The Summer Lake House

Chapter 12

Kristen and Eric both stepped outside, the hot humid air hitting them like a wave. Kristen felt as if she were already sweating through her clothes and they had been outside for about 5 seconds.
"Hey uh whose Jenna?"
Eric blurted out, remebering April's words in the kitchen earlier on.
"How do you know about Jenna?"
Kristen questioned, caught off guard.
"Well I don't, that's why i'm asking you about her."
Eric commented snarkily.
"You're mom mentioned something about you clinging onto her."
Eric commented again.
"Well Jenna was my best friend. She had been my best friend forever and now she has this new group of friends ten times prettier then me and this new boyfriend Kyle who I cannot stand because he's one of those bone-headed football players."
Kristen announced.
"Wow tell me how you really feel."
Eric stated sarcastically.
"You're very sarcastic you know that?"
Kristen stated.
"Really? This is news to me!"
Eric again commented jokingly.
"You're doing it again."
Kristen commented aggitated.
"Anyways, who needs her. Sounds like a high maintence chick, with too much self confidence. You're better then her."
Eric commented.
Kristen looked over at Eric giving him a piercing glare. The Chutney boys sure had a way with words, and she wasn't gonna fall for a nice guy act again. Let alone spill anymore secrets to Eric who could use them agaisnt her.
"Thanks."
Kristen blurted out.
"Alright so Brook Brothers Bookstore is right up this block, everything is pretty much in walking distance here, that's why most people just bike instead of using cars."
Eric informed Kristen. Kristen's heart stopped as they walked up to the intersection, that same intersection that had led her and Dylan to dinner, then to the park, then back home after she fled from the scene of her kiss with Dylan. Kristen's eyes darted towards the left side of the intersection where Blue Water Cafè sat still, looking lifeless with not a soul out front, it was probablly too early.
"Blue Water's where he took you right?"
Eric questioned.
"How'd you know that?"
Kristen responded.
"That's his favorite place. He refuses to eat anywhere else."
Eric laughed.
"Did he sell you on the burger?"
Eric questioned.
"Actually yeah, but I was too afraid to tell him I hate meat, so I ordered it anyways."
Kristen laughed at her stupidity.
"You what?"
Eric spewed out.
"I hate meat."
Kristen replied.
"I have never met a soul who hated meat Kristen, you are definitely the first."
Eric mumbled. The two walked beyond the intersection and past Hideaway Park. Kristen refused to look in the direction of the huge Oak trees as they passed. They passed some smaller stores as they continued walking. A farmer's market called Sal's, a clothing store called Billabong, and a small salon called Mindy's. Finally they reached a huge stone building with big glass windows and brown colored stones. In big black letters carved into the top of the building were the words, "Brook Brothers." Everything in town was small family owned buisnesses, nothing like the huge strip malls and big food chained resteraunts back in Kristen's home town. The two walked inside the bookstore through the two brass doors out front. Inside was even more beautiful. The walls were a cherry red and hundreds of wooden shelves carrying books lined the back walls. Wooden tables and computers covered the floor at the center of the room. The front desk was also wood, and it stretched from the entrance of the builing all the way to the end of the wall just before the book shelves. Kristen spum around taking in the whole veiw in awe.
"Woah this is where you work?"
Kristen questioned.
"Yeah it's alright."
Eric responded.
"Alright? It's only the best bookstore i've ever seen!"
Kristen exclaimed.
"I'm not much of a reader, that's more of Dylan's thing. I'm just a high school senior trying to make some money."
Eric laughed.
There was something so strangely appealing about Eric. He was Kristen's opposite clearly. He was sarcastic, she was serious. She loved to read and write, he could care less. Kristen was shy, he was the talker, but something about him was intriguing. Kristen was so completely compatible with Dylan, yet Eric excited her and left her wanting to get to know him better. Eric really showed no interest in her though, and based on his previous comments about how hot Olivia was, Kristen took it that looks were all that surfaced with him.
"Well I'm gonna go grab some lunch at Blue Water before my shift. Wanna come?"
Eric announced.
Kristen slid her phone out of her denim short's pocket and clicked the home button to reveal the time.
"2:30"
Kristen wondered how in the world it had gotten to be that late in the afternoon already.
"Uh, I guess I can eat."
Kristen laughed.
Eric and Kristen walked out of the bookstore and headed down the road through the intersection to Blue Water, where the crowd started to progress a bit from before, but still seemed kind of desolated. There was no hostess outside this time, so the two walked in through the big glass doors and walked over to the front desk, where all the menus were kept. The two were seated by a stocky brunette man, about mid 50's. They sat down at a wooden tabled booth, similar to where Kristen had sat the night before, only this time, the restaurant had a whole different feel. The lights were on and the furnishings were actually visible. The walls were dark blue with paintings of a big blue sea bass stretched out from wall-to-wall, and each table had a big white candle filled with sea glass in the center. Kristen cracked open her menu, looking at the choices herself this time, and laughing when she spotted the burger in big blue print of the menu under specials. Eric turned around to call over their waitress for drinks, but once he turned his head, he quickly turned back around laughing to himself with a strange look in his eyes.
"What is it?"
Kristen questioned.
"Dylan and Olivia are on a date here, isn't that something. You last night, her today. My brother's really making the rounds."
Eric laughed but was stopped as Kristen's hand reached across the table and smacked him on his shoulder.
"Hey karate kid, relax. I'm just messing around."
Eric stated throwing up his hands in a mock surrender.
"Well don't."
Kristen pouted crossing her arms and sinking lower in the mounted seat of the booth.
"Hey Dyl! Over here!"
Eric called in Dylan's direction.
"You moron. What are you doing? Are you trying to ruin my life? Olivia is here remember?"
Kristen shout whispered.
"Relax, she dosen't know a thing. Just keep your mouth shut and stop looking so guilty would you?"
Eric asserted.
Dylan shot up from his seat and when he spotted Eric he waltzed over, meeting Kristen's eyes, and then slowly freezing in place just before Eric and Kristen's booth, with a worried expression in his eyes. Then suddenly, a tall thin sun kissed brunnette trotted her way over to the booth, her brown eyes shimmering off the light being reflected into the café windows. Her long hair shined and cascaded down her back. Olivia Tate. Pebble's sweetheart. Or at least that was her front.
"Er! How are you?"
Olivia squealed grabbing Eric into a bear hug.
"Hey Liv. Looking good."
Eric stated winking in Olivia's direction.
"Aww you're girlfriend's cute!"
Olivia beamed wipping her head towards Kristen, a huge welcoming smile plastered across her face leaving her cheeks glowing.
"Kristen? No no no no, she's not, we're not dating."
Eric exclaimed shakily.
"Oh too bad! You're super pretty! What's your name?"
Olivia questioned still gazing at Kristen.
"Kristen Finebrooke, you must be Olivia Tate Dylan has told me so much about you."
Kristen smiled sweetly, but she secretly was using sarcasm and she hoped Dylan had caught on.
"Oh Dyl!"
Olivia squealed placing her hand on Dylan's chest.
"He's so sweet, I heard alot about you too! Must be cool being from California! Weird you're not all that tan!"
Olivia continued.
"She's great isn't she?"
Eric stated whispering leaning over to Kristen's ear.
"Just charming."
Kristen muttered sarcastically, earning a jolly laugh from Eric.
Dylan remained speechless, refraining from saying a word to Krsiten.
"Listen I really have to go to the bathroom! Wanna come with Kris?"
Kristen looked at Olivia majorily confused. Did she give everyone nicknames? Why did she need a bathroom buddy?
"Sure."
Kristen mumbled, and followed Olivia as she turned on her heel to the back hallway of the restaurant where the two doors labeled by a boy and girl character stood. Olivia pushed open the door to the girl's bathroom not even bothering to hold the door open for Kristen, as the wooden door quickly slammed shut almost completely on Kristen's face before she quickly shot her hand out in front of her hitting the door, and pushing it open. As Kristen walked inside Olivia quickly paced back and forth looking under all six bathroom stalls in the bathroom, making sure no one was in them. When she realized none of them were occupied she snapped straight in Kristen's direction.
"Listen Kristen, stay the hell away from Dylan. Don't think I didn't see you staring at him funny!"
Olivia snapped.
"Olivia I am not interested in Dylan!"
Kristen stampered, quite frightened by the girl lunging towards her aggressively.
"Oh please. I know all about how you pushed my Dyl up against a tree and kissed him when you knew he was dating me."
Olivia blurted out, a fiery expression glazed over her eyes.
"Is that what he told you?"
Kristen shouted.
"That is not what happened at all! Your boyfriend came on to me!"
Kristen yelled once more.
"Oh come on! You expect me to believe that? Look at you, and look at me. There's nothing comparable about it! Dylan has no interest in you so STAY AWAY!"
Olivia hollered rather close to Kristen's shaking body.
Kristen hadn't even realized her hands were white knuckled fists at her sides. Kristen froze in place wondering how someone could be this heartless. She felt tears threaten to spill over, and she blinked hard as ever to try and push them back but it was no use, they came pouring down her ivory cheeks, and Kristen took to the bathroom door, pushing her way past Olivia and breaking out of the bathroom fleeing into the hallway earning several stares from diners eating at their section of the restaurant.
"Kristen what happened?"
Eric hollered after Kristen as she tore free from his grip and ran out of the restaurant.
"Kristen wait!"
Dylan hollered, finally adding to the conversation.
"Dylan enough. Leave the girl alone."
Eric exclaimed as he ran out of the restaurant after Kristen. Kristen hadn't gotten far, and was now sitting on the curb on the intersection bawling with her head placed at the palm of her hands, knees in their upright position. She was shaking uncontrollably. Eric races over and knelt down beside her resting his hand on her shoulder.
"You're gonna get hit by a car you know."
Eric stated, trying to lighten the mood. Something he was good at.
"I don't care."
Kristen sobbed.
"I don't care about this stupid town, this stupid lake house, Dylan, Olivia, I don't care about any of it!"
Kristen hollered.
"So you care about me huh?"
Eric smirked.
Kristen looked up at him her eyes incased with tears, confused.
"What?"
Kristen questioned.
"You care about me. You didn't mention my name on your
I Dont Care List."
Eric laughed.
"You're just annoying, but at least you have some compassion."
Kristen sniffled.
"Annoying was always my best feature."
Eric commented, cocking an eyebrow.
"But really Kristen, what happened in there?"
Eric pleaded.
"Olivia Tate happened. Her and her big ego. She basically called me ugly and worthless."
Kristen sobbed placing her head back down in her hands once more.
Eric quickly moved his grip from her shoulder to her chin, and titled her head up to look at him.
"Kristen listen to me. You're not worthless in the slightest bit. You're probablly the only person who appreciates my sarcasm."
Eric laughed. Leave it to him to crack a joke through a tense situation.
"But more importanly you're not ugly. You're beautiful."
Eric stated smiling at Kristen.
"No i'm not."
Kristen sobbed.
"That's the same thing Dylan said, and now he's too embarrassed to say that he kissed me so he made up a lie that i'm some stalked that came on to him."
Kristen wailed.
"He what?"
Eric snapped.
"That's why Olivia attacked me!"
Kristen hollered.
Eric stared at the ground, then his eyes flashed to the Café.
"That bastard i'm gonna kill him!"
Eric roared leaping up off the ground and heading towards Blue Water.
"Eric no!"
Kristen hollered running as fast as she could towards him. She was stopped by people passing on cruiser bikes, and Eric had gotten away already across the street, he swung open the heavy glass stores and stampered into the café. This was not going to be pretty.