The Lake and the Sea (CANCELLED)

Shelby and Jess

Max
I waited in front of Shelby's house for about half an hour. Finally, she came out holding a drawstring bag and a bottle of ginger ale. She was also wearing sunglasses. As soon as I saw her, I knew she had a terrible hangover. She opened the car door and hopped in. I smirked at her appearance. "You look like you just came back from spring break." She rolled her eyes. "Well everyone did crazy stuff after that party. What did you do? Didn't you give Skylar a ride home?" I pulled out of her driveway and onto the street. "In surprised you remember that, considering your all like this." I gesture towards her. She crossed her arms. "Just tell me what happened." I shook my head. "I can't tell you. Too personal." She took a sip of her ginger ale and held her head. "Yeah, I don't care anyway." I laughed and faced the traffic light.

Shelby and I entered the main room of the offices. "We're here!" I yelled. Jess appeared from her sub office. She hugged us and looked at Shelby. "I thought you weren't coming in?" Shelby pulled off her sunglasses. She didn't seem at all hungover. She just seemed pretty like normal. Shelby sipped her ginger ale. "I wouldn't have but my parents didn't want me staying drunk at home." Jess shook her head and smiled. "Yeah, I figured your parents wouldn't let you stay like this." While they talked, I looked around. I peered into Skylar's office which had the light and computers on. I looked at Jess. "Did Skylar come in today?" Jess shrugged and suddenly froze. She stared at me nervous. "Uh, I need to talk to you." She dragged me to her sub office." I shrugged at Shelby who entered her sub office. While passing offices I saw Ross frustrated in his and Adam calling someone in his. Then we passed Skylar's. She was sitting in her chair with her head down on her desk. I immediately pulled towards her office but Jess grabbed me back.

Jess locked the door and pointed at her chair. I sat down. She crossed her arms and began to talk. "Are you serious, Max?" I was confused. "She's eighteen!" I looked down at the ground. She told her. I sighed. "Listen, we were both drunk and one thing led to another, okay?" Jess was angry with me and I knew Adam was too. Jess leaned against the wall. "Your twenty-one, you know better." I stood up. "I'm also old enough to make my own choices! I don't need you to tell me what to do and what not to do." As soon as I said that, I knew I was screwed. Jess straightened herself and stared at me. "I know I shouldn't be telling you this but she's not interested in you." I looked up at her. She was pointing daggers at me. "Skylar likes Ross. She told Alesa, Shelby, and me. She had a plan to talk to him so they don't have to do it in front of you. I can't believe you told Ross he couldn't talk to her. This is not the Max I know. And to have sex with a new girl? Well that's crazy!" I was frozen. She told me exactly what Skylar was thinking, and I know Jess wouldn't lie. Jess shook her head and opened the door. "Just don't hurt her. She only eighteen and she's sensitive. I looked at Jess and walked out. She closed the door and sat at her desk. I swore and pounded my fists on the wall. I'm so stupid. I'm so stupid! I started to yell at the wall. Shelby came running out of her office and grabbed me. She sat me down on the floor. I covered my face with my arms. Shelby sat next to me. I began to hate myself at that moment. Skylar loved Ross, not me. Tears began to roll down my face. Shelby noticed and hugged me. She didn't let go. I looked at her. Realization hit me at that moment. Shelby was beautiful, inside and out. I hung out with her many times and recorded with her weekly. We always bonded together but I never realized we could have a relationship. She looked up at me. I lifted her chin and took in her eyes. We stared at each other for a while. She's beautiful. I leaned in and kissed her gently. She gave in. This moment was one I would always remember. A moment I would use to forget the moment I was heartbroken by Skylar Days.