Before the end of Summer

Chapter Six

Six

  Have you ever been so engrossed in something that you didn't even realize how much time had passed? It's like your thoughts have completely consumed you, and there's no room for anything else. That's how I'm feeling now. It's been a few days since Jesse and I went to the fair together. We left so fast, I wasn't really sure what was going on. I probably should've sent a text or something, but whatever the fortune teller said obviously upset him. It's probably not my place. He's not anyone I need to worry about, right? 

  Oh, who am I kidding? I've been obsessing over it because he's the only guy in my life that IO could possibly have any sort of romantic future with. I've been playing around with the idea of us being together, and it's not a bad prediction. Much better than the other boys I've grown up with. But what if the fortune teller mentioned romance to Jesse? Did she say something about me? About how he would end up settling for some broke landscaper and have to carry the weight of her community college loans on his shoulders for the rest of their sad lives. 

  I take a deep breath and let it out. I need to calm down. I'm over thinking this. Our relationship is hardly romantic. He didn't make any sort of move on me. I sigh and push away from the desk in the office. Johnny opens the door and steps inside. Great, now I have to deal with him. "Morning." He greets me. I'm already not fond of the conversation, and it hasn't even started. I don't have to stay here though. I reach into my drawer and grab a few twenty dollar bills. 

"Morning." I say, "I'm going to need the keys to the truck."

"For what?" Johnny asks, raising a brow at me. He pulls them out of his pocket.

"The Callahan's garden needs to tending while they're out of town." I grab the keys and keep walking. 

"Are you kidding me?" Johnny sighs.

"What? I'm not going over there for anything other than work." It's true, for the most part. I'm not expecting anything else.

"Lizzy, you're killing me."

 "Relax, JJ." I calmly tell him. If he's not so worked up, leaving will be easier. "I'm not even interested."

"Is that so? The swoon you did the other night says otherwise."

"It's nice to run into a gentleman, but I don't like the pretty boys." That seems to satisfy him. I give a wave over my shoulder as I go through the door.  

  The drive to Jesse's house goes by quicker than I'd like it to. I sit in the car and contemplate going up to the door. What exactly would I say? I'm here to water the plants, but thanks for the other night, I hope the fortune teller didn't disappoint you with the news of our eventual relationship? Okay, I need to take a step back. This is too much, even for me. 

  I exit the truck and practically slam the door. There's no way I'm going to announce my presence. I think I'd much rather just work in silence and pray Jesse doesn't realize I'm out here. I walk around back and get the watering can out of bed of the truck. Eying the house, I walk casually around back where the watering hose is. I fill it, and walk over to the garden.  

  The vegetable garden doesn't look too bad. Some of the plants will begin to bloom. I couldn't say the same for the flowerbeds though. It looks like I picked a good day to come by. I can tell that they're starting to wilt, probably from the heat. I make sure to pull out some weeds I spotted. These flowers are going to need a lot more than water. Dusting off some of the dirt from my Capri pants, I make my way to the pick-up again. Miracle Gro may seem like a gimmick to some people, but it's the real deal. I grab the nozzle and turn around, but I'm shocked. 

"Hi." Jesse says. He startles me, and I drop the plant nutrients. My mouth opens, but words don't come out. Instead, I bend to pick up my supplies. That's when I notice, he's only in a towel.