Last Summer

Monday, August 9

Julie's POV

Today, Bella was doing her usual "wear fancy clothes to try to attract Eric" thing.

She is trying too hard.

"Whoa! Look at Bella! She's trying too hard." Jeb came up to me from behind.

"You literally read my mind." I snickered. "She's overdoing it a bit."

"A bit? She looks like a craft store threw up on her!" Jeb laughed.

"Yeah. Well that's one way to put it." I giggled.

We laughed so hard our sides hurt.

"Hey guys. What's so funny?" Eric came up to us.

"NOTHING!" Jeb and I said in unison.

Eric raised an eyebrow. "Why does it always feel like you two always keep secrets from me?"

I opened my mouth, but Jeb cut me off.

"Because we do!" Said Jeb.

Then he bent over and slapped his knee and started laughing all over again.

"I still don't get it." Eric sighed.

"Ya ever had one of those moments where every little thing is hilarious for some reason?" Jeb tried to explain.

"Nope." said Eric.

"Well we just had a moment like that!" Jeb started laughing again.

I looked at him like he was insane. "It wasn't that funny." I rolled my eyes.

"You guys had a... a moment??" Eric asked wide-eyed.

"Aw, he's so cute when he's suspicious!" I thought.

"Jeb wheezed. "Oh gosh! I can't breathe I'm laughing too hard!"

He started laughing again.

"Settle down!" I chided. "What has gotten into you?"

"You said that just like a wife would!" Jeb snickered.

"Ugh. I swear..." I grumbled.

"Oh jeez, you're so cute, Jul!" Jeb said.

That did it. Eric grabbed me by the wrist and half-walked-half-dragged me into the sun room.

"What was that all about??" I asked.

"I don't really know. I uh, just didn't like that." Eric said.

"Eric... are you- Jealous?" I asked.

"I don't know. Maybe I am." Eric said quietly.

" I think it's kinda sweet. It means you're protective." I said putting my hand on his and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I am very protective of you." Eric said it so sincerely it made me swoon.

I went a little weak in the knees.

"Can we sit down and talk?" He asked.

"Sure." I replied.

We sat down in a bay window.

"You know I would never like Jeb and he doesn't like me. He's too old for me. To him, I'm just a crazy kid." I told Eric.

"There's just a little voice in the back of my head saying you like him." Eric said.

"Well, tell that voice to shut the hell up." I giggled. " The voice is criminally insane and you need psychological help if you think on any given day I'd choose Jeb over you." I tried to comfort him.

He got really close, like, freakishly close and leaned in. "Did I ever tell you that you have the most beautiful smile?" Eric was flirting with me!!

"Did I ever tell you- Oh my, Jeb and Bella are right behind you!!"

"What? That's a weird thing to-  Oh..." realization dawned on Eric's face.

There was a long, awkward silence.

"OH SNAP!" Jeb yelled suddenly.

At first we stared at him like he was crazy, then I snickered and Bella scoffed.

"What?" He asked innocently.

"Hey guys! How long were you uh, standing there?"Eric stuttered. He was obviously trying to play it cool.

"Uch. Long enough." Bella scoffed.

"How sweet. My baby brother is in love!" Jeb gave us a goofy grin.

"Shut up." Eric groaned.

"You're so pathetic, Julianna. What are you doing here flirting with my hunka hotness?" Bella scoffed.

"Okay, Belly, don't talk to Julie like that." Jeb scolded her.

"Shut it. It's pretty obvious that she's a dumb, dim-witted, midget-dork." Bella fumed.

"DON'T TALK TO HER LIKE THAT!" Jeb and Eric said in unison. Eric glared at Jeb, who gave him a smirk.

"And as for you, Jeb, Jul and I have a bit of an age difference, I know that, but being 4 years apart? You're so messed up and creepy!" Eric glowered at Jeb.

"Whoa, little bro, I don't like Julie. I know I'm crazy, but I'm not insane. COME ON MAN! Especially a girl you like!" Jeb ranted.

Eric looked pretty startled.

"So, you don't like Julie?" Eric asked.

"NO! WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES!" Jeb shouted.

"But you said you had a moment with her." Eric defended himself for his stupid question.

"Yeah. A different kind, though there Ricky!" Jeb ruffled Eric's hair.

"Ricky?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, be quiet, you." Eric winked at me.

Alice silently slipped into the room.

"Um, Julie and Belly- ER! I mean BELLA! Miss Lydia needs to see you two." Alice said shyly.

Bella rolled her eyes and walked away.

I bent down to Alice's level.

"Thanks, Alice." I smiled at her.

I took her by the hand and left.