This I Promise You

by Tressa Messenger

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nicky.” He turned to walk away, but stopped and turned back around, looking intently as if I said something or he had forgotten something. He stood awkwardly for a minute, then starting throwing the football up in the air and catching it. “Do I know you?”

  I shook my head. “No, I don’t think so. We just got here this morning.”

  “Oh, so you don’t live here?”

  “No, but my parents just bought a summer cottage right up the beach,” I said, shifting my head in the direction Dawn went.

  He looked at me seriously. “Oh, that’s weird. I feel like I’ve met you before.” He shook his head then smiled again. “That’s cool, though.” He paused. “I’m meeting up with a few friends later tonight at the Shack. It’s the arcade on the pier if you want to hang out.” He pointed to the long pier further down the beach with the football.

  My heart pounded in my chest, I smiled widely and looked away quickly, blushing. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Sweet! I’d really like that!”

  “Me, too,” I said softly as my heart continued to pound in my chest so hard it felt like it would thump through the bone and flesh and land on the gritty sand between us.

  “I’ll see ya later then,” he said and turned around and walked away.

  “Okay. Bye,” I said to his back.

  I picked up my towel and hugged it close to my chest as I watched Jeremy walk away. Water from the ocean still glistened on his bare tanned skin as he walked down the beach toward his friends.

  “Jeremy Hayes,” I said to myself and smiled.

  Three

  Later that evening after dinner while everyone else was watching TV in the living room, I grabbed Dawn’s arm and dragged her into our bedroom.

  “What do you want?” Dawn asked, sounding annoyed and shaking off my hand.

  “I need you to do something for me.”

  She stared at me through narrow eyes. “What could you possibly need from me?”

  I poked my head outside of the room to make sure no one was listening. “Do you remember that boy from the beach?”

  “The boy? Oh yeah, the lame boy that soaked me earlier? How could I forget?”

  “He invited me to hang out tonight at the Shack,” I said, smiling with my hands over my mouth to hide my excitement.

  “The Shack? What’s that?”

  “Do you remember the long pier we passed on our way through town earlier?”

  She stared off then nodded her head yes.

  “The Shack is attached to the pier on the land end. It’s a small restaurant with an arcade in the back. It’s only a little way up the beach.”

  Dawn crossed her arms over her chest and smiled. “And what is it that you need me for?”

  “I don’t know,” I said, pacing through the small area. “Do you think Mom and Dad will let me go out?”

  Dawn laughed. “Nicky, you’re only thirteen, so I seriously doubt it.”

  “Help me figure out a way to get out then,” I said desperately.

  “What do I get out of it?”

  I looked around the room, thinking. “I could clean the room for a week.”

  “Nah, I’m not worried about the mess. We’re on vacation.”

  “You could always come with me,” I said, and as soon as the words come out of my mouth, I knew that’s what she wanted.

  Dawn uncrossed her arms and held them down to her side. “And why would I want to go out with you?”

  “I don’t know! Maybe to meet some new people while we’re here.”

  “Yeah, I guess that would be good,” she said nonchalantly.

  “So will you get us out?” I asked.

  “Sure. When do you want to go?”

  “As soon as possible,” I said, grabbing my hoodie off the bed.

  “Okay. Come on.”

  Dawn left the room with me close on her heels. “Mom, Dad, Nicky and I are going to check out the beach at night. We’ll be back later,” Dawn yelled quickly from the back door as we left the house before our parents had a chance to respond.

  Once off the back deck we both took our flip-flops off to walk through the cool sand, then along the water’s edge on our way to the Shack. I was happy to sink my feet into the wet sand, since it was too hot to enjoy the feel of it earlier.

  “So, what’s up with this boy?” Dawn asked me, staring down at the sand as she walked.

  I kicked at an oncoming wave, causing salt water to stick to my legs. “What do ya mean?”

  “Good God, girl! You really are dense, aren’t you? Do you like him?”

  I kicked at another wave. “I don’t even know him.”

  “Well, what’s his name?”

  “Jeremy,” I drew it out with a smile, liking the way his name played on my lips. It left me feeling a little breathless and giddy.

  Dawn turned to look at me and smiled when she saw the look on my face. “I know that look.”

  “What look?” I asked her, confused.

  “The look of a fresh crush. I’ve had it a time or two,” she said, bumping my shoulder with hers.

  “Whatever! Mom and Dad would never let me date, not for at least two more years, anyway. Besides, we’re only here for the summer. So, what’s the point?”

  Dawn stared off into the night, a look of longing on her face as if a fond memory was replaying in her mind. “Yeah, but sometimes summer loves are the most memorable. Besides, what they don’t know won’t hurt them.”

  I stared at her in shock, then turned to look at the dark water. Is it even possible? I thought.

  We walked silently the rest of the way to the pier. I took a deep breath before opening the old wooden door. The sound of music and laughter surrounded us as I did. I stood in the open doorway looking around for Jeremy, but Dawn impatiently pushed past me in a huff, rolling her eyes.

  “Come on, dork,” she said, nudging her head toward the counter.

  I looked around one last time before I followed my sister.

  As soon as I sat down, Dawn turned to look at me and leaned in close. “First off, the number one thing to remember is, don’t look so desperate.”

  Offended, I said, “I’m not desperate.”

  “Whatever! If you’re not desperate, you sure look like you are,” she said back, undeterred. “Listen. As soon as you walked in, you just stood there in the doorway looking around for him.”

  “So?” I asked, confused.

  “So, what you should have done is glance around casually on your way to the counter. Once you’re seated, then and only then, do you turn and look around the room, casually, to look for him.”

  “But he invited me. That’s the reason I was looking round for him,” I said annoyed.

  “Trust me! If he really wants you here, he’ll find you, and when he does, you have to act cool,” Dawn said, flipping her thick dirty blonde hair to the side, looking around briskly.

  “Cool. I can do that,” I said confidently.

  Dawn looked back at me and rolled her eyes, muttering to herself something that I couldn’t quite make out. She looked around the room once again. I’m quite positive it sounded like, “Sure you can.”

  I quickly turned and glanced around the room at the sound of an outburst of laughter. That’s when I saw him, Jeremy Hayes, standing in the back of the room with a slender pool stick in his hand. A few other teenagers around him were watching him as he bent over the table and took a shot.

  “Dawn, there he is,” I whispered to her.

  I watched him as he laughed at whatever joke was told. The people around him seemed just as captivated as I was, with all eyes on him. After the other boy took his shot and missed, Jeremy walked back up to the pool table with his stick in his hand and leaned over the table again. He eyed his shot, lining up the balls, but before he could shoot he spotted me in his line of vision. As recognition set in, he smiled and I began to burn red hot, blushing under his stare. He looked at me curiously for a minute when our eyes locked, and then
he gave me another smooth smile before he turned his attention back to the balls on the table. He sank the ball he was aiming for, but missed the next one. He stood up straight, locking me in his gaze again. He handed his pool stick over to one of his friends and walked toward me.

  My heart pounded in my chest. I quickly looked away and leaned in towards Dawn. “Oh, my God! He’s coming over!” I whispered to her.

  “Remember, be cool,” Dawn whispered back and looked over her shoulder at him.

  He walked up to the counter and stood directly beside me, so close I could smell the salty sweat that lingered on his skin from earlier in the day. “Hey, Bob, can I get another Pepsi and some fries, please?” Jeremy asked the old man behind the counter before he turned his attention to me. “Hey, Nicky! I’m glad you made it. I was wondering if you would.”

  I swallowed hard as I looked at him. “I told you I would.”

  “Cool! You want to come meet my friends?”

  “Sure,” I said with a nervous giddiness.

  I stood up and looked at my sister, who had been watching the whole encounter with a teasing smile. She stood up and leaned in to whisper in my ear. “I told ya you had a crush.”

  My face turned bright red again as I stared at her in disbelief, hoping he hadn’t heard her, then I rolled my eyes at her, but smiled despite myself. “Come on.”

  Dawn and I followed behind him, looking around at the arcade part of the restaurant. There was an assortment of various old arcade games, Tekken, Mortal Kombat, and some sort of shooter game. Typical arcade games you’d find anywhere, lining the walls with a few tables in the middle of the room. Past the arcade games in the back of the room were two pool tables in the middle of the floor and four booths lining the walls. Jeremy stopped at the last booth in the very back.

  “About time you got back. It’s your turn,” a boy said, the same boy I saw him laughing with earlier in the day.

  “I was ordering food!” Jeremy explained.

  “Looks like you ordered more than just food,” the boy said, looking past me to Dawn, then proceeded to look her up and down, who in turn rolled her eyes at him.

  Jeremy shook his head at his friend and directed his attention back to the rest of the people in the group. “Everyone, this is Nicky and her sister …” He turned to look at Dawn. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I ever got your name earlier.”

  “Dawn,” she said casually.

  “Okay, this is Nicky and Dawn. Nicky and Dawn, this is, well, everyone,” Jeremy said gesturing toward the teenagers.

  “Smooth, bro,” the boy said, handing the pool stick back to Jeremy. “Hey, I’m Brandon,” the boy said, looking between me and Dawn before settling on Dawn. “Here, have a seat,” Brandon said, pointing at a booth where he and Jeremy had been sitting.

  “So how do ya’ll know Jeremy?” Brandon asked us, sliding in beside Dawn.

  “We met him earlier on the beach,” I said proudly.

  “That’s cool. So do ya’ll live close by?” Brandon asked, but I wasn’t paying attention to him anymore as my eyes were locked on Jeremy.

  “God, no! Our parents bought a summer cottage up the beach. We live in Raleigh,” Dawn said, speaking up.

  I sat across from Dawn and Brandon, but ignored their conversation as I watched Jeremy lean his long thin frame over the table and line up his shot. Shot after shot, he sunk all the balls. After the eight ball was sunk, he turned to Brandon and gave him a mocking bow.

  “Again!” Brandon exclaimed, jumping up from the booth.

  “Nah, I’m done for now. I’m sure one of the others would like to play,” Jeremy said, putting the stick back in the rack hanging on the wall.

  “Ah, come on, man! I can’t go down like that,” Brandon pleaded.

  “Sorry, but I can’t,” Jeremy said, turning from the rack to me.

  “Oh, I see. Go ahead then,” Brandon said, looking between the two of us before slapping Jeremy on the back.

  Jeremy walked up to me and held out his hand. “Would you like to go for a walk on the beach?”

  I pried my eyes off him to look at Dawn, feeling torn.

  “Go ahead. I can find my way back,” she said.

  “You sure?” I asked.

  She thought about it for a minute before responding, just to torture me, I’m sure. “Absolutely. Go ahead. Besides, I think Brandon here wants to get whooped again. This time by a girl.”

  “Bring it on, sista!” Brandon said, smiling widely and hurrying to set up the balls.

  “Thanks,” I mouthed to Dawn before I turned back to Jeremy. I looked at his outstretched hand and put my hand in his. My heart pounded as volts of electricity seared through my skin where his hand touched mine.

  Hand in hand, Jeremy led me outside into the warm night. He said a quick “hello” and “see ya later” to a few people along the way. We slowly walked along the water’s edge, silently for a little while with our hands interlocked.

  “So you said your parents bought a beach house?” he asked me, breaking the silence.

  “Yep, but it’s more like a cute little rustic cottage. Our real house is in Raleigh.”

  Jeremy laughed. “Don’t get me wrong. I love the beach. But why here, when so many other beaches have a lot more going on?”

  I sighed. I had thought the same thing, but my mom’s story about her childhood made it a little clearer. “My parents grew up about an hour from here in a small place called Pamlico County, so they had ties to the area.”

  “Oh, okay,” he said, looking ahead.

  “I take it you know Pamlico?” I asked him curiously.

  “Yep,” he said and turned to me, smiling. “We have people come here from all over. I’ve met a lot of people from the county. Do you still have family there?”

  I shook my head, “No, both sets of grandparents moved away, as well as my aunts and uncles. My Uncle Bobby’s newest wife, Stacey, says it’s like a black hole there and the only way to make anything of yourself is to get out. She’s a nut case, though.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “Have you ever been there?”

  I looked at him, startled. “No,” I whispered, feeling foolish for mentioning it and wondering if I had offended him.

  “It’s no different from anywhere else around here. It’s a slow paced, simple way of life. There’s nothing wrong with that.” He stopped walking and looked out at the dark water. “I love the beach at night,” Jeremy said. “It’s so much different than it is during the day.”

  “Why is that?” I asked in barely a whisper.

  “Why is what?” he asked, looking at me confused.

  “Why is it so different?”

  He turned to look back at the water, as if searching for something. “Because the world seems so peaceful and at rest during the night. Most tourists desert the beaches and go back to their hotels or houses once night falls, leaving the night to the locals. Everything becomes so still and quiet. The sound of the night is so magical.” He averted his eyes from the water to look at me. “No offense, of course.”

  I shook my head. “None taken.”

  He turned back to the water and smiled, looking more relaxed than he had all night. I followed his eyes, wanting to feel what he felt. I breathed in the salty night air, and watched the water. Every now and then I could see the white caps from a wave in the darkness.

  “Close your eyes,” he whispered.

  “Why?” I whispered back, confused.

  “It’s the best way to feel the magic if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Now close your eyes and clear your mind.”

  I watched him as he closed his eyes. I took a deep breath and did the same. The scent and the sound all around me intensified and became somewhat hypnotic. I kept my eyes closed and just listened. I could hear waves crashing on shallower spots and ascend to the shore before retreating back into the abyss. Seagulls and osprey cried up above like a lullaby. Faint music drifted in the air from a local beach bar nearby. I took another deep
breath, smelling the salty night air, then opened my eyes and looked back at him. I froze when I saw him staring at me.

  “Can you hear it?” he whispered softly.

  “Hear what?” I whispered back.

  “Nature’s music.”

  I nodded my head yes, unable to speak.

  He put his hands on each side of my waist and turned me around to face him. Once I was in the right position, he put one hand on my lower back and the other on the top of my back where my sharp shoulder blades were protruding and pressed himself closer to me. If that weren’t foreign enough, he surprised me even further when we began to sway.

  I stared up at him, frozen unable to move. “Wh-what are you doing?” I stuttered.

  “Dancing,” he whispered softly and pressed his warm cheek against mine.

  Stunned and tense, having never danced with a boy before, I let him move and lead my body into a sway with music I couldn’t hear, not really knowing what else to do.

  Noticing my tension, he whispered in my ear, “Just relax and feel the music. I won’t hurt you, I promise.”

  I swallowed hard. “But I don’t even know you. How can I be so sure?” I whispered back.

  “I guess you’re right. But it’s funny, I feel like I’ve known you for a long time. How is that even possible?” he whispered into my ear, continuing to sway.

  My heart pounded harder in my chest to the point of dizziness from his warm breath on my ear and I couldn’t answer him. All I could do was as he said, try to relax. I gave in a little at a time, leaned into him and rested my head on his chest with my eyes closed and thought about what he said as the sound of the night music led us in our dance. Oddly, I felt the same way as he did. His arms felt safe and familiar and my heart ached with a feeling I’ve never felt before.

  After a few minutes, he pulled away from me just slightly and looked down at me. I looked up and met his dark eyes. He leaned down and brushed his lips softly to mine. I froze with wide eyes and instinctively pulled back.

  “I’m sorry, I thought …” he said, feeling embarrassed.

  “No, it’s not you, I promise,” I said frantically.

  “What’s wrong then?” he asked, confused and hurt.