Attainment

by J H Cardwell

  We listened to Elle’s iPod with speakers to all kinds of music on the beach. When "Single Ladies' by Beyonce came on, John and Brett jumped up and started singing to us...this without any drinking from them. They were hilarious. I couldn't believe they were that bold. We laughed so hard, watching them act like they were dancing on the stage. They were swinging their hips and snapping their wrists. They looked SO out of their element.

  After the guys had surprised us, we only had water and soft drinks out of the cooler. I was amazed the guys hadn’t brought any beer or alcohol. Maybe they really were more mature than most guys our age. Although, I would have been cool with a little beer…no biggie. Even my dad did that on the beach.

  It had been a long day. I started getting together my beach bag and putting on my flip flops. I couldn’t wait to go in for a long shower. I was sticky and my skin felt like sandpaper from playing in the ocean earlier.

  “Hey, where are you going?” John had jogged up to me, and sat on the beach towel by my chair.

  “Uh, going in…maybe you should too…that sunburn is going to feel pretty bad in a little while.” I gently tapped my finger on his shoulder, turning the red to white under my touch. Crap, he was most likely going to make another comment about my 'touch'.

  “You’re probably right,” he said. “Look, I was wondering if you and the girls wanted to come over for a little while this evening? We could grill out some shrimp or whitefish. We got lucky early this morning, and caught some off of Shackleford Banks.”

  “Shut up, you are kidding me. Y’all got up early enough to go fishing this morning and still felt like coming out on the beach?”

  “Yeah, of course, I mean, that was our original reason for coming here together…to do a little salt water fishing.”

  “Oh really, it’s not your reason any longer?” I said wondering why that just popped out of my mouth.

  “Well, my reason just keeps evolving it seems.” He looked at me with a sheepish grin.

  Crap, I tried to change the subject real quick. “Um, I guess we’re going to just stay here tonight..but I…”

  “Hey, what are y'all talking about?” Chloe had walked up to us…looking so innocently curious…knowing damn well she had overheard the last part of our conversation.

  “Nothing Chloe, just talking about how we were going to hang out here tonight…”

  “Actually,” John butted in “I was just inviting Reese and all of you over to our, uh, place...”

  “What time?” Chloe blurted out.

  “Chloe…I think maybe we should all talk about this.” I eyed her like I was going to tear her head off.

  “How about 8:00?” asked John. He was looking like he had just won the World Series (crap, Tate…why does something always have to make you pop in to my head…just thinking about baseball and there you are).

  “We’ll be there,” said Maura casually holding Harrison’s hand.

  “Well wonderful," I said sarcastically. "I guess I’m outnumbered unless, Elle, what do you think?”

  Elle glanced up at me with a carefree look. “I think it would be good for you, I mean us to have a little fun.”

  John quickly looked over at me as if to say, I heard that. Luckily he didn’t comment.

  “So where is your house John?” asked Elle

  “Well, basically where you were last night?”

  “You mean at Beaufort?”

  “Yeah…how about if we meet you at the Dock Side restaurant, then we can walk you to it…We’ll get everything we need for dinner. Y’all can get it next time,” he said with a wink.

  Dang, he is presumptuous, I’ll give him that

  “Okay, that will work. We’ll see you at 8:00. Here is my number,” said Chloe “in case you think of something we can bring.

  We all said goodbye and headed up to the house. Chloe had a new aura of excitement about her as did Maura. Elle was just ready to get to the phone, and call Finn. I however, seemed more lost than ever.

  What was I doing? I should be jumping at the chance to move on from Tate. I had spoken to my mom, and learned that Tate had gone on to Myrtle Beach with his friends after graduation (at least that’s what she had read on Facebook …Tate’s Mom was one of her ‘friends’ on there). He’d originally planned not to go, but I guess he changed his mind after we broke up. I had all sorts of crazy thoughts of how he was meeting a different girl a day and enjoying his freedom. That should have been fueling my fire enough to let my hair down as well, but I just wasn’t into it.

  I laid my head back on the sofa, and drifted off to sleep, until my phone pinged.

  I enjoyed today Reese.

  Looking forward to this evening.

  In case you’re wondering, I’m not

  a stalker…Chloe shared your #

  with me. --- John

  Ugh…Chloe I am truly going to kill you, I said under my breath. Luckily she was already in the shower, or I would've tried.

  I did have a small smile creep up my face. No sooner did John pop in to my head did my phone ping again.

  Reese I think of you always.

  I am still missing you

  I wish I could see you.

  Please text me back. -- Tate

  What in the hell Tate. Ahhh…Is that supposed to be some kind of sign God? I don’t get it. Why doesn’t he just give up already…Maybe he really does care about me?

  The more I thought about all of Tate’s texts, and the fact that he may not be enjoying himself as much as I thought, I was getting a little upset about how I had handled things. Maybe I should talk with him about what I knew. Maybe I should give him a chance to offer an explanation.

  I took a shower and dried off, wondering the whole time if I should even go to John’s place. I mean that was a little crazy to go over to someone’s house I’d just met, even if I was with my friends. I had my hair wrapped up in a towel about to head to Elle’s room and tell her I had changed my mind, when my phone pinged again.

  Reese, I am back at home finally.

  My rehab is going well I

  REALLY miss you, but hope you

  are having fun. Sorry again I had

  to tell you about Tate like I did,

  My mom says you broke up

  with him. BTW, she doesn't know

  you know about her.

  Hey, I saw pictures of Tate on Facebook at Myrtle Beach with lots of girls, So I’m guessing he's okay. Let’s catch up when you get home…Carter

  I had to read his book of a text three times before it sunk in what he was saying. Tate was being wild at Myrtle Beach. That meant girls, and funneling beer I’m sure (because that was unfortunately a staple if you were at MB for senior week). Those two together were a disaster for the best of guys. And how in the world does Lisa know we broke up. Tate? No, hopefully it was my mom. I decided to call my mom and ask her if she had told Carter’s mom.

  “Hey Mom.”

  “Oh hey honey. How’s it going?”

  “We’re brown already," I said with a half laugh.

  “Wear sunscreen! I’ve told you that you don’t want to look too old too soon."

  I cut her off “Mom, I know. Listen, I’ve been meaning to ask you if you told anyone about Tate and me breaking up?”

  “Well, I did talk with your dad about it. He wasn’t sure what was going on as I wasn’t either. He just assumed it was the fight between Tate and Carter.”

  “So you didn’t tell anyone else?"

  "Well, Lisa and I were talking about it and she secretly hopes you get back with Carter. She said he really misses you.”

  “Mom, please don’t talk about me and Tate with Lisa.” Oh shoot, I didn’t want to sound too strange about it. “I mean, whatever happens with me and Tate could just upset Carter, you know.”

  “I guess you’re right honey. It’s just Lisa is a close friend and she’s just as worried about you as I am.”

  “Mom, speaking of Lisa, we never really talked about her and Tony’s issues. Since
they were back together I was hoping you would fill me in. You know, to help me understand Carter’s circumstances a little better.”

  “You're right honey. I should‘ve already talked with you about this, given your history with Carter and all. Well, I guess you know Lisa and Tony had separated because she, um, well she was seeing someone else and Tony found out.”

  “Mom did you know she was doing that?” I asked completely shocked at how nonchalant she was acting.

  “No way sweetheart. I wouldn’t have supported it. I’m just here for the aftermath. She tried her best to make me understand, she had turned to someone else because of the way Tony had been to her…she says he was somewhat abusive. But now Reese, we don’t know what was happening in their house, so don’t think badly of Tony yet. He’s still a friend of your fathers.”

  “I can’t imagine Dad would still be his friend if he was like that…you know, hurting Lisa, physically.”

  “We saw some bruises on her over the years, but she always had an explanation for them like…gardening, working out, falling and so on. So until they broke up we had no idea. Your dad, not knowing 100% either way, is just here for them now, to help mend their marriage. The fact that they both are willing to try is a start I guess."

  “Mom, do you know who she was seeing that broke them up?”

  “No honey, I don’t. That’s one thing she won’t share with me. She said I wouldn’t understand. And, she’s right about that, I don’t understand cheating at all.”

  “Okay Mom. Well, I better get going. We’re going to get something to eat. Love you.”

  I felt bad about not telling her how we were going to get something to eat with some guys we had just met. But, it would be fine. I just kept thinking back to Carter’s text.

  Any thoughts I had before about skipping tonight went out the window. I quickly got ready, making sure I was as done up as I could get. I curled my hair so it hung in long locks beyond my shoulders, slipping in a little diamond hairpin to lift it off my left cheek (Tate always loved that…said it made access to my neck easier and helped my perfume to linger). The diamond pin was my grandmother’s and I always felt like it brought me luck. I also wore my birthday Versace perfume (Carter had given me before he left last year). And of course, I wore wedge pumps to accentuate my long legs and calves. I slipped on the J Crew dress my mom had gotten me with the other 'graduation clothes shopping trip' we had. I made my lashes extra curly and long by heating up my eyelash curler with the hairdryer, and swiping a layer of mascara on the tips. Then I applied blush and clear gloss to my already red from the sun lips. I was ready….for what I wasn’t sure, but ready none the less.

  As I walked out of the bathroom, I heard cat

  calls all around from my friends. They looked gorgeous, but were shocked to see that I had gone to such lengths to try and look that way too. “What?” I screeched. “I just decided to get dressed up a little.” I said as I twirled around.

  “Bitch. It’s not like you don’t get noticed enough.” Chloe said as she walked up and grabbed both of my hands leaning back to give me the once over. Then she hugged me. “It’s about time you came to life. John will shit himself.”

  “Wait, that is not what I’m trying to do Chloe.”

  “Well you should have thought about that before you came out dressed like a Vanity Fair shoot,” then she laughed .“I’m joking Reese, but you should see your face.”

  “Ok girls, lets hit the road,” said Elle looking awesome in her yellow, slinky spaghetti strap dress. The color made her blue eyes pop. Maura was dressed so beautiful too in her coral sun dress and turquoise wedges. She was sure to make an impression with Harrison. Chloe had on a pink sundress and navy wedges. Her long, thick, brown hair stick straight, and half-way down her back. Chloe was amazingly gorgeous, she just didn’t see it. She had true self-esteem issues. That was a topic for another time, for sure.

  “Let me grab my water bottle,” I said as I winked at Elle. It was pink with a slide lid. I didn’t go anywhere where drinking was happening without it.

  We drove with the top up to my jeep so we wouldn’t mess up our well-primped hair. We were riding down the road giggling about this or that, when all of a sudden Maura screamed. I nearly jumped out of my skin and Elle swerved the car, almost running off the road. “Oh shit, oh shit,” Maura said, her hand stretched out in front of her pointing at the dash. It was a frog…the tiny green frog that had kept us up half the night with a croak that was louder than an alarm. Well probably not the exact same one, but possibly. His beady eyes were staring right at her. We were all cracking up at how scared Maura was and were laughing so hard, our sides hurt. She was screaming at us to pull over and get it out. All of a sudden, it jumped, no, it flew off the dash onto Maura’s shoulder. She was thrashing about yelling for us to get it off. Now we were screaming too. It was funny, but I really didn’t want that thing jumping on me either. Elle was barely able to pull safely off on the side of the busy highway, and all four doors opened at once trying to shoo this frog out. What a sight we were, I was still laughing hysterically when the frog finally jumped out causing Maura to scream one last time. Whew, I was exhausted from laughing so hard, but it felt SO good to laugh like that. “What else could happen tonight girls?” Maura asked after she got buckled back in. “Huh, and y’all were laughing at me. Well, have a killer frog attack you and you won’t be laughing so hard...” Then she too burst out laughing. We talked and laughed about it the rest of the way.

  We got to the DockSide about 8:15 pm (better to make the boys wait). I had a Bud Lite on the way there. I really didn’t like beer, but it was easy and we had a case in our refrigerator. Thankfully, it did relax me a little. We each made a vow to take care of each other and never drink an open drink we hadn’t had our eyes on the whole time. The media was enough to scare everyone about date rape, without having to discuss my own personal trauma, so everyone agreed.

  We were walking up to the waterfront, wondering how far their place was when we saw the guys. They looked great, of course. They were in khakis and blue jeans. John had on a v-neck tight, black t-shirt and faded blue jeans. He was looking hot for sure. His eyes lit up when he saw me. He actually looked a little nervous all of a sudden.

  “Ladies you are looking divine,” said Brett. He walked up to Chloe kissing her square on the lips. She looked over at me and shrugged her shoulders.

  I stood back a ways from everyone, feeling a little uncomfortable from all of the attention we were getting. Not just from our new friends, but from other’s around the boardwalk.

  John came up to me, “Reese you look absolutely amazing, I mean wow…I…wow.”

  Why was I blushing?...Oh no, I didn’t want him so see me blushing.

  He leaned in and whispered, “And that blushing makes you look that much more divine. What I would do to know what you were thinking.” He kissed my cheek.

  “John, please…”

  “I’m sorry, I just can’t help myself. I can’t take my eyes off of you. Please don’t be mad.”

  “Just try to contain yourself John…seriously.” I said with a light-hearted chuckle hoping I didn’t come across too cocky.

  He reached for my hand. I reluctantly took his. He gave me a sideways grin of yet another win for him. I felt guilty…actually felt guilty…Why? I sighed. I will have to admit, his skin against mine did feel really good.

  “So, how far is your place John?” asked Maura.

  “Just a few steps North and a couple of steps West,” he said with a huge grin on his face.

  “What? I don’t get it. I said. How could that…” I quickly realized we were walking in between the boats. I mean the YACHTS at the private docks. We stopped directly in front of a monster of a ship called ‘J Rider III’.

  “John, are you a III?” I asked trying to hide my shock, thinking this must be someone else’s boat.

  “I’m afraid so,” he said, his hand still encasing mine.

  The other girls were jumpi
ng up and down, giggling.

  “It was my graduation gift from my Grandfather last month. He gives somewhat extravagant gifts I guess.”

  “You think? What on earth? I mean who our age, I mean your age (knowing he was four years older than me) has a yacht?”

  “Probably some form of a write off for the company if I know my Granddad."

  “Wait,” said Maura. “I recently read a story about Rider Industries. Are you the Rider Industries that owns oil plants in several countries, including here?”

  “That would be my family, the Riders. I’m supposed to be groomed to fall into suit as well. I guess this gift was just another assurance from my Grandfather and Father that it would actually happen.”

  “Whoa Reese. You better scoop him up. Forget about Tate, and Carter too for that matter,” said Chloe.