Summer Love

Meeting Jess Logan

     Karmin and I walked around the beach for awhile looking for some of my friends from school before we headed to the ice cream shop. Well I should say I was walking around while she was sitting on my shoulders, taller than everyone we walked pass. She met my friend a couple of times before when they came to my house. So she knows who we are looking for. She's like a lookout on my shoulder just waiting to spot them. As I walk pass people I look around to make sure I don't miss them. "Over there Mark!" I hear her yell right in my ear. "I think I see your friends by that palm tree on your left. The short one." I looked to where she was pointing at and through the crowd of people I saw them, Jake, Monroe, and Lisa. I also saw them talking and standing next to a girl I've never seen before.
     Who might she be, I thought to myself. "I see them Karmin, thanks. Now let's go meet up with them." As I arrived to see my friends they waved at me. "Hi bro. Hi Kar. What's up," Lisa said to me. I said, "nothing much. How are you guys doing? Are you excited for tonight's concert? Set It Off is going to rock!" "Can't wait man," Jake replied. "It's going to be a blast." Monroe and Lisa both said, "I second that," at the same time. "Definitely." I heard that girl I've haven't recognized before say.
     "Hi. I'm Jess, Jess Logan. Your friends have been telling me a lot about you Mark. You seem like a nice person." I was a bit confused about who this girl really was. Yeah I now know her name, but who was she? I replied kindly. "Nice to meet you Jess. You seem really nice too. So how do you know my friends?" "Well, I don't really know them. I just met them. Lisa introduced me to everyone." I see. "Oh ok. Are you from around here?" "No. I live in Texas, but I traveled down here to Florida for Summer Break with my family. However, my mom and dad are at the hotel right now getting ready to go out to eat at Red Lobster. I decided to come to the beach and I bumped into Lisa here. That's how I met your friends." "That's cool."
     I just realized that I had a kid sitting on my shoulders while I was talk to Jess and my friends. "Ok Karmin. It's time to get down. You are getting heavy." I picked her up off my shoulders from under her arms. She laughed a little bit. "You are going to have to hold my hand because I don't want to loose you in this big crowd. Ok sweetie?" There were so many people at the beach today that it was easy to get lose. Especially for a little girl. I would say there are like 500 people at the beach today, but I might be embellishing a little. She nodded in response and we all, including Jess, headed off to the ice cream shop. "I see you brought the whole family," Jake said from behind me as we walk to the shop and see my siblings. "Trust me it wasn't my idea." "I see. Well I'm glad you did. Grace is looking really hot." Someone kill me already, I thought to myself. "Hey," I aggressively said.
     "That's my sister. There's nothing hot about her, besides her temper. Plus that's just weird man. My sister hot? More like hot headed." "I'm just saying. She's really hot." "Well don't say anything. Ok? I don't want you trying anything with my sister. So let's just leave it at that." I absolutely dislike my sister most times, but I don't like guys saying things about her like how hot she is or how sexy she looks. Most guys are dogs that can't control themselves and Jake was one of them. We're friends, but I don't want him hurting my sister. He's a player that just want one thing, but I think you know what that is. "Hi sis," I said while looking at Grace. She turned around, still holding some ice cream.
     "Hi sis? No witty phase or is that the best your small mind can come up with? I told mom you was slow, but she didn't believe me." I glad at her not responding to that comment. Instead I look at the younger kids. "Alright. John, Danny, Stace, and Karmin go to that booth over there with the umbrella and wait for the rest of us to get our ice creams. I'll bring yours, Karmin, to you. Stace you're in charge until I or your annoying sister gets back. Please watch Karmin." My siblings already got there ice cream cones. Now I just have to get Karmin's and I. "I will," Stace replied. Danny asked, "Why is she in charge?" I turned to him. "She's in charge because she's the oldest out of you four." John and Danny were only 10 years old and Karmin, as you know, is 7. So it makes more sense to put the 14 year old girl in charge.
     Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that the two boys are twins. The terrible two more like it. They know how to find trouble from time to time. They freaked out Grace once by putting their small mouse in her bed while she was sleeping. When she woke up, she freaked. The twins thought it was funny. I admit it was, but they got in trouble afterwards, grounded for weeks. They are two pranksters.
     How about we skip this whole scene of me waiting in a long line with my friends to get some ice cream and move along to when me, Karmin, Lisa, and Jess are at the beach building sandcastles. Meanwhile, everyone else is out of sight. Grace went with Stacy and the twins to go surfing. Jake and Monroe went to go hit on girls. I was watching Karmin and Lisa make sandcastles while I spend my time in the water with Jess. We both wanted to go swimming. Apparently Lisa loves making sandcastles. Who would have guessed. Looks like you learn something new everyday.
      "Hey Mark. Do you want to go jet skiing later?" Jess was looking directly at me when she asked me. "Sure, but first I'll have to take Karmin home before it gets too late. Then I'll be up for some jet skiing." Daytona Beach had jet skis for people to use for only $15. It's great that this place provides people with so much to do. There's volleyball, surfing, water volleyball, grilling, boat rides, fishing, snorkeling, and so much more. It's amazing. Jess starts to swim in my direction to get closer. "So what was that about back there?" I was confused about what she was asking. "What was what?" "What was you so angry about when your friend, Jake, said your sister was hot?" I get what she was asking me now.
     "I know it's none of my business, but I was just curious." "No it's fine. You see Jake is my friend, but he's a bit of a player. He have a habit of taking advantage of girls. That's why I was so upset. We are friends and his business is his business, but if he thinks he's going to hurt my sister than he has another thing coming." "I see. So why be friends with him if he such a player? I can see that you obviously don't like players, so why stick around?" Good question. "Well, he helped me from a pounding from a school bully 2 years ago. Ever since than we were friends." "Ok. Thanks. Just curious. Also, if you don't mind me asking, why are you and your sister fighting? She basically called you stupid back at the ice cream shop. What for?" "Thanks for reminding me." I gave her a small and gentle smile.
     "My sister and I always fight. It's no big deal. You can say that's our way of bounding." "I see," she said while smiling at me. She was an ok girl to talk to. She has long bleach blonde hair, light hazel eyes, lightly sun tanned skin with freckles on her arms, and a sweet smile. It seems like she's trying to make some friends while she's here in Florida for summer break. "So how about you," I finally asked. "Do you have any siblings?" "No. I'm an only child. I wish I had a sister or brother like how you have." "I see." I could see that she didn't like being an only child growing up. She wasn't sad about it, but she dislikes it from what I can see from her expression. It was like she was enviest of it.
     "You're lucky to have someone to grow up with." She said after awhile. "Someone to always talk to and be there for you. You must enjoy that." I frowned at her a little. "Yeah sure. Someone to always talk to. That's how my family works exactly." I said sarcastically. She looked at me confused and apologetic like she said something wrong. I gave her a brief short smile to reinsure her she didn't do anything.
     "My parents are always working at the hospital, my two brothers are only 10, my youngest sister is only 14, and my annoying 17 year old sister always wants to pick a fight with me. So there's not that much room for talking. When I need to talk to someone I talk to Lisa or Monroe. They let me vent if I have to. Don't misunderstand me I'm thankful for my family. It's just my family isn't so good when it comes to talking about certain things." "I see." I tried to change the mood of the conversation. "It doesn't really matter really," I said while smiling and sounding like I don't care. "There's nothing to talk about anyway. Right now I'm just focusing on one thing and that's having a great summer." "Looks like you and me have the same plans." After talking to Jess for awhile we both swimmed back to the beach. "Have a good time out there you two?" Lisa asked. "Yeah. The water is great. You should take a dip in it." I replied to her. "No thanks. Right now me and Kar are building the best sandcastle ever."