It’s just that I didn’t know you wanted me to come, and I figured I’d squeeze in some extra training. You know, make sure I get top scores in conditioning so that Denise picks me for the beach? And maybe even starts to think of me as a real contender for the scholarship?”

  Kylie interjects. “Ladies, ladies. Don’t forget why we came.” Turning to the group, she says, “How are we going to help little ole Abby here with big boy Brody?”

  I feel my cheeks redden as I attempt to distract myself by entering their orders into the computer. This can’t be too hard. M-U-R-P. Sure enough, Zoe’s family account pops up on the screen.

  Now, when Lilly returns—whenever that is—she’ll at least see that I’ve run up a few orders.

  Unfortunately, my focusing on snack bar–related tasks does nothing to stop my friends’ onslaught of questions.

  “Zoe said you weren’t exactly psyched to see Brody yesterday,” Missy says. “Pourquoi, ma petite Abby?”

  “Abby was so caught off guard she looked like she’d seen a shark.” Zoe cuts me off, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “She even caught her bag on her chair as she was leaving.”

  Okay, now that was a little mean. I ignore my friends and press a button like I saw Lilly do earlier. Except I must do something wrong because instead of the computer showing that Zoe ordered one cupcake, the charge comes up for three. I push the delete button.

  “Anyway, after thinking about your dilemma …” Kylie continues where Missy and Zoe left off. “My advice is that you grab your boy Brody and give him a giant smacker on the lips. Then sort the details out later.”

  “Are you saying that he’s boyfriend material, Ky?” Taylor asks, her nose buried in her cupcake.

  Kylie rolls up the sleeves of her gray Eastern Connecticut softball tee. “I’m saying that he’s seriously one of the nicest, cutest boys I’ve ever met.”

  “No wonder you never dated him,” Missy says, smirking.

  Kylie playfully elbows Missy. “You can lay off the jerk jokes now. Zachary and I are over.”

  “That’s never stopped you before,” Missy adds under her breath.

  “Ouch, low blow,” Zoe chimes in, her attitude masking what I recognize to be a pained expression. I’m one of the only people who knows that she still feels weird about how Kylie and Zach’s relationship ended.

  Kylie shakes her head like it’s not a big deal. “That’s true, but this time he’s thousands of miles away. Plus, there’s always that bartender that Missy claims she has dibs on. Or even better, Brett Davidson.”

  “You would give Brett Davidson another chance after he just rolled over and played dead when Zach threatened him so that he wouldn’t go to the prom with you?” Zoe asks, her eyes wide with shock.

  “Depends how hot he looks this summer,” Kylie jibes. Then she stares directly at me. “So what’s stopping you from jumping back on the Brody Wilson love train?”

  I shrug. “I’m not really sure Brody’s my type.” I look at Amber. “Did you know him at your old school?”

  “Who didn’t know Brody? He’s like the most popular guy at Upper Crest,” Amber says, her expression earnest. “Kylie is right. He’s a real sweetheart.”

  Zoe eggs her on. “And an amazing athlete.”

  “Perfect for Abby!” Taylor shouts in excitement. Then she takes one look at me and curls into a ball—her commentary isn’t exactly welcome.

  “Thanks so much for all of your thoughts, but what none of you have bothered to think about is, why is he here?” I bang my fist on the counter, drawing the attention of the few customers who aren’t my friends.

  Jason looks over at me, amused.

  I notice that a pair of execs who are clearly playing hooky from work have sat down. Guess Mr. Murphy isn’t the only one.

  I look from them back to my friends. I don’t know how I’m going to handle serving them and dealing with Kylie and co. at the same time. There’s only one answer ….

  “Sorry, can you take their order?” I ask Jason.

  He winks at me, which I gather means yes, and then walks past, whispering in my ear, “You really are the world’s worst snack bar girl.” Then he makes his way to the table.

  “Oooh …” whispers Missy. “It seems our girl Abby has two hotties on her tail. Guess Kylie and I won’t be getting with Mr. Bar Man after all.” Missy raises her eyebrows in Kylie’s direction.

  “Okay, now you’re just making stuff up.” I wag my finger.

  Zoe comes to my aid. “Abby’s right. We need to get back to the point.”

  I look at my best friend, relieved, and mouth, “Thank you.”

  “Brody,” Zoe continues, her eyes flashing.

  Some best friend.

  Kylie tosses her cup in the nearest wastebasket. “Good call, Zo.” She turns to me. “Abby. You have to find out why Mr. Wilson is back. If not for you, then at least for the rest of us.”

  “Really, I need to concentrate on the competition. I don’t have the time.”

  “Wait, wait …” Amber looks like she’s about to hyperventilate. “You don’t have the time for Brody”—her eyes widen with the magnitude of her epiphany—“when maybe he gave up college to be with you?”

  Wait, what?

  “Oh. My. God.” Taylor’s mouth drops open.

  “What exactly happened at this meet?” Kylie screeches, leaning over even further this time.

  “I don’t know. One minute, we met at this buffet dinner. And the next thing I knew, we were on the hotel beach, hanging out and talking. And then, it was like four o’clock in the morning.”

  “That’s what they all say.” Kylie laughs.

  “You did mention a kiss, my chiquita banana. What are we talking here? Did you tongue wrestle?” Missy asks, always one to get right to the point.

  “Hells yeah!” Zoe says, balling up her napkin.

  “We didn’t really tongue wrestle. We just kind of …”

  “Did you like it?” Missy asks.

  “I … uh.” I pretend to look for something underneath the snack bar just as Jason returns from helping me with the order. He shakes his head when he sees me. If that slight move of his head could talk, it would say, She’s hopeless.

  This time my friends ignore him. “Then, what’s the problem?” Missy rolls her eyes.

  I pop back up.

  “You know Abby. She doesn’t trust him,” Zoe adds with a look that suggests she’s impressed with her own insightfulness. “It’s being around all those cops all the time.”

  I can’t believe she just said that.

  “Oh wait, I know what it is,” Kylie calls out. “You feel like he dumped you before his freshman year. But let me remind you—you weren’t really dating.”

  “Kylie!” Zoe chastises her.

  “I’m not saying it doesn’t hurt just as much,” Kylie replies. “But it’s just something that people do—break up befor
e college, make sure that they’re single.”

  “Oh, yeah, that’s just a rite of passage. Everyone does it,” Missy says.

  “Remember when Tamika and Derek broke up during basketball season because they were getting ready to go to college?” Taylor contributes.

  “Yeah, but yesterday Brody acted like nothing happened.” I leave out the part about him getting me the job. “He even squeezed my hand.”

  “That’s not all he wants to squeeze,” Missy adds, winking at me.

  Kylie lets out a sigh. “Then find out why he’s not at college.”

  “Maybe I can find out something for Abby,” Amber volunteers. “Like I said, Brody and I knew each other from school.”

  “Thanks, Amber. But I really don’t know why we’re wasting our time talking about this. Lifeguards aren’t allowed to date BCC employees. Plain and simple. So it’s not like we can swim off into the sunset or anything,” I add.

  “Hello? Why are we even debating this?” Kylie interjects. “Find out what’s up and then sneak around with Brody this summer. Who cares about some stupid rule?”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Missy concurs.

  I look at Zoe, who’s nervously picking at her nails. I’m desperate for her to do the best friend thing, to get what I’m going through when no one else does. Miraculously, she rises to the occasion. “You guys don’t understand …. If Abby breaks that rule … then she’s gone. For good.”

  Chapter Nine

  “Excuse me!” a painfully familiar shrill voice calls out. Lexi shoves in front of Taylor, who’s just about to finish off her last bite of cupcake. She’s wearing a teeny red string bikini that I’m fairly sure isn’t regulation. “Am I going to have to report you, Abby Berkeley? First, I catch you chatting with Brody Wilson and then I find you serving your pals from school, rather than paying customers like me.”

  “We’re going to pay,” Amber announces.

  “Oh, Big Red, I almost didn’t see you there. Aren’t you supposed to be handcuffed to the pitching cage?”

  “They let me out.”

  “I get it. I get it,” Lexi continues. “It’s always good to give the animals a chance to experience life in the wild.”

  Kylie glares at Lexi. “You would know.”

  Lexi ignores her, flipping her chestnut ponytail. Her cronies, Allison and Brooke, file behind her, stifling barely contained giggles. Brooke waves at Missy and Kylie.

  Missy’s lip curls as if to say, Don’t even pretend to be my friend if you’re hanging out with that. She flounces her hair and turns her back to the intruders.

  Lexi turns to me. “Nice to see you in your element.”

  “Stop being such a brat, Lexi,” Kylie shoots back.

  “Takes one to know one.” Lexi cackles and playfully bumps into Kylie. Or at least she pretends to be playful about it.

  “You got that right,” Missy snaps her fingers at Lexi.

  “Look at the hot new BCC bartender,” Allison yells over to Jason. “Congrats on your new position. Got any drinks for us?”

  “Ally …” Lexi says through gritted teeth. She shoots her girl a look that would freeze the Pacific Ocean.

  Jason, meanwhile, stares at Lexi. He seems less bemused and more outright irritated now that it’s not just me and my friends. I shouldn’t be surprised. Lexi must be the one who gave Jason a bad impression of all club members.

  Lexi’s expression goes blank as soon as she notices Jason eyeing her.

  It doesn’t last for more than a second, though, because Amber’s phone buzzes, interrupting whatever’s going on. “Catch ya later, girlies,” she announces. “Dad just texted me. Pitching time.” Turning to Lexi, she adds, “And no, that does not make me a caged animal. That makes me the best in the state.”

  Lexi doesn’t really listen to that second part though. Amber’s mention of her dad causes Lexi to immediately glance at her phone. Her face tenses, then relaxes when she drags her thumb across her screen.

  “I’ll come too,” Taylor yells out. “Might as well shoot some hoops.” She trails after Amber. Zoe bounces in her stool, about to announce her departure as well, but glancing at me, she decides to stay put.

  “Look who it is,” Jason calls from the bar.

  Lexi freezes and turns his way.

  Jeez, she really thinks everything is about her.

  “Hey, baby,” Jason purrs. We all look his way to find that he’s talking to a platinum-blonde club member. She must be at least thirty-five, but she has curves in all the right places and her hair has the bouncing brilliance of a Baywatch cast member. She leans into him, loving the flirtation.

  That boy must make a ton of tip money.

  Lexi adjusts her bathing suit top and attempts to draw the attention back to her. “Let’s see. I’ll have a …” She scans the menu above our heads. Then she stops and fixes on me. “It must be hard working all the time. I bet that’s why they normally don’t let the help lifeguard. You’ll probably miss out on a lot of training opportunities,” she says in a saccharine sweet tone. “I hope it doesn’t hurt your shot at the competition. Not that you could enter anyway since you’re so busy.” She snickers despite herself.

  “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be there,” I say, glaring at her.

  “That’s the spirit!” she exclaims.

  “I’ll be there to beat you like I already did during the invitational,” I add, grumbling. It’s a lame thing to say, but her fake enthusiasm makes me want to throw up.

  “We’ll see about that,” Lexi replies. Then she turns back to the menu. “So, anyway, I’ll have a fruit salad.”

  She pauses as I scribble her order on the pad of paper Lilly left out on the table.

  “No. Wait. Make that a quiche lorraine.”

  I cross out the side salad and write quiche lorraine.

  “Never mind, I’m not quite feeling the quiche lorraine. Too heavy. Make that a chocolate croissant.”

  I stop writing and stare at her.

  “Are you sure?” I ask, as sweet as I can muster.

  “Tsk. Tsk. You know how the club frowns upon poor service. Girls, chocolate croissants for the two of you?”

  Brooke and Allison nod. I’ve never seen the two of them so put in their place. And only by a single look! Allison in particular looks like she’s afraid to move.

  “Make that three chocolate croissants,” Lexi says. “On me.”

  “Coming right up,” I say, plastering a big smile on my face. There’s no way I’m letting Lexi Smalls find fault with anything about me—even if it’s something as dumb as my serving abilities.

  I remove the croissants from the dessert tray, place them each onto a small plate, and slide them toward Lexi and her friends. “Three chocolate croissants,” I announce. I turn to the computer, knowing that if I can just manage to type in Lexi’s order correctly, I’ll be free of her until the next group practice. I’m very careful as I type in her last name and the items. But still, somehow I charge her for four instead of three.

  Urgh. I rush to correct the order before anyone notices.

  Just as Lexi and co. are about to leave, Kylie calls out, “Don’t go. We’ll miss you guys.” My friends burst into giggles.

  “Enjoy!” Missy yells sarcastically.

  Again, my buds break out in hysterics.

  “What’s her beef with you two?” I ask Missy and Kylie.

  “Lexi’s still bent about last year,” Missy says, checking her reflection in her cell phone screen.

  “What happened?”

  Kylie looks at Missy. “Well, we may have gotten her closest friend here fired.”

  “You what!?” I exclaim.

  “Not really,” Missy clarifies. “We just made sure that she wasn’t asked back as a lifeguard.”

  “That’s how you got your spot here, you know,” Kylie adds.

  Sheesh. Does everyone here think they got me my job?

  “Huh?” Zoe says.

  Missy continues, waving her hand to say
that all will be clear in a moment. “Lexi’s friend followed Zach around while they were both guarding last summer. We don’t know whether anything actually happened between them, but Zach flirted with her like he does everyone with girl parts—”

  “Missy!” Kylie screams, startling the rest of us. Then, realizing that she may have just given away her secret shame—that Zach is still a sore subject—she tries to quickly recover the situation, pretending that the Zach dig had her up in arms strictly out of concern for Zoe. “That’s Zoe’s brother you’re talking about,” Kylie says, placing her hands protectively on Zoe’s shoulder.

  Missy shakes her head. “Ky, you know it’s true. Anyway, this girl definitely thought Zach was interested and—”

  Kylie finishes the explanation. “And I saw Lexi tell her to just go for it and hook up with him! And she knew about our history. So, obviously I decided to set her friend up.” Kylie shrugs. “When Denise began to suspect that there was something going on between them …”

  Missy interjects, “Courtesy of the rumors I spread on Kylie’s behalf.”

  “She was pissed, but she didn’t actually fire the girl until well after the season ended,” Kylie concludes.

  “What happened then?” I ask.

  “That’s when I sent Denise a picture of Zachary and the girl on the beach,” Kylie explains, a sheepish grin spreading across their face.

  Missy pipes in. “From the angle, you couldn’t tell whether they were talking or canoodling.”

  “And I prefer not to know which it was,” Kylie says. She’s so vehement that she almost makes her stool tip over.

  “Don’t you feel bad about getting that girl in trouble?” Zoe asks earnestly. She and Kylie are neighbors and she’s always tried to see the best in Kylie despite her somewhat tumultuous past.

  “Yeah, I do, actually. It was a stupid thing to do. And I regret it now. But it felt really good at the time,” Kylie confesses. She looks down, clearly uncomfortable about being this honest.

  “And besides, it wasn’t like her summer was ruined. I hear she ended up going to France with Violet and Hannah.” Missy adds. She nods, looking pleased with her ability to rationalize the situation.

  “You know that’s just a rumor, right?” Kylie asks quietly.