Surf's Up?

A Little Too Enthusiastic

Ellis' POV

The night went quickly and soon I had to leave. I said goodbye to Hill, who had begun to clean up.

Steele said that he would walk me to my car. I smiled at him nervously. For some reason, Steele made

me nervous. Not the butterfly, girly nervous (for goodness sakes I have a boyfriend!) but the kind of

nervous that if he’s around, something will go wrong. In the driveway, Steele turned to me and winked.

He opened my car door and bowed. “My lady.” I stared at him. I don’t know why I had let him flirt with

me earlier. Gosh I’m so stupid. “You know you flirt a lot with your brother’s girlfriend.” He stepped

towards me. “Ellis, you should know that, even though I’ve been nice, I’m not the good brother in my

family.” I clenched my jaw. “So I’ve heard. But I don’t believe it.” He raised an eyebrow. “No?” I shook

my head. “I think you just have to be what Hill isn’t and doesn’t want you to be. I haven’t known you for

very long but I don’t think you are the kind of person who does bad things for fun.” He smiled. “Wanna

bet?” He began to lean down and was inches away from my lips. I put a hand over his mouth quickly.

“Okay, you win. But just for the record, I think you’re a pretty nice guy…. Besides what you just tried to

pull.” And with that, I climbed in my jeep and left Steele staring.

No, I don’t believe him. Its like, the second he gets around Hill, suddenly he’s the bad brother? How am

I supposed to believe that when he’s been so sweet and cool since I met him. Maybe it was an act, a

part of me thought. I snorted. No one’s that good of an actor.

The next day, Wednesday, I grabbed some breakfast at the local café and headed to school. I

smoothed my white, bohemian styled dress before getting out of my jeep. I took one last quick look in

the side mirror and smiled at my reflection. My freckles were more evident today for some reason and I

had spent a little extra time on my makeup, while keeping it natural. I smoothed back my wavy hair and

sighed. School time. I shouldered my backpack and walked into the main building.

Even though it was my birthday, I didn’t feel any older. 18 though! Several people called out to me in

the hallways saying happy birthday and I smiled my thanks. I wish Hill were here. He had to leave at 5

in the morning to drive to his cross-country meet. I went over to my locker and when I opened it,

balloons and streamers fell out. I laughed as I grabbed the card that fell. It was from Reese and several

others. I put it back in my locker and grabbed my French 5 book. The bell had already rung, which

meant that I was late, but I didn’t care this morning.

I walked into French 5 and said, “Je suis désolé Madame Dubois. C’est mon anniversaire.” I gave her

an innocent look and she smiled. “Naturellement mademoiselle. Prenez un siège.” I sat down and