Straight Laced

by Jessica Gunhammer

  “You going somewhere?” he asked.

  “No. I just got tired of sitting on the ground,” I lied.

  “Well, you must have really hated it because I’ve never seen anyone pack up a towel that fast.” I felt a small smile forming from my lips. “I like when you smile.”

  “Thanks. You want a drink?” I started to get up off the cooler.

  “No, actually, I want you to join us in the water.”

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Come on!” He gently grabbed my hand. I knew hanging out with him wasn’t going to change or fix the dilemma I was having in my head about Nate, but I knew it might take my mind off of it for a minute.

  “Fine.” I ran out into the water and jumped in with Ryan close behind me.

  We played around in the water, swimming and throwing a football back and forth. About ten minutes went by before I noticed Nate’s bike out of the corner of my eye. I looked to see if the girl was still on the back and she was, clinging to his waist. They got off the bike and went back to the truck where they were previously sitting. The girls came running into the water. I listened to them giggle and talk about how they were planning to hook up with the guys before they left.

  I looked up and noticed that Nate was still watching me so I quickly looked away. I waited for Tori to throw the ball to Ryan and I jumped on his back. He turned around and faced me and I wrapped my legs around him. I felt him put his hands on my butt to hold me up, even though it wasn’t necessary in water. I glanced up at Nate out of the corner of my eye and he was still watching me.

  “Kiss me,” I told him. He didn’t hesitate, he did as he was told. I felt his lips touch mine but I didn’t feel anything. Not a single flicker of passion, not a butterfly in my stomach, I felt nothing. But I made sure everyone around me thought otherwise, especially Nate. I ran my hand up the back of Ryan’s head and ran my fingers through his dark brown hair, pulling him closer.

  “Get a room!” Tori yelled and everyone around started laughing.

  “Tori!” I pulled away from Ryan and looked up at Brent standing at the edge of the water. “We’re heading out! You guys coming?” Tori looked at me for an answer. I wanted to say no but I wasn’t sure how we were going to get home if we didn’t go. Maybe I could talk her in to letting me ride with Brent this time.

  “We can take you guys back when we leave.” Saved by Ryan. I nodded to Tori.

  “No! We’re good! We got a ride!” Brent nodded then walked up to the bikes where Nate was standing. They both put on their helmets and I watched Nate back out of the parking spot. He gave one last look in my direction before he hit the gas and peeled out of the parking lot, leaving nothing but a cloud of smoke behind him.

  ***

  We spent a few more hours at the beach before we decided to go back for dinner. No more make out sessions happened between Ryan and I. I’m probably the worst person ever because after Nate left, I hardly gave him any attention whatsoever. But on the ride back to our campsite, he didn’t seem fazed by me ignoring him at all. He must’ve just been happy he got something from me.

  We pulled up in front of the campsite and Tori and I got out of the car. I immediately looked around to see if Nate and Brent were back but I didn’t see them and their bikes were still gone.

  “I’ll give you a call this week. Maybe we can hang out again?” Ryan asked.

  “Sure.” I smiled. He was a nice guy, I didn’t want to shut him down completely. Tori and I waved as the guys drove off.

  “Where are Brent and Nate?” Tori asked her mom.

  “They were going to meet up with some girls they met today or something. They left awhile ago so they should be back soon.”

  “Oh.” Tori looked over and me at I gave her a fake smile.

  “You girls hungry?”

  “Yes, please!” I smiled at Lynn and walked over to help her prepare dinner. I heard the familiar sound of the bikes rumbling from down the road. Well, it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. The sound got closer then it went silent.

  “How was your little play date?” Tori asked as Brent and Nate got closer.

  “It was good.” Brent had a smile plastered across his face. Yep, somebody got laid. “They were nice girls.”

  “I bet they were.” I tried to smother the laugh that was trying to escape. Lynn looked up at me and I pinched my lips together.

  “So who were those guys that brought you girls home?” Lynn asked.

  “Just some friends we know from school,” Tori answered.

  “You could’ve fooled me with that make out session Summer had with one of them.” Brent laughed. I froze and looked up at Tori. She looked at me then over at Nate, who was sitting quietly near the fire.

  “Oh really? You have a thing with one of them?” Lynn asked. “I wouldn’t blame you.” She nudged me with her elbow. “They were cute!”

  “Gross, Mom!” Tori yelled.

  “No. We’re just friends.” Was the only answer I managed to get out. I sat down in the chair behind me and glanced over at Nate, who was staring into the flames of the fire. I didn’t know why I felt so nervous now, but for some reason that kiss didn’t seem like such a good idea anymore.

  ***

  After dinner Tori’s mom went to bed and the four of us were left around the fire. Nate had barely said two words since they got back. I couldn’t help but wonder if he slept with that girl today. He sure didn’t have the ‘I just got laid glow’ like Brent did, but who knows, maybe he’s been with so many girls that he didn’t get that anymore.

  The guys decided they wanted to go night fishing, so Tori and I decided to go with, it’s not like we had anything better to do. I stayed a little bit behind everyone else as we walked down to the boat, I needed some time to think and clear my head. When we got to the hill where Tori had got stuck, I noticed Nate stopped at the top. I got to where he was standing and walked past him down the hill.

  “You didn’t have to wait for me, you know.”

  “Yeah, but it’s dark and you don’t have a flashlight.” I purposely slowed down so Brent and Tori would get a ways ahead of us. When I knew we were out of hearing range, I stopped and spun around to face Nate.

  “What’s your problem?” I spit out.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t get you! Is this just a game you’re going to play with me? Is this what you do to all the girls you’ve been with? You play all these little games until they fall for you and then you up and find someone else to play with?”

  “Woah. What are you talking about?”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about! The night at the barn, you came and swooped in right when you knew I needed someone! The ‘almost kiss’ we shared on the boat, and don’t try and tell me that’s not what it was, because I know damn well it was! The holding hands on the boat! The flirting! All of it! You either like me or you don’t! I’m not playing this fucking game with you!”

  “Playing games? If I recall, you’re the one who was making out with some guy today.”

  “Yeah, after you took some girl you just met out on your bike!”

  “Seriously? You’re mad because I gave her a ride on my bike?”

  “Well, yeah!”

  “Summer, that’s not even a big deal. You know how many girls have ridden on my bike?”

  “Exactly.” I turned and continued walking down the hill, at a faster pace this time.

  “Summer, wait!” I felt his fingers wrap around my wrist. I felt a sense of electricity run through my body. It wasn’t like the feeling I got when we were on the bike. This was more intense. Maybe because this time he was intentionally touching me. “That came out wrong. I’m—”

  I spun around and pressed my lips against his. My lips parted and I became engulfed in our kiss. I felt his hand leave my wrist and move to my waist, his thumb brushed the skin right above my waistband. Goosebumps took over my body. His other hand made its way to the side of my face as he pulled m
e closer. The passion in this kiss was like nothing I’d ever felt before. It gave me a high I’d never felt before, I didn’t want it to go away. I put my hand behind his neck and pulled him closer, I wanted to be as close to him as possible, I wanted every inch of our bodies to be touching.

  Then it stopped when he pulled away. What the hell? Why was he stopping? How was he stopping? I would’ve never been able to voluntarily pull away from something like that.

  “We better head down there.”

  “They can wait.” I tried to pull him to me again but he pulled away.

  “Summer, I can’t. I’m sorry.” He walked around me and down the hill to the boat docks. There I was, standing in the dark by myself. I thought things couldn’t get anymore confusing than they already were. Well, this just goes to show I was wrong, very wrong.

  Chapter 9

  I ended up not going down to the boat docks last night. I couldn’t bring myself to do it after the amazing but awkward kiss that Nate and I had shared. I walked back to the campsite and laid down in bed. It didn’t take but ten minutes for Tori and the guys to make their way back to look for me. When they came inside, I pretended to be asleep. I knew that I wouldn’t have to talk to Tori about what had happened because her mom was sleeping and they wouldn’t dare wake her up.

  Today was going to be another story. We were leaving and I had a good hour drive with her. I knew she was going to be prying for answers. Luckily, she must’ve known that something had happened between Nate and I because even though she gave me sympathetic looks all morning, she waited until he and Brent had left before she started asking any questions.

  “Are you going to be okay? What happened last night? When Nate came down without you, I got worried.” She and I grabbed the last of the things off the picnic table and tossed them in the trunk of the car.

  “I don’t know. I’m so confused. I finally asked him what his deal was because he’s been giving me all these crazy mixed signals. Then we kissed and things got all weird and he took off.”

  “You guys kissed?” She didn’t sound as surprised as I thought she would.

  “Yeah.”

  “And then he ran away?” I’m glad I wasn’t the only one confused by this.

  “Pretty much.”

  “Was it good at least?” Tori was always good at making me laugh.

  “Of course it was. It was great, actually.” My smile faded as I remembered how things had ended.

  “I’m sorry. Guys are stupid.”

  “You aren’t kidding.” I walked around to the passenger side of the car and got in. We didn’t talk for a while; she knew I wasn’t going to be in much of a talking mood. I had too many things running through my head right now.

  “So, what are you going to do?” I jumped when she spoke. I was too used to the silence.

  “I don’t know. What is there to do? He told me he can’t.”

  “He can’t what?”

  “I don’t know? Kiss me, I guess? Be with me? I don’t know.”

  “Why?”

  “If I knew that I probably wouldn’t be so confused right now!” I didn’t mean to snap at her but this emotional rollercoaster and the amount of alcohol and lack of sleep I had last night didn’t make me feel up to answering all these questions. Or talking at all, for that matter.

  “Well, that’s a start. Find out why.” She was right. It wouldn’t hurt to ask him. He seemed so freaked out when he took off last night, I had no idea what to think. I didn’t know if he had a girlfriend or if he just wasn’t in to me or what. It would at least help me get some closure if I knew what was going on. Out of all the things I thought would happen on my summer break, this was the last thing on my list.

  ***

  Tori dropped me off at my house before she went home. I was glad she didn’t insist I go back to her house because I wasn’t in the mood to run into Nate. I just wanted to be alone and I needed sleep desperately. I was happy it was Monday because my parents were both at work. I wasn’t in the mood to be interrogated.

  Every time I went anywhere or did anything, they always asked: what’d you do? Who was there? Did you have fun? Was anyone else there? Were so and so’s parent’s there? Was there alcohol? What about drugs? I’m eighteen and they act as if I’m fifteen. They are way too overprotective and that’s why I liked to spend most of my time at Tori’s. They liked her and didn’t ask as many questions if they knew I was with her. If they only knew what really happened when we got together.

  I went upstairs and showered then climbed in bed. I picked my phone up off the nightstand and noticed I had a text message from an unknown number. My stomach dropped, was it from who I thought? I opened the message and it read:

  Hey Summer this is Nate.

  If you get a chance…

  Do you think we could talk?

  How did he even get my number? Tori had to have given it to him. What do I say to him? I mean I guess I do want to talk. But should I text him back now? Or let him sweat it out a little bit? I laid back in my bed contemplating back and forth on whether or not to text him back right now, or at all.

  I decided it would probably be best if I waited and texted him back when I was actually able to hold my eyes open and think straight. I read the message one more time before I set my phone back on my nightstand. I was somewhat hoping he would just ignore me and I’d just have to live with the fact that he was a complete douchebag and I’d eventually get over it. But now I felt even worse because I realized maybe he does actually care about me.

  I laid in bed and replayed the weekend over and over in my head and thought about the many possibilities of how things could have went down and how they really did go down. I realized that even if I would’ve known this is how the weekend would’ve ended, I still would have done everything that I did, exactly how I did it. Just to be able to share that kiss with Nate and have that connection with him—a connection that I’ve never felt, or even came close to feeling with anyone else. Everyone should have that feeling at least once in their life, even if it’s just for a moment.

  ***

  When I woke up, the first thing I did was pick up my phone. I opened my messages and re-read the one from Nate before I replied:

  When and Where?

  I watched the screen as I waited for him to reply, his answer was almost instant.

  Happy Joes? 20 minutes?

  I left my answer short and to the point.

  Ok.

  I looked at the clock and knew my parents would both be home from work. I pulled up the movies and times on my phone. Great! There was a movie that started in thirty minutes. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a tank top and applied some makeup before heading downstairs to face the parents.

  I walked into the living room, where they were both having a glass of red wine and watching some crime show on TV.

  “Hey!” I went over and sat on the recliner chair next to the sofa. “You guys weren’t here when I got home. I made plans to go to a movie with Tori. I hope that’s okay?”

  My dad looked at his watch. “It’s a little late, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, but she’s been waiting for this movie to come out for weeks and she really wanted to go. I thought maybe you guys could make an exception? I know I’ve been gone all weekend, but I’ll stay home the next couple nights, I promise.”

  “I think that should be okay.” My mom smiled at me. “But come straight home after and don’t forget to come in and tell us when you’re here.”

  I nodded my head. “Thanks.” I got up and started for the front door.

  “And tell Tori we said hi and that she should come over for dinner some time.”

  “I will! Bye!”

  Chapter 10

  I walked into the restaurant and looked around for Nate. I was kind of surprised he picked somewhere so public, and popular for that matter. This was one of the best places for pizza and wings in town. I noticed him sitting in a booth in the corner of the room. He was looking down at his menu
and he looked…nervous. He didn’t look up once until I was sliding into the seat across from him.

  “Sorry I’m late. My parents don’t let me leave the house much.”

  “It’s okay.” A small smile formed on his lips. “You’re eighteen, right?”

  “Yes. But their house, their rules.” Nate nodded his head and took a drink of his beer. I looked around to keep from having to make eye contact.

  “I was going to order you a drink but then I realized I don’t know what you drink.” I opened the menu that sat on the table in front of me.

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

  “You’re right.” He seemed surprised at the coldness in my voice. “There is.”

  The waitress came over and I ordered a soda. When she left, things went back to being awkward again. Neither of us said anything and I didn’t want to be the one to have to bring everything up. When the waitress came back with my drink and Nate ordered a pizza, I decided I better say something or this was going to be one long night.

  “So do you have a girlfriend?”

  “What? No. Who told you that?”

  “No one. I just saw you with that girl that night at the barn.”

  “No, she’s not my girlfriend. She used to be, but not anymore.”

  “Okay, then do you not like me ‘like that’ or whatever?”

  “No! I do.”

  “Then why…why did you run off after we kissed the other night?”