Beauty and the Jock

One chance

Jason.

"But Daniel, how am I supposed to ask her to come? I'm one hundred percent sure she'll refuse." I was leaning against my locker, ignoring the flirtatious smiles that came from a bunch of cheerleaders as they walked past us.

I was in a major...yes, MAJOR dilemma. Dan and I were supposed to invite the whole grade to our Saturday night beach party. Which was fine...except that I was certain Jennifer wouldn't agree to come.

"Look bud, I honestly don't know why you're still obsessed with her, but if you want her to be there, you've got to find a way to ask her." Dan stated.

"I know." I said, frantically. "This is my one chance to get to know her better. Maybe she'll open up to me at the party. I just...I can't blow this opportunity."

"AHA!" he exclaimed, as if he'd had a brainwave.

"What? What is it?" I asked, my eyes filled with new hope.

"Amelia," He said. "There's your answer Jason. She's been her friend ever since Jennifer moved to our school. Go to her. Ask her if she'll talk Jennifer into coming."

"Uhmm...okay. But where is she?" I asked looking around the crowded hallway.

"THERE! There she is!" He pointed out to a girl talking to a bunch of her friends, not too far away from where we were standing.

I went up to her, Jeff following closely behind me. "Hey Amelia."

"Jason! Hey!" she exclaimed.

Daniel did his typical "sup?" nod while grinning at her. She blushed and flashed him a shy smile. Interesting.

Focus!

I took a deep breath. "I uh...need a favor, actually."

"Sure," Amelia said, looking a bit confused.

"Well...Daniel and I are planning to have a party this Saturday at Sapphire Bay – my father's private beach – and we're inviting all the seniors. We'll be handing out flyers at lunch today."

"What? That's freaking awesome!" She looked dazzled.

"Yeah...but there's a little problem. I really want your friend Jennifer to be there. So I need you to invite her to the party. Can you do that for me, please?"

Amelia chewed on her bottom lip. "Well, I don't think she likes parties much. But...I can try."

"Thank you!" I said, relieved. "Go now!"

"Right now?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah! Nothing like the present!" I said, shoving her gently towards Jennifer, who was spacing out at her locker.

Amelia went up to her with a huge smile. "Hey Jenny!"

"Oh hey Amelia." She said softly.

"So you're coming to the party on Saturday, right?"

"What party?" She asked, closing her locker.

"Jason Conroy is planning a party at his dad's beach. The whole grade is invited! Isn't that freaking awesome?" she said, perkily.

"No I...I don't think I can make it. Besides, you know I don't like parties." She said apologetically.

"Oh come on Jen! Please? I promise it'll be fun! Just this once! Please?" Amelia begged.

Jennifer looked up at her with indecisive, yet gorgeous brown eyes. I pretended to be engrossed in conversation with Daniel, but I was all ears to what she had to say.

"Please Jennifer? Just think about it...the beach! Cute guys. Volleyball. Surfing. Flirting. In short, LOTS of fun!" she said, in an ever-so-tempting voice.

Jennifer sighed. "Amelia I don't..."

"Jen! Don't be a couch potato! Just come! It won't be that bad! Everyone's going! Please come along? Pretty please with a whole bunch of cherries on top?" she asked again, with puppy-dog eyes.

"Okay, I'll go." She relented.

"YES!" Amelia squealed, giving her a hug. "Trust me Jen, this party is going to be freaking awesome!"

"You say that a lot." she replied, smiling a bit.

Amelia laughed, looking my way in accomplishment. I gave her the thumbs up sign and mouthed "Thank you."

I couldn't get rid of the grin on my face for the rest of the day.

Jennifer.

I tossed and turned in my bed. I was running. And HE was chasing me. It was dark and stormy. The wind was blowing in heavy gusts and tiny drops of rain hit my skin. I darted for the main street, and then ran through a dark park. I'd been trying to escape for almost an hour. I wanted to be as far away from that creep as possible. But no matter how fast I ran, whenever I looked back, he'd be closer to me than he had been before. And he never gave up...

His scrawny hands tried to reach out for my clothes. I was scared, exhausted and aching all over. But I ran anyway. Suddenly, I hit a wall. Shit! What now? Is this a dead end? No wait. That wasn't a wall! It was...a person? Two muscular arms wrapped themselves around me. I couldn't make out the silhouette. I tried to break free but he wouldn't let me. He whispered in my ear in the most soothing voice I had ever heard before, "Don't worry. I'm here. I won't let him hurt you again."

WHO WAS THIS PERSON? I looked up at his face, but my vision was fuzzy.

As soon as the creep saw that I was safe in someone's arms, he backed away. Now it was his turn to run. And he did just that.

I didn't recognize my savior. His face was a blur, but his eyes were so clear. And when his blue met my brown, I just couldn't look away. He tucked a strand of wet hair behind my ear, without breaking eye contact with me. He titled my chin up with his finger and leaned in...

Suddenly, there was a streak of lightening. And I SCREAMED...

My fingers clutched my blanket and I gasped as my eyes flew open. Tiny beads of sweat had formed on my forehead and I was panting. It all felt so real...

I closed my eyes tightly and tried not to think about it. Instead, I thought about the party that was just two days away.

I can't believe I'd agreed to go. But what's the harm, right? It's just a party. I needed a change anyway. Something to take my mind off these nightmares...