𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤, 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭

𝐜𝐡. 𝟓 : 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞

𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 / 𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐚

the newport ferry was beautifully put together- even if it wasn't my personal style of decor. the tables, booths, and chairs were all modern and sleek and looked like they were polished with bleach with how they reflected the light flooding in from the windows. in the center of each surface was a small fern planted in an even smaller, white, pot that was also shiny like it's surroundings. everything was curated for the passengers enjoyment and relaxation.

the entire luxury experience of the last boat is nothing in comparison to the black families private one, even though it was larger. they keep it docked at edgartown harbor when it isn't in personal use and they loan it to some of the other families who wish to go boating around martha's vineyard. that's how nice it is. they loan their personal ferry to other rich families who live in a beach town when they aren't using it to travel to their very own island, because other families derive the same level of enjoyment that they do from it's extravagance. that statement perfectly sums up just how rich tolkien and him family really are.

anyways, we're on a boat! stan and his usual crowd are hanging out on the deck and everyone else is scattered inside, chatting with eachother. i think tolkien and nichole are alone in the cabin together. i'm sat with his parents currently in a slightly uncomfortable silence.

"so why did you guys decide to allow tolkien to bring all of us along this summer?" i ask them. his dad looks up from his phone and answers for the both of them. "he's been asking for awhile and we thought this would be the best time for it with junior year coming up, and more importantly senior year. those summers, and school years, will be much too busy for him to bring friends out here." he responds and makes eye contact, ready to engage in more conversation. normally i'm not phased by eye contact but i think mr. blacks status intimidates me, even with his calm tone.

"oh. what's so important junior year?" is he going to a different school or something? how would junior year be any different from the rest? he gives me a dumbfounded look and chuckles. "you're funny!" he stops laughing when he sees my genuine confusion. "junior year is incredibly important. good grades, test prep, college touring, so much. that's all only amplified once you reach the beginning of senior year, where you actually apply your knowledge and skills to your college application." he explains with lots of hand moments to exaggerate his speech. "oh." i reiterate.

"i'm going to work tolkien extra hard next school year; so i want him to do all his teenage gallivanting this summer, and then get serious in time for fall semester." when he finishes talking mrs. black playfully slaps his shoulder. "steven! you're talking too much." she warns, turning her head to the side and smiling light-heartedly. "yes, yes. anyways. where is tolkien?" he asks me while sort of looking around the room.

"uhmm.." i pause to think. two teenagers who are romantically interlinked, alone in a room together, away from the rest of the crowd, are probably not just talking. "i don't remember."

"that's alright. i'll go find him." he slides out of his seat and makes his way towards the doors, leaving me and linda alone for now. there's a brief stop in conversation before she speaks. "so! do you guys have the sleeping arrangements all set up?" she questions politely. "yeah- wendy planned it all out on the last boat." i reply. her gold cross necklace reflects all of the light that hits it, gleaming onto the surfaces around her.

"that's good.." she trails off when she hears some muffled shouting in the distance.

"TOLKIEN RUEL BLACK. GET OFF THAT YOUNG LADY NOW." mr. black's voice can be heard from the back of the boat and it's clear he was the one yelling before. he says some other unintelligible things and his voice gets louder and louder as he reaches the passenger cabin.

everyone is silent at this point (besides steven) and the people outside have moved inside to scope out the drama. what they find is mr. black dragging his grown son by the ear into the public area of the boat, intentionally or unintentionally, making a spectacle of him.

"linda, honey, could you please come with me?" he asks through gritted teeth, still gripping his sons ear who is now wincing in pain. she gets up without saying a word and they walk quickly and quietly to the back of the boat. this leaves nichole standing awkwardly alone in the middle of the room with her mouth agape.

everyone has a similar expression to her and there's a beat of silence before she's attacked with a multitude of questions. most of them are along the lines of: what were you guys doing?

she holds her palms out to the crowd in an attempt to quiet them down and begins to speak before she's cut off by kenny and his bluntness.

"they were fucking!" he drawls out and doubles over in laughter. bebe squeals and wendy smiles and a couple other people laugh. "no!" she shouts and continues. "well- no. we were just kissing. maybe a little eagerly." she explains shyly. the girls and i smile excitedly at her and wendy mouths at her to 'give details'.

linda walks down the hallway by herself and comes to a stop by nichole's side. "tolkien isn't staying with you- right?" she asks her, but really it's more directed towards the whole room. "he is?" she responds hesitantly and squints her eyes in expectation of a lecture.

"you two can be trusted to be cautious- correct?" she questions and tilts her head to the side again widening her eyes, this time to show she expects a 'yes' answer. "yes ma'am." nichole stutters out, not making eye contact.

kenny uses his hand to cover his mouth in an attempt to not laugh but is not very successful, earning him an angry glance from mrs black too.

and with that, the pilot? the captain? whatever you call the boat-driver comes out with his hands behind his back and announces that we have docked at clardesdale island and can exit whenever we're ready.