Summer and May

Chapter Ten: Summer

"Please stop talking," I groaned, adjusting my aqua pearl eye mask. I then revealed a smirk. "But never stop, either."

I could see the gushed expression cross May's face, although my eyes would be beneath this mask all day. I was hungover as hell, and didn't even remember how or when Jeremy left the party.

"He seemed impressed that you were going to Brown, too." May said.

I shrugged. "Eh. You're going there, too. So he wasn't really complimenting me."

Silence.

I slowly peeled off the left side of my mask. "Hello? This is where you jump in and-- ow," I complained. Light hurt today. Everything hurt today.

"That was the end of the conversation, really. That was just before you showed up, tripped on a twig, and Jeremy had to help you up."

"Lord," I sighed, holding my head, in hopes to get it to stop pounding. "He must think I'm such a dullard! First my kayak, then I trip in the woods... drunk."

"The first fall was on purpose, so it doesn't count."

I smiled. "You're right. Thanks, May. What happened next?" My last memory from last night was Luke's friends death-glaring Will for me so he wouldn't come in the jacuzzi. I took it way too far last night; my twisted attempt to get Jeremy's attention. I'd done something like this before, with Will. It was working, up until we got into such a big fight in front of all our friends, and I kicked his father's grill over. I never got invited back to their house.

May continued on to tell me that I walked into the woods, finding them in the middle of a conversation about me. May did a great job talking me up, because I was clearly failing at it. Something about Jeremy made me want to ditch my old tricks, and... I don't even know. I can't explain it.

May also mentioned that shortly after falling in the woods, I tried coming onto Jeremy and asked him to stay, although almost everyone from the party had gone home. Apparently Jeremy thanked me for having him over, squeezed my hand, and left like a gentleman. Which was probably for the better. I had a long game to play, and I wasn't off to a great start.

It wasn't the best thing in the world that May and I had a shift at Dockside this afternoon, but at least it would keep me from internet-stalking Jeremy. May pulled on my arms to force me up, and for the first time today, I was vertical.

We got ready for work together while my mom cooked us a simple, carb-loaded lunch. Her and my father typically went to fancy events or work parties on the weekends, so my parents agreed that as long as we clean up after ourselves, they don't mind if we throw a party every so often. Luke and May did the cleaning this time around.

Work was uneventful. For a Sunday, it was slow, and consisted mostly of take-out orders. Dockside was known for their crab bites, shrimp po boys, and our delicious curly fries. It was just about the only items I served all night.

"Did you see that everyone is heading to the drive-in tonight?" May chirped, shoving a wad of bills into her apron.

"Huh?" I popped up, in a daze. I pulled out my phone. "Oh. Yup. Wanna go?"

"It's a Harry Potter film. I've seen those like a thousand times." she sighed. "But, we agreed to say yes to everything, so..."

I scrunched my nose. I still felt terrible, and we'd most likely get sent home soon. "Maybe just this one time... Go Fish? Chips and queso?"

May just grinned, cashing out her table. Just then, Stevie said once I finish my cleaning duties I can leave, but not May. May always showed up before me, and left after I was gone. She needed the money, and worked hard for it. She never asked for anything. She earned it instead.