No Skateboarding Allowed

Chapter 5: Making Progress

Summer days in California were hot. Like, really hot. 

Now, I loved to skateboard. More than anything. But sometimes when you're outside doing too much, there are days you just want to sit around inside and watch TV.

But then there's those days when you get dragged to a meeting about how you're going to convince the public that you like men and that your girly for publicity for your skateboarding career.

"We're certainly making progress," said Anthony, "I don't know if all of you saw yesterday, but there was a report on Rip about her beach trip yesterday."

"I think if we have more of those public sightings, it will open up everyone's eyes a little more," Paul agreed.

I sat at a big table with my hands folded. I usually couldn't listen during these meetings. I was way to ADD.

Paul, Anthony, Bill, my mom, and a few other PR guys who I didn't really know were there with me discussing my next move. They were proud that I got Brad's number, because they were proud that I even met Brad at all. I was supposed to text him and ask about going to a movie or something later that evening.

"Isn't that a little soon, though?" I asked, "I just met him yesterday."

"Who cares?" mom chimed in, "Making the first move shows confidence, and that's something we need for him to see in you!"

My mother was suddenly into my skateboarding when boys were involved. 

Eventually, I agreed to just text the guy and ask to go to a movie.

He was totally psyched out of his mind, which I found pretty sad since the texts were totally fake.

wanna go to the movies?? ;)

I mean, come on. Are we really doing the seductive winky face?

If you were wondering, I didn't write him the text. It was my mother. I didn't know what to say, so my mother had to do it for me. How sad is that?

yeah totally!! what time?

And this is happening.

630? ill buy :)

My mom finished planning my date for me while I sipped on some orange juice. The PR guys gathered around the phone and made suggestions about what to say to him. 

I just laughed to myself. I almost felt bad that Brad McDouchie Douche was getting used. Eh. At least he would be famous for a little while.

Brady was very anxious to meet Brad. He says he needs to approve of him (or something like that) when he will probably just laugh at him. Unfortunately for Brad, Brady's reasoning was justified.

I was almost positive he would be at the beach. We drove to Venice and walked along the boardwalk.

"Hmm," I said, "he's probably around here somewhere."

Brady played with the hem of his shirt, like always.

"Oh!" I said, spotting a tall, blonde, frat-boy looking guy in the beach throwing a football with some other guy, "There's Brad."

Brady looked at me and made a face. 

"Wait... Brad Skidmore?"

I scowled. "You know him?"

"Yeah, I know him," he said, "he's nasty, Joey, you're not dating him."

I sighed. "I don't want to. It's not even real."