Summer with the Bertram Brothers

t h i r t e e n - d a t e

Finally, the sun shines bright after these rainy days. I open my blinds and open my window all the way. The smell of the ocean smacks me in the face.

"Finally!" I yell by myself. 

Straight away, I open my small closet and grab out my swimsuit and sandals. I run to the bathroom and pick a bright colour towel. I squirt sunscreen like it's the end of the world. Suddenly my door knocks. I open it to find Winnie glowing.

"Are we going swimming or what?"

"Yeah, yeah," I fan, "Let me grab my stuff!"

I quickly stuff all my things in a blue tote bag and rush out the door with Winnie.

We sing about the sun and find a perfect spot under a colourful umbrella. I slip off my sandals and strip into my bikini. Winnie already leaves me for the water. I run after her and we splash away our worries and have fun. All wet and sandy, I walk to the smoothie stand nearby. A few other teens are hanging around. I lean over the wooden counter as the worker smiles at me.

"One strawberry and banana smoothie, please," I order, cheerfully, when a voice I know behind me speaks up.

"Make that two."

I turn around to see who it is. Trim wraps his arms around me from behind and nestles in my neck. I get all ticklish.

"Hey there, sexy," he says in my ear. I blush into a tomato by his sudden words, making me unsteady and self-conscience all at the same time.

"Hi, Trim," I say back, fighting my smile.

We get our drinks and walk down back to the beach. He keeps his hand around my waist, keeping me close to him. He also has been swimming since I see his curls drip water and he's wearing just his swimming trunks. This is perfect, I thought. It's bright and sunny; I'm with Trim having a smoothie, stuck together with sea salt.

"So what's up?" he asks.

I shrug, "Nothing much."

"When the dock opens, I'm going jet skiing," Trim explains. I love his voice. Listening to him talk makes me realize how much I've missed him. I can't stop smiling. He gives my waist a little squeeze, "You want to come with me. It'll be fun."

And fun is what I need.

"Sure!"

I join back with Winnie, who's already found Rico. I pout when I spot him, but eye Winnie.

"Hey!" she says when she's me and Trim coming, "Hey, Trim, what's happening?"

"We're going jet skiing," I say.

"It'll be cool if you guys can come, too," Trim proposes.

Rico joins the conversation, "Let's have a race then."

"Okay," I see Trim's face change with cool competitive excitement. I bet Trim and Rico do this often... compete... "If me and Ambi win—because we will—"

"Ha!" Rico laughs, "In your dreams! Winnie and I are going to win."

"Totally," Winnie agrees.

I snicker, starting to become competitive myself. Winnie doesn't even know the difference between the front and the back of a jet ski.

"The prize is Giovanni Pizza. If you win, we'll pay the bill. If we win, you'll pay the bill," Trim says like a business man.

Rico nods, "Fair enough."

They shake on it and then we all run to the docks on the other end of the beach.Trim and Rico rent out the jets. I stand in front of the parked jets, trying to choose which colour I want to ride on.