Not prepared for this

He's just protecting me.

Chapter 16

Conrad's POV

We got in the boat and I waited there for Nick's boat to leave. I knocked my paddle out in the lake so i could save time and Nick would leave. I swam out and got it and then swam back that too a couple minutes so Nick was out of hearing range. I got back in the boat and faced Jenni. She looked at me and just smiled. I know she was still thinking about how I said someone should appreciate her more and it was annoying. That person was me.

I had this dream last night and it was me, Jenni and, sadly, Nick. We were all little kids up in a tree house. It was this tree house. that's in the woods my dad, Nick, Nick's dad, and I built. We all just showed up there and were talking about the summer and swimming just then we were all in the middle of the lake and Nick and I couldn't swim. Jenni was the only one that could. She could only save one of us it was a begging game. We were bribing her with things so she would pick us.

She started swimming our way and was going to pick----- then I woke up. I didn't get to see who she picked. I figured she would have picked me but I didn't know I wanted her to pick me.

"Hey Jenni?" I said nervously after a few minutes and I new for sure that Nick was out of earshot.

"Yeah?" She said and she looked over at me and then smiled I could tell she was nervous to see what I was going to say. " Listen before you say anything. I really do appreciate that you were trying to protect me." She said and smiled again.

"Yeah about that, he is my cousin so I know him well. He's nice and everything, but what about the age difference. I thought your mom didn't even like that." I said and I was still trying to get the whole idea of being with Nick out of her head.

"Oh right. No you see she didn't like that. But I talked to her and she says she trusts me. So, everything is okay." She said and gave me a reassuring smile.

"Right, but after this whole episode with him sleeping with other girls she probably doesn't like him so much." I said still trying to convince her it's a bad idea.

"I will have to talk to her about that. I need to tell her that it was all just a mistake and that he was very sweet and came to apologize. I will also tell her it was you who was just trying to protect me." She said smiling big and went and shoved me on the shoulder. When she said the whole part about me protecting her.

"Yeah, yup. That's what I said..." I said defeated. She still was willing to be with that jerk. I know, I know he is my cousin but right about now he is really pissing me off.

"Yes. Now we should head back." Jenni said her smile turning down to a small grin and then just gave me a quizzical look. She knocked me out of my daze.

"Yup Uh-huh. Let's go." I turned in my seat so my back was facing her then grabbed the paddle beside me. I didn't know what else to do so I just started going. We didn't talk the rest of the way. I pulled up to the dock and jumped out right away. Of course I was a gentlemen and lent my hand to help her out. But after that I just went back to the hooking to the boat to the dock.

"See you later." Jenni said shyly and it came out more of a question. I said yes and she turned and was walking towards her camper. "Maybe we could play a game of ditch tonight?" She asked. She caught me by surprise. I didn't think she was still there. I stood up after tying the boat down and faced her.

"Yeah that would be fun I could probably invite the guys from across the lake." I said with a sly grin. I knew she would freak out if Steven came again. I know she still hated him after he gave her a hickey the day she met him.

She gave me a quick glare then a laugh. "Okay fine. But I am not going to be with Steven ever. I don't even want him to be the one chasing me trying to tag me. Tell him I am off limits." She said with a little smile. I was sort of wondering what she meant by the whole "off limits" thing. It wasn't like her and Nick were even together. They went on one date!!

"Yeah okay. But you got to give him a break he was completely wasted. You might actually like him if you got to know him... and he was sober." I said giving a chuckle.

She glared at me again. "Fine, but tell him to come sober and then MAYBE I will talk to him." She said and gave me a grin.

"Okay okay. I will." I said. "Well, I'll see you later." I said walking to the end of the dock walking the opposite direction of her towards my camper. She gave me a little grin and started walking back too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jenni's POV

Well that was a bit awkward. I don't know what was up with Conrad. I know that he doesn't think Nick is good enough for me or something. But I don't know why he would say that. First of all he's super sweet to me and even him and second he's his own cousin why wouldn't he think he was okay for me.

I ran into Nick on the way up to the camper well actually he ran into me.

"Hey sorry about that." He said giving me one of his super cute smiles.

"Yeah, no It's okay." I said giving a slow smile. "Listen I was just talking to Conrad." His smile seemed to disappear. "and we were going to play a game of ditch again tonight. He said he's going to call some of the guys from across the lake." I said smiling and rolling my eyes at the same time just at the thought. "Well, anyway. Would you play with us?" I said casually. I didn't want to seem like I super wanted him there. I mean I did want him there but I also wanted him to come play with us so that the teams were even. I know it's kind of mean of me.

"Yeah. Okay that sounds fun." He said and the smile reappeared on his face.

"Okay, cool. I'll see you later then." I said and headed off to my camper. My brother was sitting at the table. "Hey bro. We're going to be playing a game of ditch tonight if you and Alex want to join." I said smirking and sitting beside him.

"Why do you say me and Alex? Like you thing we are a couple or something." He said giving me a weird look.

"Well, it seems like you guys are just always together so I figured you would only play if she was too." I said still smirking. I knew that he liked her and she liked him and that they sort of had a cute little thing going on but I just wanted him to say and not me. It was funnier that way.

"What? No. No. Not at all. I have no idea what you are talking about." He said laughing nervously. He was also blushing so I knew I was right and he did too. "But I'll play. I'll go ask Alex if she wants to. But I don't care if she doesn't. I mean I'll play anyway." He said still nervously laughing and his face was pink. He stood up and started walking down the hill. "Well, I'll see you later. See if Alex wants to play with us.. or not it so doesn't matter to me." And he turned and walked away. I couldn't help myself to laugh. I loved how flustered he was getting when I brought up Alex.

I got up still laughing a little, walked into the camper and put in a movie. My mom was up in her bed reading and my dad was over talking to the neighbors. I walked over to the fridge and pulled out the pickle jar. I went and sat down on the couch.

Oh yes. This was how I was going to spend my evening. Until, time wakes me up at 11 pm. to go and play ditch with everyone.

HEY GUYS. SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN A BIT I HAD VERY BAD WRITERS BLOCK.

I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER IT WAS A LITTLE BORING BUT HOPEFULLY THE NEXT ONE WILL BE BETTER.

I WOULD LIKE IF YOU GUYS COMMENTED BELOW SOME IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE FOR UPCOMING CHAPTER. I MIGHT ACTUALLY USE SOME OF THEM.

I'M SORT OF OUT OF SOME IDEAS. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR.

PLEASE COMMENT AND VOTE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK OF THE BOOK.

SO FEEL FREE TO WRITE IT OUT BELOW. :)

~~~~JORDAN~~~