The day I found you annoying

Chapter 9: Curls

One year and a half later

Justin frowned at the sight of what was me. I had brought a big bag with new blankets, fake flowers and candles and some other decorations for the van. By the time I climbed inside it, I was sweating. It also wasn't helping the fact that the summer heat was being insufferable.

"You could help, you know." I let out a big breath trying to lift the bag to bring it inside. Justin got up quickly and grabbed it with ease, letting it beside me.

He looked at it curiously.

"I feel like the van needed a change. It also smells kind of weird in here so I brought cleaning products."

"Do I have to clean?" He cocked his head.

"Not necessarily, but you could help-"

"Great. Then I'll keep on with my drawing." He sat down and grabbed the sketching book.

"Could you do that outside? While I clean this." I asked letting the things out of the bag.

Justin reluctantly went outside the van, climbing on top of the hammock we hung up just a few months ago.

When I finished, Justin didn't say a word but I knew he was happy with the result. It smelled fantastic, not like a dead rat like before and the lighter shades of the blankets made it seem like more sun rays entered through the windows.

"What do you think?" I asked, hands on my hips.

Justin shrugged. "I like-" he cleared this throat. "I like the smell."

I smiled. "I know." I sighed and sat down beside him. "Oh my god, it's so hot today. I wish we had a pool."

"There's one-"

"Yeah, but the whole school is there. Do you really wanna see Kaden?"

"Nope. That's why I'm here."

I kept huffing and fanning my face with my hands, trying to think of things that were cold. Like ice creams and penguins.

They sure had to be cold.

It didn't work.

The blond haired boy beside me sighed and stood up, getting out of the van. "Come on."

"Where are you going?" I followed him outside.

"I think you're ready." He began to walk deeper into the woods.

"Ready for what?"

He didn't say anything until ten minutes later, where I could began to hear the faint sound of something familiar. Water?

We walked for five more minutes, what seemed like a like opening up in front of our eyes.

"For this." Justin half smiled.

"There's a lake here? Why didn't you tell me before I cooked by butt on that van?"

He rolled his eyes. "It's actually a creek. And I didn't tell you because last summer you weren't here."

It was true. I spend the summer with my uncle, my cousin and Annie at the beach. My parents had a beach house but sadly this year my uncle had decided to sell it. He said we needed the money more than vacation.

The surroundings were beautiful and the water seemed clear to swim. "Why isn't this place packed? I'd spend every day of the summer here if I knew about it."

Justin twisted his mouth. "It's a little bit dangerous. A boy died playing here a few years ago. The current is sometimes strong, specially when it rains." He shrugged. "Parents don't allow their children to come."