Summer Love

Love Struck

     Three weeks has past since I took Stace to the water park that ended up ending with all of us soaked and wet in rain water. That would be a day I would never forgot mainly because we all had so much fun there. Even the succubus I call Grace had fun at the park. I assume it is because of Jake, but whatever. Since then, I have just been hanging out with my friends and siblings and been taking guitar lessons from Jess. She is a good teacher because I am really getting the hang of playing quickly. I have a lesson with her today at Melbery Park. It is a small park in the woods with a variety of vegetation and wildlife. It is relatively quiet there, so it makes it the perfect place to practice guitar.
     Lisa usually comes with me because she said she likes the fresh air and enjoys to see me attempt to play guitar. I believe that she finds it amusing in some way, but she'll see I will get better at it soon. In the mean time, I would have to keep practicing to get there. With a big stretch I roll out of bed and take a deep breath, ready to start the day. I hurry up to take my shower, get dressed, grab my guitar, and race downstairs. I bought this guitar with the remainder of my allowance so I can practice playing on my free time. As soon as I get down stairs I see that no one is down stairs. I look at the time on my phone and see that it is 6 in the morning.
     I woke up extremely earlier than I usually do. This is fantastic, I thought to myself. I can get a morning jog in before I go to the park today. I don't usually have time for jogging, unless I wake up early as I dis today, which is rare. I go back upstairs and change into my jogging outfit. I had on neon green Puma's sneakers, striped neon green and black basketball shorts, a neon green tank top, and a black wristband around my right wrist. I ran down stairs as quietly as possible so I don't wake anyone up and walked outside. "Where are you off too sport?" I heard from my driveway. I looked and saw that my dad's car is still here with my dad sitting inside on the driver's side. I responded, "I am going for a jog. I'll be back soon. Hey, are you going out to work or coming in from it?"
     He looked at me with a look straight forward and told me that he was going out to work. My facial expression revealed the defeat in my eyes. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I have to get to work. The bills aren't going to pay themselves. Take care of your brothers and sisters kiddo." "Yeah, like I always do," I muttered to myself. My dad put the car, a 2006 mini van, in reverse and pulled off. I sighed pushing my thoughts out of my head. It sucks to think about this, so for therapy I will jog this off. An hour later I returned home very tired and exhausted. By now, everyone should be awake.
     "Hey Mark, what are you doing?" I heard Karmin asked as she approaches me from behind. "Hey Karmin, I just got back from a jog. Now I am going to go change and go meet up with Lisa and Jess at the park. Do you want to come with us?" She smiled before she replied, "I would like to go, but I can't today. I have a doctor check up today. Mom and Dad are going to take me." "I see. Well, I hope everyone goes well at the doctor's appointment. We can go to the park another time. Ok sweet?" "Ok," she said energetically. I opened my front house door and supporting got hit on the head hard with something. It felt as if I got hit with a rock. In response I yelled "What the-" but stopped myself before I could mutter out the rest of what I was going to say.
     "Are you alright Mark?" Karmin asked. "Yeah, I am fine. Thanks." I look up and see John and Danny with baseball mitts on and the baseball rolling on the floor. "Do you two know the definition of can't? You too can't play ball in the house. Someone can get hurt as you can see." "What do you mean?" Grace asked as she came down stairs in her green pajamas. "I thought it was hilarious how you got hit on your head. It made my whole day." She gave a short chuckle and walked slowly pass me to the kitchen. "Yeah," I said, "you would think that succubus. Anyway, just take it outside Danny and John. Next time I will be telling Mom."
     They both shook their heads in agreement. "Like they are ever around in the first place," I heard Grace muttered. I looked at her and mouthed the words not now. She knows that our younger siblings doesn't need to hear this kind of thing at the moment. Grace just rolled her eyes and retreated to the refrigerator. The next few hours passed and I had time to take another shower and get dress again before heading out to see Lisa and Jess. Karmin had already left to go to her doctor appointment with her parents. Who knows what grace was doing, but I know that she's home watching the twins. I arrived at the bus stop to see Lisa. We found seats in the back of the bus so we could sit together. Lisa is my best friend and we always joke around with each other.
     She has been my best friend since we were kids and we promised to always stick together. There isn't anything she doesn't know about me and the same thing goes for her. "So Lisa, do you know if there's anything going on between Grace and Jake?" "Awww, look who is worried about their baby sister," she said playfully. "Yeah, yeah whatever. I just want to make sure if everything is ok. That's all. My parents would blame me if she got hurt." She laughed lightly. "Whatever you say liar. But if you must know they are dating. I told Jake that I wouldn't say nothing, but it seems wrong hiding it. However, you need to let your sister be with who she wants. If she likes Jake, let her be with Jake. It's not your business who she dates." "Yeah, I know that, but you also know how Jake can be. He is a player and I don't want my sister near that. I don't think he is right for her."
     "Yeah, I know how Jake can get. Don't forget, that idiot is my friend too, but in the end it is your sister's choice and not yours. It doesn't matter what you think. Your sister is going to do what she wants anyway and you know you can't stop her. Plus you two aren't kids anymore. You can't protect her from everything. The last thing she needs is an overprotective brother who tries to control her." I let out a small sigh and gave in to Lisa. "You are right. I can't be like that. I will just be hear when she needs me, but if Jake does hurt her, I am going to hurt him." "First of all, I know I am right. What would you do without me block head. And second, you wouldn't hurt Jake. You are a lover and not a fighter. If anything he will knock you down on your flat butt." She laughed slightly while leaning on me. I replied delightfully, "Aww come on. You have no faith in me whatsoever." "Nope," she said while smiling, "not even a little. Now I have a question for you. Are you and Jess dating or a thing?" I begin to blush without even realizing it.
     She looked at me expecting a confession. I replied, "No, we aren't dating." "Gosh, you are so easy to read. You like Jess. You might as well admit it because I won't leave you alone about it and you know I won't," she said with a smirk on her face. "Fine, I like her ok. Are you happy now?" "Very. Did you kiss her yet?" My face showed my embarrassment. She could read me like a book always. "No, I haven't if you must know. Why do you ask? Are you jealous?" I said with a smirk. It was just for a second, but her expression changed from playful to a blush and back to being playful. I didn't make much of it.
     I assume I just caught her off guard. She replied, "Why in the world would I be jealous? I mean like get real. You aren't what I classify as a trophy boyfriend. You are more like an idiot trapped in a handsome body." "Ouch, I actually felt that one. However, I guess I can forgive you. You did say I was handsome." I smile at her and she responded with rolling her eyes and said, "Shut up. You are an idiot." After a 30 min drive on the bus, we finally reached the park where Jess is. She was on the park bench near a big oak tree and a water fountain. "Hey Mark and Lisa. Are you ready to get started? If so then let's pick up from where we left off from yesterday." A few hours pass and Jess and I were playing guitar.
     Lisa sat on the next bench over watching us practice half the time and the other half of the time on her phone texting and playing games. At noon we ended our lesson. Then it'll be time for us to depart. As I was getting ready to say my goodbyes and leave I received a text message. I looked at my phone and saw that it was from Lisa. Confused on why she just didn't tell me what she had to say, I open the message. It read, Ask her out you complete idiot. I replied no and the response I got back was rather threatening. She texted back, All right. I guess I will have to step in and intervene if you aren't man enough to do it. I saw Lisa stand up and I yelled no in panic.
     Jess looked at me like I was crazy. I quickly response, "I mean no wait before you go because I forgot to tell you something." She just started at me waiting on what it was I wanted to say. Lisa was also watching me to see what I would do next. Jess asked, "Well, what is it?" "Oh yeah, I wanted to tell you that you are a great teacher." Everything turned into an awkward silence for a few seconds before Jess answered. "Thank you for the compliment. Was that all that you had to tell me before I left?" I muttered yeah in a soft voice. She just chuckled.
     "You are definitely a weird guy I'll give you that." Lisa walked up really close from behind me and whispered in my ear, "You're a chicken." I turned my head a bit and she walked pass me smiling. I really don't know what to make of it. We play around a lot since we are best friends, so I think it was just that. "Hey Jess," I said while walking up to her, "I am sorry, but that really wasn't what I was trying to say to you. Actually, I wanted to ask you would you like to go to the movies with me on Friday night. I mean like a date." She just looks at me in curiosity as I await for her answer. That's really sweet," she said, "but no."
     Lisa, who was besides me, was surprised. Being surprised wasn't how I felt at the moment. It was more like stupidity for thinking that she would say yes. "Oh well, that's cool. It's no problem. If you don't want to-" "That's not it," she interrupted. "It's just I am not ready for dating at this moment. I like you Mark, but now just isn't the best time." She turned her back towards me and walked away without saying anything else. I was left to wonder what had happened to her that she can't date at the moment. Also, I wonder if she is ok or not, but I won't know that until she is able to trust me.
     "Well then," Lisa said, "knowing you you probably want to help her." I just looked curiously at her. "That's just who you are. You are always trying to be helpful. Mark, just make sure that you are careful and worry about yourself too." "Thanks," I said, "but I'll be-" "I'm serious Mark," she yelled. "It's not your responsible to help everyone. Think about yourself for once. If not for you, do it for the ones that care about you." I have been told to think about myself a number of times. Maybe that is some advice I need to be taking. I replied, "I will. Don't worry about me too much Lisa. Trust me, I'll be ok." "So you say," Lisa muttered. I put my arm around her shoulder and we both began to walk to my house.