Summertime

Chapter Seven Joe

This is the weekend I'm going to see Kelsey. I finished work at my dad's garage. I smelled of grease and was also covered in it. I jumped in the shower then to bed ready for the morning. I get to see my girlfriend. I spent the whole day waiting for this moment to come.

Morning arrived and I was on my way to Kelsey in Cape Cod. As I arrive at her beach house I noticed her sitting on the porch waiting for me. I open the door and get out. She runs over to me.

"I miss you, Joe".

" I'm here now," I tell her.

"I know".

I pull her into my arms and kisses her. I miss this.

" How's work been?".

"OK. But boring with you not there when I finish".

" You know we always go away every summer. Even with you coming".

"I'm sorry I couldn't this time," I say sadly "I hope you haven't been cooped up here though".

" No I got dragged to a beach party and hung out with a group. Made a friend there. My sister is jealous because they are the popular ones. Enough about that. You're here. Let me show you to your room".

"I would like that".

I follow her with my suitcase dragging behind me.

" I'm sorry but you're sharing with my brother".

"Hey that's ok. Normally I do anyway".

" He was hoping to have his own room this time".

"Haha, he would".

" But it's not like he spends time here anyway. He is out hours of the day with beach friends".

"That's what you need to do".

" I can when you leave again".

"Come on let's go out and enjoy the day. I'm hungry so let's go to that diner we go to".

"OK".

We get to Clare's diner, she ordered a burger and fries with a coke. While I ordered a burger and fries too but a double cheeseburger and onion rings plus a large coke. We sat there eating our food. When the group of popular teenagers come in. I noticed that Kelsey knew the group as she waved to one of the girls. I was only staying for the weekend but the day was going to quickly for my liking. I love this little diner. We always go every time we are here for vacation. The food is great and Clare the owner is lovely. Now I recognise the group when one of the lads is looking over.

" Is that the group you have been out with".

"Yeah" I reply.

"They are part of the team our school lost too at the State championship".

" Are they?".

"Yep. Those two girls there are some of the cheerleaders. That lad there is in the basketball team". Pointing to the dark haired one, I know as Jordan Knight.

" You alright there, Kels".

"Yeah. I just recognised them".

" Just because they are at another school doesn't mean anything".

"Yeah, I know. I hope they don't treat me different because of it. The girls except for Charlotte didn't like me being there at the beach party".

" She seems ok".

"She is a good friend".

" What shall we do next after we are done eating".

"Let's have a walk along the beach".

" OK".

We spent the afternoon walking along the beach looking over towards the sea. It was now getting late as it was dusky out as the sun goes down. Now I had a look on my face as I wanted some fun. There I pick her up and runs into the sea. She was getting worried cos I was playing.

"No Joe. I don't want to be wet. It's cold".

" I'm not going to do anything". We didn't see a group of teenagers not far from us. They were now looking over as I was threatening to throw Kelsey into the sea and she started to screaming to put her down.

"Sure you are. No Joe. Don't".

" Do what?".

"JOE!!!" as she landed into the sea.

Somehow I ended up in the sea too. "What gives?" as I pick myself up. Whoever that was is so dead.

"When a lady says No. She means no even if you are just throwing her into the cold water" replies a voice near us.

I look over and a taller guy was standing there all decked in Celtics Basketball gear with his arms crossed over his broad chest. I was still in the water fuming. He is so dead. Now I understand why Donnie doesn't like him. Here he is trying to be the Knight in shining armour (no pun intended) putting his nose in where it doesn't belong. He stood there smirking at me. Now he has pissed me off. I don't care who he is. He gives me a 'go on then' look. It's if he knows I'm pissed at him.

" I know how to treat a lady," he says then looks over at Kelsey " Hey. You OK".

"She's fine," I say.

" I wasn't talking to you" he replies back.

"I'm fine Jordan".

" You know him" I question Kelsey.

"A friend of Charlotte".

" You know your new friends go to the rival school". I turn to Jordan and stood up to him. I wasn't going to lose pride and dignity in front of my girl. "Hey cheating in winning any State Championships recently".

" There wasn't any need for that Joe," says Kelsey.

"You should listen to your friend, Joe".

" She's my girl".

"Joe".

" Honest, you should listen to her" replies that Jordan guy.

"I am going home. Joe you coming".

I so wanted to fight that guy. I don't care he was taller than me. I wanted to take him on. I did follow Kelsey back to her house. I could hear the comments from Knight laughing behind my back because I followed my girl like a lamb. For the whole night, I was in a mood like a wounded animal in a fight for survival and lost. Even we sat for a movie marathon night and she was quiet. I didn't really want to talk either. Kelsey went to bed without a word or goodnight. I go back to Boston to work. We can't leave it like this not for the whole summer. Was that guy after my girl?.

In the morning I apologised to Kelsey for being a stupid boy all because I felt threatened. She called me silly because there was nothing to worry about losing pride by not standing up and defending myself. You are better than Joe she says to me. I feel that with the rest of the summer I can't come back to see her here. I get in my dad's car to go back to Boston. Kelsey doesn't come back until August. That's a long time to be apart especially young love.